EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

On Thursday 19 January 2012, the EU NAVFOR Commander, Captain Jorge Manso, met Commodore Aage Buur Jensen, the recently appointed Commander of the Coalition Maritime Forces (CMF) deployed in the Gulf of Aden, onboard the EU NAVFOR Flagship in the Gulf of Aden, during an underway refueling of the CMF Flagship, the USS HALSEY.

The visit provided an ideal opportunity to discuss operations between the CMF, a multinational naval coalition dedicated to promoting security, stability and prosperity in the region and EU NAVFOR, which ensures the safety of World Food Programme food-aid delivery ships and other vulnerable shipping in addition to conducting counter-piracy.

During the meeting, both Task Force Commanders highlighted the importance of cooperation between their forces, in the formal tasking of the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin Coordination schemes which includes the allocation of warships in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor. They agreed to continue the close liaison between the Task Forces, sharing information and coordinating the effective deployment of Counter Piracy assets.

During Commodore Jensen’s visit to PATIÑO he was given a tour of the ship, including the hospital, staff rooms and other Flagship facilities, and witnessed the cargo and fuel replenishment systems in operation.