EU NAVFOR welcomes the Italian Frigate ESPERO

Feb 28, 2011 - 13:20
The sixth of the Maestrale Class Frigate “ESPERO” has joined the EUNAVFOR.
Commanded by Commander Vito Lacerenza, the ship and its crew are fully prepared and trained to take an active part within TF 465 and in all anti piracy operations.
It is the first time that ESPERO has taken part in EU NAVFOR. The warship is equipped with extensive self defence measures and has of two AB-212 helicopters at its disposal.

As a flexible warship, ESPERO is perfectly adapted to counter-piracy missions and will improve the capability of EUNAVFOR to protect vulnerable vessels, especially those of the World Food Programme, to deter and prevent acts of piracy, and to contribute to monitoring fishing activities off the coast of Somalia.

F-576 ESPERO holds 229 crew members, including 26 officers. She has been commissioned for service in the Italian Navy since 1984; her displacement is 3.200 tons and she has a length of 123 meters.

EUNAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EUNAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EUNAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Categories