Newsroom

On September 6 the motor vessel MSC PANAMA was released from pirate control after 270 days in captivity and is now underway to a safe port.

HNLMS ZUIDERKRUIS, a Fast Combat Support Ship, in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy since 1975, joined Operation ATALANTA on 5 September 2011.

On September 5, the Spanish frigate SPS SANTA MARIA ended her participation in Operation ATALANTA after 131 days as a part of the EU NAVFOR Task Force.

On 1st of September, the Spanish amphibious ship SPS GALICIA joined EU NAVFOR Task Force 465 off the Horn of Africa.

In the early hours of 26 August, M/V POLAR was released from pirate control after 300 days in captivity and has recently safely reached the port of Salalah, Oman.

On August 29 the Spanish warship SPS INFANTA CRISTINA joined Operation ATALANTA off the Horn of Africa having previously deployed to this operation in the autumn of 2010.

On August 24th, Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema,  Deputy for Foreign Policy Coordination in the Indonesian Ministry for Politics, Law and Security Affairs, accompanied by Admiral Tri Yuswoyo, Head of the Centre for Law and Maritime Security Cooperation, visited the EU NAVFOR Operation Headq

In the early hours of 20 August, the MV FAIRCHEM BOGEY was pirated off the Port of Salalah in Oman and has been taken towards the Somali coast.

Baroness Ashton, High Representative, accompanied by General Håkan Syrén, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, visited the EU NAVFOR Operational HQ in Northwood on 17 Aug 11 to receive an update on the current operations.

Two days after taking over as Force Commander of the EU NAVFOR, Task Force 465, Rear Admiral Jugel, German Navy, met with Rear Admiral Mattesi, Italian Navy, Commander Task Force 508 (Standing NATO Maritime Group 1), on board of the ITS Andrea Doria.

On 14 August 2011, following payment of a ransom, the owner of M/V SININ has confirmed the release of the vessel after 182 days in captivity. The ship was pirated on February 12th 2011 approximately 350 nautical miles East of Masirah (Oman) in the North Arabian Sea.

On August 13th the handover of Task Force 465 was held on board of VASCO DA GAMA in the port of Djibouti. Commodore Alberto Correira handed over the responsibility of Force Commander for the European Union Naval Force Somalia (TF 465) to Rear Admiral Thomas Jugel, German Navy.