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On Friday 25 July 2014 the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, took the opportunity to visit warship, ESPS Navarra. The purpose of the visit was to meet the ship’s commanding officer, Commander Alejandro Cuerda Lorenzo and his crew. After a short reception on the flight deck, the Force Commander was guided to the Officers’ Mess, where he had the opportunity to talk with the ship´s company. He was also given an operational briefing about the capabilities of ESPS Navarra. After the briefing, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen stated “I´m very impressed with your team spirit, professionalism and enthusiasm. Please carry on with your excellent work and good luck for the rest of your deployment in Operation Atalanta.” On Thursday 24 July the EU Naval Force flagship, German frigate FGS Brandenburg and the Japanese destroyer, JS Inazuma, met at sea in the Gulf of Aden. During the visit the Japanese Commander, Captain Koji Tachikawa was given a ship’s tour. The EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, took the opportunity to welcome his counterpart, Japanese Commander of Escort Division 8, Captain Koji Tachikawa. For more than 10 years the Japanese Navy has been deploying maritime forces to the Horn of Africa. ESPS Relámpago has completed her counter-piracy deployment with Operation Atalanta in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. ESPS Relámpago, under the command of Isidoro Junguito Carrión, joined the EU operation on 13th March 2014 and will return to her home port in mid-August. Captain Hans-Jörg Detlefsen (middle) with the Captain of the aircraft and the Commanding Officer of the MPRA Detachment. The German Squadron Commanding Officer Captain Detlefsen embarks the German P-3C based in Djibouti. Captain Hans-Jörg Detlefsen listens to the routine flight crew briefing before take-off. EU Naval Force Welcomes Spanish Navy Warship ESPS Navarra Combat support ship FGS Berlin which recently joined the EU Naval Force received a welcome visit from Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen. Using one of FGS Brandenburg’s Sea King helicopters, Rear Admiral zur Mühlen and members of his staff flew across to FGS Berlin. The Force Commander used the meeting to have discussions with the ship’s commanding officer, Commander Marcel Rosenbohm, about the on-going piracy threat and to meet members of the ship’s company. The Force Commander was given a briefing on the enhanced medical facilities on board FGS Berlin, which include operating theatres, an intensive care unit, dental facilities and laboratories. The Speaker and leaders of the political parties of the Dutch House of Representatives made a working visit to the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate, HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, at sea off the coast of Tanzania. After the commanding officer of De Zeven Provinciën, Commander Ruud Schoonen, welcomed the visitors on board, they spent two days at sea, with the warship's crew giving the MPs a comprehensive picture of the mission and how it is being conducted. During the visit the Speakers and Members of Dutch Parliament were given a briefing about the warship’s deployment as part of EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta. On Thursday 10 July 2014 the EU Naval Force welcomed a new ship to its counter-piracy Task Force – the German Navy replenishment ship FGS Berlin. FGS Berlin will remain part of Operation Atalanta for three months before returning to her home port of Wilhelmshaven, Germany in October 2014. Also embarked on board FGS Berlin are two Sea King helicopters and enhanced medical facilities. Shooting, fast-rope exercises and the cooperation with the Dutch ship’s search and guard teams are on the training-plan. The Maltese Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team adds frequent exercises with the ship’s medical department to maintain their medical capabilities. The Maltese Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team visited the Royal Netherlands Navy base in Den Helder to train on the ship with the onboard teams. On board HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën the Maltese Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team (MSDEBT) works hard to maintain their skills by conducting regular training. In order to ensure that the EU Naval Force flagship was able to keep a watchful eye over the WFP vessel during the sea transit, the German frigate FGS Brandenburg matched her speed. The WFP vessel had about 3,000 tonnes of food on board, which was destined for displaced people in Somalia. After the WFP ship arrived safely in the vicinity of the Port of Bosaso, FGS Brandenburg’s commanding officer bid farewell to the master and crew of the vessel. Protecting WFP vessels from pirate attack is the primary task of the European Union’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta. Members of the ship’s company gave a tour around the EU Naval Force warship HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, with a focus on boarding operations and counter-piracy procedures. During the training, the importance of helicopters in counter-piracy operations was explained to the attendees from Seychelles Coastguard. On Monday 23 June EU Naval Force warship HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën hosted members of the Seychelles Coastguard. On board the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, eighteen recruits from the Coastguard were briefed on boarding operations and counter-piracy procedures. Members of the Seychelles Coastguard were briefed on Operation Atalanta, the European Union’s counter-piracy mission off the Coast of Somalia and the EU’s Comprehensive Approach to the region. Commander Schoonen and Flotilleadmiral Zur Muhlen on board HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën Dutch crewmembers and German representitives on board HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën Commander Schoonen, Flotilleadmiral Zur Muhlen and Chapman Oosterhuis