Since 7th April 2012 Rear Admiral Dupuis (French Navy) has been at sea at the helm of the EU Naval Force warships conducting counter-piracy patrols off Somalia.
With a staff of 30 from 9 different countries, Admiral Dupuis, as the Force Commander, commands the EU warships from on board EU flagship FS Marne, ensuring that the EU warships conduct patrols in the sea areas where piracy is the most prevalent. Admiral Dupuis will hand over his command to Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino (Italian Navy) at the beginning of August 2012.
During the inter-monsoon season between March and May this year, during which time piracy activity is traditionally at its highest level, Rear Admiral Dupuis commanded a force of up to 11 warships, 5 maritime patrol aircraft and 15 helicopters, with notable success. The EU Naval Force also took a joint aspect in April with the deployment of ‘AWACS’ aircraft aerial detection E3-F from the French Air Force.
The EU Naval Force warships work closely with other counter-piracy forces, such as the Combined Maritime Task Force (CMF) and NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield, together with independent deployers, such as China, Russia, India or South Korea to ensure patrols are coordinated in the Gulf of Aden and wider Indian Ocean.