On Sunday the Dutch EU NAVFOR flagship HNLMS EVERTSEN performed a successful replenishment at sea (RAS) with a naval tanker from Saudi Arabian, KSAS YUNBOU. Saturday had the kick-off of the newly founded cooperation between the European Union and Saudi Arabia with the Spanish EU NAVFOR unit ESPS CANARIAS also performing a replenishment at sea with KSAS YUNBOU.
Both operations took place inside the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). The manoeuvres were conducted smoothly demonstrating a high degree of interoperability between EU NAVFOR units and Saudi Naval Forces. Performing the RAS in the IRTC implies maximum gain to the EU NAVFOR mission since the units increase their operational endurance without having to leave the area with vulnerable shipping. The following days the remainder of the EU NAVFOR warships in the IRTC will get this most welcome support.
Every year 20.000 - 30.000 commercial vessels pass through the waters surrounding Somalia; this makes piracy in this area an issue of global interest. This is emphasised by the variety of naval forces that have been deployed in the area by several organisation and countries. Presently, approximately 30 ships from 18 different countries are supporting counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia as part of EU NAVFOR, NATO, CTF 151, or independently, like China, Russia, Malaysia, India and Saudi Arabia.
Both operations took place inside the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). The manoeuvres were conducted smoothly demonstrating a high degree of interoperability between EU NAVFOR units and Saudi Naval Forces. Performing the RAS in the IRTC implies maximum gain to the EU NAVFOR mission since the units increase their operational endurance without having to leave the area with vulnerable shipping. The following days the remainder of the EU NAVFOR warships in the IRTC will get this most welcome support.
Every year 20.000 - 30.000 commercial vessels pass through the waters surrounding Somalia; this makes piracy in this area an issue of global interest. This is emphasised by the variety of naval forces that have been deployed in the area by several organisation and countries. Presently, approximately 30 ships from 18 different countries are supporting counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia as part of EU NAVFOR, NATO, CTF 151, or independently, like China, Russia, Malaysia, India and Saudi Arabia.