Marking the summer monsoon period and the main vacation time, August is usually a rather quiet month. This August, however, saw several significant events that I want to highlight. My Deputy, Rear Admiral Galoforo, was invited to a conference in Mumbai, where he spoke not only on behalf of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA but represented the European Union, as well. This is exemplary for ATALANTA’s evolving role as a maritime security provider and as visible presence of the EU in the Western Indian Ocean region.
But also at sea, different interactions with the Indian navy took place, underlining the role the EU attributes to India as a key partner in the region, sharing many values and interests.
Joint exercises and manoeuvres with long-established partners like the USA and Oman completed this month ATALANTA’s activities. Furthermore, several port visits to Omani ports offered the opportunity to host junior Omani navy officers for a few days on board ITS Durand De La Penne, allowing for a first-hand impression of Operation ATALANTA. Beside, these port visits to Duqm and Salalah were used to consolidate logistic networks.
On 12 August, the EUNAVFOR Atalanta Deputy Commander, Italian Rear Admiral Giovanni Galoforo, participated in the Seminar “Enhancing the Indo-Pacific security network in the maritime domain: an EU perspective”, held in Mumbai (India). The seminar was co-organized by the Italian Embassy in India and the National Maritime Foundation, India’s first maritime think-tank for the conduct of independent and policy-relevant research on all maritime matters.
Also, the previous day, Rear Admiral Galoforo met with Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Distinguished Fellow at Observer Research Foundation; Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command; Ms Manjeet Kriplani, Co-Founder and Director of Gateway House, and Rear Admiral DK Goswami, Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Mumbai.
On 31 August, The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and the European Union funded project CRIMARIO II (CRIMARIO) published a common statement on the signature last 25 July of the IORIS Partnership Agreement (IPA) concerning the use of the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform. The Agreement was signed by the project director of CRIMARIO II, Mr. Martin Cauchi-Inglott, and by the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Operation Commander, Vice Admiral José M. Núñez Torrente. It establishes a collaborative framework between CRIMARIO and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, with the aim of utilizing IORIS to bolster the development of a Regional Maritime Security Architecture in the Western Indian Ocean. It encompasses both technical and operational aspects.
During the port visit in Duqm (Sultanate of Oman), a crew exchange between the EUNAVFOR Flagship ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE and the Indian Navy Ship INS TRIKAND took place, on 1 August. It allowed crews to share experiences and strengthen their cooperation as partners to ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
Before this exchange, EUNAVFOR Force Commander Rear Admiral Fabrizio Rutteri had the opportunity to host the Deputy Commander of the Central Naval Area, Commander Al Warty, on board the ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE, moored in the port of Duqm. The meeting was an opportunity to strengthen the relationship of friendship and cooperation with the Royal Navy of Oman, a maritime security provider in the area together with Operation ATALANTA.
On 2 August, two junior officers of the Royal Navy of Oman embarked on EUNAVFOR flagship ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE, to take part in the different routines on board with the rest of the crew. It was an opportunity for their professional growth, highlighting the excellent relationship between the European Union through Operation Atalanta and the Sultanate of Oman.
On 4 August, EUNAVFOR flagship ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE refueled at sea with USNS AMELIA EARHART in the Gulf of Oman. This joint manoeuvre shows the interoperability and cooperation among allied maritime forces to foster security at sea. Operation ATALANTA units replenish at sea to be always ready.
On 6 August, the EUNAVFOR flagship ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE conducted a joint activity at sea with the Indian destroyer INS VISAKHAPATNAM. During the activity, the Flag Officer of the Western Indian Fleet, Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty visited ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE, and in return, he hosted EUNAVFOR Force Commander, RA Fabrizio Rutteri, on board the Indian destroyer.
On 8 August, the Director General of the Royal Omani Police Coast Guard, Ali Bin Saif Al Muqbali, hosted the EUNAVFOR Force Commander together with a delegation from the ATALANTA Flagship DURAND DE LA PENNE. The meeting was an opportunity to strengthen relations with Omani authorities that guarantee maritime security in the area.
On 10 August, in the port of Djibouti, EUNAVFOR Frigate, ESPS NAVARRA had the opportunity to carry out another Local Maritime Capacity Enhancement activity with the Djiboutian Coast Guard. This time, NAVARRA’s Boarding Team explained its missions and standard operating procedures.
On 10 August, in the port of Djibouti, the ESPS NAVARRA received the visit of US Army colleagues. It was an opportunity to improve cohesion between those committed to Maritime Security in the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean.
On 13 August, ESPS NAVARRA sailed in the waters of the Gulf of Aden together with ROKS GWANGGAETO THE GREAT, in support to the Combined Maritime Forces CTF 151. Constant cooperation with countries and Task Forces in the area of operations is vital to ensure maritime security.
On 20 August, ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE, Operation ATALANTA flagship, conducted a counter-piracy exercise with MV GRANDE TORINO, of Italian “Grimaldi Lines” shipping company, while patrolling the Gulf of Aden. This collaborative approach allows for mutual understanding and improves procedures in a potential incident, using a real-life scenario. The protection of vulnerable vessels is one of EUNAVFOR's top priorities.
On 23 August, during the visit of EUNAVFOR flagship DURAND DE LA PENNE to Salalah, Oman, the Force Commander RADM Fabrizio Rutteri visited the Southern Command of the Omani Navy, commanded by Captain Ali Al Khaldi. Afterwards CAPT Al Khaldi was hosted on board ITS Durand de La Penne.
On 24 August, as a continuation of the activities during the visit to the port of Salalah, the Force Commander met with the Director General of Health Services in Dhofar Governatorate, Dr Ali Almaqbali. This meeting was a valuable opportunity to strengthen relations between ATALANTA and the health service authorities in Dhofar.
On 27 August, ITS LUIGI RIZZO conducted a joint activity at sea with USS INDIANAPOLIS, which currently supports Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153). The activity was an excellent opportunity to strengthen the cooperation with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
CMF is comprised of five Task Forces. The CTF 153 focuses on international maritime security and capacity-building efforts in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.
These warships participated in EUNAVFOR’s operations during the month of August:
The EUNAVFOR OHQ Legal Advisor, Spanish Armed Forces MAJ Rodrigo Lorenzo Ponce de Leon, was invited by UNODC as a guest speaker to participate in two different events. The first was the "Workshop on the Law of the Sea and Illicit Maritime Activities" held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 20 to 27 July. The second was the "Meeting on Law Enforcement Tactics and Procedures for the Collection of Evidence at Sea in Piracy Crimes" held in Accra, Ghana, from 31 July to 2 August.
Participants in both workshops included representatives from law enforcement agencies, navy and coast guard services, as well as maritime safety agencies from a variety of coastal States from West Africa such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
MAJ Lorenzo was able to share with the participants the rich experience that Operation ATALANTA has in combating piracy in the Indian Ocean within the framework of the Law of the Sea, for more than a decade.
Both events were organised by UNODC through the Global Maritime Crime Programme funded by the European Union in the framework of the Support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) Project.
On 3 August, a technical meeting on the Indian Ocean Region Information Sharing (IORIS) software between CRIMARIO and EUNAVFOR experts was held at Operation ATALANTA OHQ. The current and future use of the IORIS platform was discussed, with an overview of the Regional Maritime Architecture provided and highlighting the integrated support to the WFP operations. Operation ATALANTA and CRIMARIO remain fully committed to developing Maritime Security in the North Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
On 15 August, Operation ATALANTA congratulated the crewmembers, friends & colleagues from the Republic of Korea on their National Day.