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The Norwegian Government announced this week that they will contribute one of their brand new NANSEN-Class Frigates to the EU NAVFOR anti-piracy operation. The 5000 tonne warship will bring a significant capability to the Op Atalanta force when it deploys in August.

Early this morning the German warship RHEINLAND-PFALZ and the American destroyer MONTEREY successfully fended off a pirate attack on the German owned MV COURIER as it transited through the Gulf of Aden.

At 0400GMT yesterday morning the 75,000 tonne MV SALDANHA with its 22 man crew and cargo of coal was hijacked whilst transiting westbound through the transit corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden.

Representatives from India, China, Japan and Ukraine visited the Operation HQ in Northwood to discuss sharing information between those forces conducting counter piracy activities.

Text of report in English by French news agency AFP A Spanish warship Thursday [ 12 February] foiled an attack by pirates on a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia, the defence ministry said.

The improved weather conditions in the Gulf of Aden over the last 24 hours have resulted in a marked increase in pirate activity with four attempted hijackings of merchant vessels.

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Op Atalanta protecting merchant shipping The video footage of Op Atalanta ship FS FLOREAL capturing suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden can be found at the link here.

The Op Atalanta warship NORTHUMBERLAND (UK) is this week escorting four different World Food Program (WFP) ships into three different Somali ports. Thus far two ships have arrived safely in Mogadishu and Bosaso with a further two expected in Berbera over this weekend.

On Tuesday, the French warship FLOREAL, part of the EU Naval Operation Atalanta, captured two vessels carrying suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

The Spanish Parliament is expected to announce the contribution of a warship to the Op ATALANTA taskforce after voting in the motion yesterday.

As the EU Operation gathers pace and following a recent awareness campaign among the merchant shipping community, a record number of owners and operators are now registering with the Op Atalanta Maritime Security Centre.