Operation Atalanta’s counter-piracy Force Commander, Commodore Luyckx, recently visited People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Ship Xiangtan in the Gulf of Aden. The visit enabled the Force Commander to meet Commander Escort Task Group 531, Senior Captain Wang Hongli.

After being transferred by helicopter from HNLMS Tromp to PLA Navy Ship Xiangtan, Commodore Luyckx was given a tour of the Chinese warship. Both commanders then had the opportunity to deliver briefings to enable a deeper understanding of their respective operations.

In the past Operation Atalanta and Chinese warships have liaised to ensure that World Food Programme (WFP) vessels carrying humanitarian food aid to displaced people in Somalia arrived in port – safe from any potential pirate attack.