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EU Naval Force Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá (right) and Force Commander Hervé Bléjean meeting with Tanzanian participants during the training. Medical team of FS Siroco assessing the condition of patient on board Korean fishing vessel. Helicopter arriving for a quick evacuation of severely injured patient. Medical evacuation in process. Patient is being carefully lifted in to the helicopter for transfer. Patient in critical condition being transfered to helicopter for the transfer to surgery on board German frigate FGS Hessen. Patient being transferred to medical facilities of FGS Hessen for surgery. The initial investigation is being done by medical specialists of FGS Hessen. The surgeon on board the German frigate carried out a five-hour operation on the wounded patient, and afterwards, FGS Hessen’s doctor was able to report that the operation had b On Wednesday 12 February 2014, a German Navy sailor, who was conducting ‘lookout’ duties on the bridge of Federal German Ship (FGS) Hessen, sighted a person waving for help from the top of a capsized boat off the Somali coast. The German warship quickly initiated a rescue operation. After launching both of the frigate’s boats with medical personnel, swimmers and a Somali interpreter inside, the fisherman, who was only 14 years of age, was quickly rescued. After being taken on board FGS Hessen for a medical check, the fisherman said that his boat had capsized two hours earlier and that another fisherman was missing. FGS Hessen’s sailors rightes and pumpes out the capsized fishing boat. During her last port call, crew members of Spanish warship ESPS Tornado carried out training with the Malagasy Navy. The training focused on counter-piracy and boarding operations, followed by a realistic simulation of a boarding action. Talking about the training, Commanding Officer of ESPS Tornado, Lieutenant Commander Juan Jose Belizón stated: “This time together has been very fruitful, providing the opportunity to grow mutual understanding between the EU Naval Force and the Malagasy N During their recent port visit to the Seychelles at the end of January, technicians from the newly embarked flight crew of EU Naval Force warship, FGS Hessen, successfully completed an engine change on one of the warship’s Sea Lynx Mark 88A helicopter. A helicopter engine change is a highly specialised procedure that requires a warship’s deck to be as stable as possible, which is why it was decided to do the change whilst the ship was still in port. Working in temperatures up to 30°C and with humidity rates above 80 percent, the technicians ensured they did not stop until the job was done. Once the warship left harbour, test flights were conducted at sea to ensure the helicopter was fully operational. Both of FGS Hessen’s Sea Lynx helicopters provide crucial air surveillance support to the EU Naval Force’s in the on-going fight against Somali piracy. During the EU Naval Force flagship’s recent two-day port visit to Djibouti, the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean (French Navy) visited the EU Naval Force units based in Djibouti. Admiral Bléjean took the opportunity to meet the Support Element of Operation Atalanta (SEA), and both the German and Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) teams, who are both located in French Djibouti Air base. Admiral Bléjean took the opportunity to meet the Support Element of Operation Atalanta (SEA), and both the German and Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) teams, who are both located in French Djibouti Air base. Admiral Bléjean took the opportunity to meet the Support Element of Operation Atalanta (SEA), and both the German and Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) teams, who are both located in French Djibouti Air base. After visiting their main facilities and being given an update on their capabilities and assets, Rear Admiral Bléjean stated: “The MPRAs are a vital asset, enabling the EU Naval Force to gather essential intelligence information to guide our operations. Y During the same day in the afternoon, Admiral Bléjean also visited for the first time H.E. Ambassador Joseph Silva, who is the EU Delegate in Djibouti. During the visit they discussed the EU NAVFOR operations since the 6th December and also the activities On Friday, 31 January 2014, the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta warship ITS Libeccio, assisted a Yemeni dhow that was adrift 100 nautical miles from the shore. Technical personnel of ITS Libeccio were invited on board the dhow to offer assistance. Unfortunately, the technicians could only confirm that the engine was beyond repair. The dhow, with the help of the Italian Frigate’s Seaboats was pushed towards the ship and, after a thorough check of the sturdiness of the hull and the wellbeing of the crew, the dhow was given a supply of food and fresh water and was positioned at the st On Saturday, 1 February, in vicinity of Al Mukallah (Yemen), the Italian Frigate contacted the local Coast Guard who immediately sent a patrol boat to recover the dhow and tow it and its crew safely home. Five men apprehended by FS Siroco are transferred to the Seychelles police with the aim to prosecute them for acts of piracy. The men suspected of piracy are handed over to the Seychelles police who read them their rights. Officers of FS Siroco, the EU Naval Force flag ship, providing the Seychelles police with evidence gathered while freeing an Indian dhow and apprehending 5 suspected pirates earlier this month. Seychelles authorities signing the paperwork finalising the transfer of evidence by FS Siroco witnessed by H.E. Ambassador Geneviève Iancu, representative of the EU presidency in the Seychelles. Seychelles police catalogues and collects the evidence gathered by FS Siroco. The skiff of the suspected pirates is being inspected by Seychelles police on board the EU Naval Force falgship FS Siroco. The skiff of the suspected pirates is being disembarked from FS Siroco and handed over as evidence to the Seychelles authorities. Last week, German EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta warship, FGS Hessen spotted three Iranian flagged dhows stopped in the water in close proximity to each other. The Commanding Officer of FGS Hessen, Commander Jacobus, dispatched a small team to transfer across for a so called ‘friendly approach’. As they approached, the master of the dhow was already standing at the upper deck awaiting his guests.