King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden visits EU NAVFOR flagship HSwMS Carlskrona

May 06, 2010 - 18:07
His majesty the king of Sweden visited EU NAVFOR Flag ship HSwMS Carlskrona during her port visit in Mombasa 3-5 may. As a navy trained officer, he showed great interest in EU NAVFOR’s work around the Horn of Africa.

Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, paid a visit to EU NAVFOR Flag ship this week accompanied by a delegation from The Swedish Embassy in Nairobi as well as by the Director Operations in the Swedish Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Anders Lindström. His majesty was trained in the Navy and has retained a keen interest in all naval matters. He has even been the owner of a veteran fast patrol boat from the 1950’s.

“I think it’s important that Sweden is present in this area.” he said, and added:
“That we have been entrusted to lead the other units in the EU force is something we should be proud of.”

The Swedish king was shown around the warship as well as the Maritime Operations Centre of the Force Headquarters where he was able to follow an ongoing incident during which the Force Commander ordered EU NAVFOR warship HS Elli to stop a pirate action group (as reported in a Press Release 4 may).

Before the king went back to Sweden he expressed his gratitude for the hospitality aboard HSwMS Carlskrona and wished us Fair Winds and Following Seas.

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 Unions Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and to protect vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

 

 

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