It has been a busy week for the EU NAVFOR frigate HNLMS TROMP during Operations in the Somali Basin.
In the days leading up to Friday 19 March, the Dutch frigate had disrupted four separate pirate action groups in a large area of the Indian Ocean and bagged a fifth on her way to refuel.
Patrolling the region as part of the ongoing EU counter-piracy mission, TROMP has linked up with other forces, including EU NAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft from Luxembourg and Sweden and forces from the Seychelles Coast Guard. The success of EU NAVFOR and other international patrols close to the coast of Somalia has forced the pirates to move further out to sea. Demonstrating the flexibility and reach of naval forces, TROMP has responded by moving into new operating areas. Last week’soperations, with five pirate action groups (PAGs) disrupted, haveshown the success of this strategy.
TROMP’s impressive haul includes the destruction of several mother ships and skiffs, small boats used by pirates, as well as the confiscation of weapons and ammunition and the gathering of intelligence. A total of thirty one suspects were detained before being released with sufficient fuel and water to reach safety.
Buoyed by last week’s success, HNLMS TROMP is now back on patrol with other EU NAVFOR ships and aircraft in the continuing operation to disrupt PAGs before they have the chance to seriosly menace merchant shipping.
EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.
In the days leading up to Friday 19 March, the Dutch frigate had disrupted four separate pirate action groups in a large area of the Indian Ocean and bagged a fifth on her way to refuel.
Patrolling the region as part of the ongoing EU counter-piracy mission, TROMP has linked up with other forces, including EU NAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft from Luxembourg and Sweden and forces from the Seychelles Coast Guard. The success of EU NAVFOR and other international patrols close to the coast of Somalia has forced the pirates to move further out to sea. Demonstrating the flexibility and reach of naval forces, TROMP has responded by moving into new operating areas. Last week’soperations, with five pirate action groups (PAGs) disrupted, haveshown the success of this strategy.
TROMP’s impressive haul includes the destruction of several mother ships and skiffs, small boats used by pirates, as well as the confiscation of weapons and ammunition and the gathering of intelligence. A total of thirty one suspects were detained before being released with sufficient fuel and water to reach safety.
Buoyed by last week’s success, HNLMS TROMP is now back on patrol with other EU NAVFOR ships and aircraft in the continuing operation to disrupt PAGs before they have the chance to seriosly menace merchant shipping.
EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.