On 15 February 2023, the Force Commander of EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA (FCDR), Portuguese Commodore Nuno Filipe Cortes Lope, handed over the Command of Task Force 456 to Spanish Captain Juan María Ibáñez Martín.
The Operation Commander (OPCDR) of the European Union Naval Force Operation ATALANTA, Vice Admiral (VADM) José María Nuñez Torrente chaired the ceremony, which took place on board of the ESPS SANTA MARIA (Force Headquarters - FHQ 42nd rotation Flagship) and the ESPS REINA SOFIA (current EUNAVFOR Flagship - FHQ 43rd rotation) moored side by side.
The HOTO ceremony took place in Souda Bay Naval Base, and by the host nation, Greece, the attendees were Rear Admiral Polychronis Koulouris, Deputy Fleet Commander in Chief Hellenic Fleet, Commodore Nektarios Lyberakis, Commander of Souda bay Naval Base and Commodore Charalambos Thymis, NMIOTC Commander
The Chief of Staff Portuguese Armed Forces Joint Operations Command, VADM Jorge Nobre de Sousa, and Spanish Joint Operations Command Chief of Staff, VADM Iñigo de la Puente Mora, attended the ceremony together with representatives of local authorities.
Before the HOTO ceremony, VADM Nobre de Sousa imposed the Portuguese Cross of Saint George to STM CO CDR. Alfonso Moreno Cividanes and 42nd Rotation COS CDR. Juan C. Prada Pardal.
The OPCDR thanked outgoing Commodore Nuno Filipe Cortes, in command since 2 December 2022, for his leadership, commitment and effectiveness in the accomplishment of his tasks, and congratulated the 42nd Rotation for their work and effort during the deployment.
Finally, he welcomed Captain Juan María Ibáñez Martin, wishing him good luck and success. “Today, you undertake a unique professional and personal experience, be sure that you can count on my personal support and on the engagement of the men and women that I have the honour to command, to assist you in the performance of your demanding responsibilities”, OPCDR said.
The 42nd Rotation has completed a successful deployment, contributing to maritime security by providing protection to all vulnerable vessels transiting the Area of Operation, especially the World Food Program (WFP) vessels. Of special mention are the close relations with UN Office on Drug and Crime and EU Capacity Building Mission in Somalia, in developing several joint activities with Somali maritime law enforcement agencies. Equally important is the cooperation with the maritime security structures in the western Indian Ocean like the Regional Coordination Fusion Centre in Seychelles, the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre in Madagascar, and the Maritime Security Centre in Oman. “The seafarers that daily cross our Area of Operations trust in Operation Atalanta to keep them safe due to the professionalism, permanent availability and commitment of all EUNAVFOR members”, Commodore Nuno Cortes said.
The new staff of Operation Atalanta FHQ’s 43rd Rotation is composed of members from seven different nations: Spain, Italy, Colombia, Serbia, Montenegro, the Republic of Korea, and Djibouti.
Captain Ibáñez Martín said, “I assume command of Task Force 465, as Force Commander of the European Union’s Operation Atalanta, with high pride and honour for the Spanish Navy and for myself.”
The FHQ, under the command of the Operation Headquarters (OHQ) in Rota (Spain), is an embarked headquarter forward deployed to Atalanta’ s Area of Operation, responsible for the Tactical Command of all EUNAVFOR multinational assets in the area. Its main responsibility is conducting operations at the operational and tactical level, in accordance with the Atalanta Operation mandate and under OHQ guidance.
