After 4 months in the hands of pirates, HANSA STAVANGER slipped quietly into the port of Mombasa under the watchful eye of the EU NAVFOR ship FGS BRANDENBURG. For the 236 EU NAVFOR soldiers of BRANDENBURG, the task of escorting the trading vessel into port is now complete.
On 3 August 2009 at 17.40 the German container ship was released after 120 days captivity from Somali pirates. On release, the EU NAVFOR ships RHEINLAND-PFALZ and BRANDENBURG arrived at the scene of the container ship’s release, in order to ensure its security and safe passage to Mombasa. EU NAVFOR soldiers went on board immediately, bringing food, water and clothes and a doctor attended to carry out medical examination of the HS crew. 25 helicopter flights were sent to provide supplies for the HANSA STAVANGER.
The general conditions for the crew, after the release by the pirates, were appalling and large areas had to be disinfected and made habitable once more. The pirates robbed the crew of many items of every day use such as clothes, clocks or even toothbrushes. Much kindness was shown by the crew of the EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG who replaced the day to day items that had been stolen. Also simple nautical equipment such as binoculars and radios were made available to the HS, in order to ensure the safe onward voyage to Mombasa.
A substantial component of the assistance provided was medical and dental treatment and this was provided over the next few days on route to Mombasa. In a show of appreciation, the HANSA STAVANGER set the BRANDENBURG flag on her top front mast on arrival in Mombasa.
An EU NAVFOR press conference was carried out in the port of the Mombasa on the ships’ arrival for a large number of journalists. Over sixty representatives from the international media were provided with the latest information about the release of the HANSA STAVANGER and her support from, EU NAVFOR Atalanta. A representative of European Union headquarters in Northwood Lieutenant Commander Peter Benn RN attended with the Commanding Officer of EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG, Torsten Ites.
Since 29 June the FGS BRANDENBURG has been under the command of the first European Union Naval Force mission Atalanta. On Monday she will sail from Mombasa, in order to return to her EU NAVFOR duties.
On 3 August 2009 at 17.40 the German container ship was released after 120 days captivity from Somali pirates. On release, the EU NAVFOR ships RHEINLAND-PFALZ and BRANDENBURG arrived at the scene of the container ship’s release, in order to ensure its security and safe passage to Mombasa. EU NAVFOR soldiers went on board immediately, bringing food, water and clothes and a doctor attended to carry out medical examination of the HS crew. 25 helicopter flights were sent to provide supplies for the HANSA STAVANGER.
The general conditions for the crew, after the release by the pirates, were appalling and large areas had to be disinfected and made habitable once more. The pirates robbed the crew of many items of every day use such as clothes, clocks or even toothbrushes. Much kindness was shown by the crew of the EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG who replaced the day to day items that had been stolen. Also simple nautical equipment such as binoculars and radios were made available to the HS, in order to ensure the safe onward voyage to Mombasa.
A substantial component of the assistance provided was medical and dental treatment and this was provided over the next few days on route to Mombasa. In a show of appreciation, the HANSA STAVANGER set the BRANDENBURG flag on her top front mast on arrival in Mombasa.
An EU NAVFOR press conference was carried out in the port of the Mombasa on the ships’ arrival for a large number of journalists. Over sixty representatives from the international media were provided with the latest information about the release of the HANSA STAVANGER and her support from, EU NAVFOR Atalanta. A representative of European Union headquarters in Northwood Lieutenant Commander Peter Benn RN attended with the Commanding Officer of EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG, Torsten Ites.
Since 29 June the FGS BRANDENBURG has been under the command of the first European Union Naval Force mission Atalanta. On Monday she will sail from Mombasa, in order to return to her EU NAVFOR duties.