The aim of this meeting is to exchange information with Shipping Industry representatives.
London, 12 December 2023 – The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation ATALANTA Commander, Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano, chaired the XIV Industry Strategy Meeting in London. This meeting is a unique framework to provide the most relevant representatives of the shipping industry with an update on the maritime security situation in the North-West Indian Ocean and Red Sea and to learn first-hand about their concerns and needs in terms of maritime traffic security.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA presentations focused on the maritime security situation in the region, including an update on the recent counter-piracy operation, threat assessment and observed trend and evolution.
The meeting was held at the EU Delegation to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in London. The Head of the Political Section EU Delegation to the UK, Ms Marie-Laure de Bergh, welcomed the attendees on behalf of the EU Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Pedro Serrano de Haro, and provided opening remarks.
The primary attendees to the meeting are representatives of prominent shipping associations, International Chamber of Shipping, OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum), INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, Asian Shipowners Association (ASA) and BIMCO. Also, representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) participated in the meeting.
In addition, the event counted on the participation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) Senior Coordinator to North Western Indian Ocean, Dr Alison Weston, the Operation AGENOR Force Commander, Rear Admiral Hans Huygens and the Combined Maritime Force Deputy Commander, Commodore Phillip Dennis. In addition, representatives from the NATO Shipping Centre, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the Conflict Arms Research took part in the meeting.
The main concern of shipping industry representatives was the degradation of security for the flow of navigation in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including the recent pirate attack. Vice Admiral Villanueva, Operation ATALANTA Operation Commander, explained to the audience the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA capacities and highlighted “the need to keep evolving ATALANTA in order to be relevant for our first costumers (the Shipping Industry)”. Eventually, Vice Admiral Villanueva said, “I am confident that we can mitigate this crisis and Atalanta will be part of that”.
