August 2012

The Force Commander of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, visited Japanese warship IKAZUCHI

Captain Merveilleux du Vignaux and EUNAVFOR Operation Commander Admiral Potts greet High Representative Catherine Ashton she boards FS LaFayette

Technical Team from FGS Sachsen comes aboard the stricken dhow

On the 7 Aug 12 a number of influential Somali community representatives were invited to speak with the European Union Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) at Northwood Headquarters, UK.

On 24 August 2012 the Force Commanders from the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR), NATO Operation Ocean Shield (TF-508) and Combined Task Force 151 (operated by the Combined Maritime Forces – CMF) met on board the EU NAVFOR flagship ITS San Guisto (Italian Navy) to further enhance the cooperation and coordination in the fight against piracy.

During Italian warship ITS San Giusto’s port visit to Djibouti on 21 August 2012, the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, had a busy agenda.

The Force Commander of European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) visited Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) detachments.

On 13 August the Luxembourg Maritime Patrol Aircraft Detachment deployed in support of the EU anti-piracy operation ATALANTA passed its 4.000th operational flight hour during its 707th operational sortie in theatre.

Counter piracy forces from the EU Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) Operation Atalanta and NATO disrupted two pirated dhows and freed the crew taken hostage in the Gulf of Aden.

After a three day hunt by NATO and EU counter piracy forces, HNLMS Rotterdam in close cooperation with EU unit FGS Sachsen, has successfully disrupted a pirated dhow.

Seven Somali men have been convicted of piracy following their arrest in 2009 by EU Naval force for the attempted hijacking of the merchant vessel Captain St. Vincent.

This week FGS Sachsen has taken up station patrolling the Gulf of Aden, under the command of the EUNAVFOR. She will shortly relieve fellow German frigate FGS Bremen which has served so successfully in countering-piracy with EUNAVFOR since May of this year.

At Djibouti: In a ceremony held today, Monday 6 August 2012, on board French warship FS Marne, French Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis handed over sea command of the EU Naval Force to Italian Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, embarked

On Thursday 2 August 2012, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, visited the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) counter piracy operation headquarters (OHQ) in Northwo

On 24 July Force Commander of the European Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR), Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis, met with the Omani authorities in Salalah (Oman) to deepen the excellent operational cooperation between Operation Atalanta and the Royal Navy of Oman.