The German warship FGS KOELN leaves EU NAVFOR after more than 2 months on operation

Nov 25, 2010 - 12:26
On 24 November, FGS KÖLN conducted her last day of operations as a part of EU NAVFOR, after 74 days of counter-piracy activities in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin.

EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, expressed his deep satisfaction to the warship for the contribution given to EU NAVFOR Operation.

FGS KÖLN conducted a variety of tasks whilst deployed. Of particular note was the disruption she conducted on 4 October, enabling her to foil an attack against a merchant vessel after she received her Mayday call. She also safely escorted the MV VICTORIA, chartered by the World Food Programme, enabling the delivery of 3,881 tons of food (maize, salt, oil, corn-soya blend, and sorghum) to Somalia.

“You have undoubtedly a part of the good results we obtain in the counter-piracy mission led by the European Union” said Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, EU NAVFOR Force Commander, in his farewell message to the warship.

The warship has 216 crewmembers and has been operating as an EU NAVFOR unit since 13 September 2010.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of  African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and to protect vulnerable vessels in the Gulf  of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. In addition, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Categories