June 2017

During their counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, EU NAVFOR sailors and marines will often take the opportunity to talk to Somali fishermen about the role of EU NAVFOR in the region.

In order to ensure sailors and marines aboard EU NAVFOR’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, remain fully prepared to respond quickly to a piracy incident or other situation at sea, they carry out regular training and exercises.

When deployed on operations it is crucial that sailors, marines and airmen train regularly to ensure they remain fully prepared to deal with any incident at sea.

As the changeover of EU NAVFOR’s force headquarters approaches, Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, took time out to thank key members of his Force HQ staff for their outstanding support and dedication as they prepare to depart ESPS Galicia in the coming weeks.

Spain’s Chief of Defence Staff, Army General Fernando Alejandre Martínez, recently took time to visit the Spanish Maritime Air Detachment at their base in Djibouti.  During his visit, he thanked them for their outstanding support to the European Union’s counter-piracy efforts off the coast of Somali

Italian Navy warship, ITS Espero, recently visited the port of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.  During the visit ITS Espero’s commanding officer, Commander Luigi Pirozzi, had the privilege of inviting on board the head of the EU delegation to Tanzania, H.E.

The Republic of Korea warship, ROKS Choi Young, recently completed her second term of support to EU NAVFOR off the coast of Somalia as part of South Korea’s efforts to deter piracy and provide reassurance at sea to masters and crews of merchant vessels as they transit across the region.

EU NAVFOR’s highly trained Montenegrin maritime protection team are currently deployed on board the World Food Programme (WFP) vessel, MV Esbjerg, to protect its valuable humanitarian aid cargo from any potential pirate attack as it sails close to the coast to deliver much-needed food to the people

During a port visit by ESPS Galicia to Djibouti, EU NAVFOR’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, had the pleasure of welcoming on board the Spanish maritime aircrew from the aircraft Orion and their support staff.

On 13 June 2017 Senior Captain Wang Zhongcai from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Escort Task Group (ETG) 577, welcomed Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, on board Chinese PLA Navy warship, Huang Gang.

Spanish Navy warship, ESPS Galicia, is the flagship of the EU Naval Force and she is currently deployed off the coast of Somalia to help deter acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.

French maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and French Navy warships are currently deployed in the Horn of Africa region as part of France’s commitment to strengthen maritime security in the region.

A team of highly-trained Spanish marines has been deployed on board EU NAVFOR’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, for the past three months as part of Spain’s contribution to the European Union’s efforts to deter and disrupt acts of piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

Before EU NAVFOR’s German P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) and its detachment of 85 personnel depart their current base in Djibouti to fly home to Germany later this week, Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, took to opportunity to meet the cre

During EU NAVFOR counter-piracy patrols in the southern Indian Ocean, the commanding officer of ITS Espero, Commander Luigi Pirozzi, took the took the opportunity to visit the port of Antsiranana in Madagascar to strengthen ties with a key ally in the fight against piracy.

To ensure that they remain fully prepared to deal with any security incident off the coast of Somalia, Spanish Marines on board ESPS Galicia conduct regular force protection training at sea.

During ESPS Galicia’s counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, EU NAVFOR’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, took the opportunity to visit the EU NAVFOR Montenegrin maritime protection team that is currently on board the World Food Programme (WFP) ship, MV E

On Tuesday 30 May 2017, the officer in charge of EU NAVFOR’s Support Element Atalanta (SEA) based in Djibouti, Commander Jean Marc Stervinou (French Navy), took to opportunity to fly with the aircrew from the Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA).

The Republic of Korea warship, ROKS Choi Young, has been deployed as part of EU NAVFOR off the coast of Somalia.  The invaluable cooperation between the Republic of Korea and European Union warships is helping to strengthen maritime security to keep seafarers safe as they transit the Indian Ocean an

Operation Atalanta’s Italian warship, ITS Espero, has conducted a replenishment at sea (RAS) with United States Navy Ship (USNS) Laramie.  Conducting a RAS at sea enables EU NAVFOR warships to remain on patrol for longer periods to help deter potential pirate attacks and keep seafarers safe.

EU NAVFOR can confirm that oil tanker, MT NAVIG8 Providence, came under attack by suspected armed pirates earlier today in the Gulf of Oman.

The sailors and marines on board EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, recently took the opportunity to train with the Malagasy Navy as part of the European Union’s commitment to help improve the maritime capabilities of regional states to strengthen security in the Indian Ocean.