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Commodore Lenselink and Donna Hopkins, Donna Hopkins, Coordinator Counter Piracy and Maritime Security, U.S. State Department Onboard RFA Lyme Bay, which is part of European Union Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta, the Boarding teams from the Fleet Contingency Troop and K Company 43 Commando Royal Marines have taken advantage of the Lynx MK 8 that embarked from RFA Fort Aus Fast roping can be useful and necessary to board a vessel in a different way than using normal boats. They also conducted a small arms shoot across the flight deck of Lyme Bay in order to maintain their military skills. The counter-piracy duties were handed over in Djibouti from Commander Marco Antoniazzi (ITS Zeffiro, right) to his successor Commander Stefano Calvetti (ITS Libeccio, left). On 6th of October ITS Zeffiro handed over the Italian commitment to the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta to ITS Libeccio. The EU Naval Force is working with EUCAP Nestor as part of the EU’s Comprehensive Approach to the Horn of Africa, aimed at strengthening regional maritime security and capabilities. EU Naval Force warship ESPS Meteoro conducted a diving exercise with the Djiboutian Navy and Coastguard, organised in cooperation with EUCAP Nestor. The Djiboutian and Spanish divers conducted a general familiarisation dive. The divers also conducted a hull inspection of Meteoro’s propeller shaft, rudder and propeller blades. RFA Lyme Bay joined Operation Atalanta as part of the EU’s counter piracy Naval Force off Somalia. A Friendly Approach is an activity aimed at spreading word in the local maritime community, about the goals of the warships involved in Operation Atalanta under EU flag which is to protect merchant marine traffic and local fishermen and traders. This is not the first EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation for ITS Libeccio. The Italian frigate participated in Operation Atalanta in 2010. The Italian frigate ITS Libeccio carried out a ‘Friendly Approach’ on Sunday 20 October. On 6th of October ITS Zeffiro handed over the Italian commitment to the EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta to ITS Libeccio. Just before the movie started in Amsterdam and Muscat, the Force Commander of Atalanta, Commodore Peter Lenselink, gave a live interview that was broadcast in to the Tuschinski theatre. The helicopter deck was turned into a movie theatre to enable the crew of HNLMS Johan de Witt to watch the movie The recently released Hollywood movie, Captain Phillips, held its Dutch premiere in a very special way. At the same time as the film was being shown in the Tuschinski theatre in Amsterdam, the movie was also being screened on the flight deck of the EU Nav Hollywood movie Captain Phillips premieres on board EU Naval Force Flagship HNLMS Johan de Witt Naval Commander Vice Admiral Matthieu Borsboom arrives at the first public screening of the movie. The top of the Netherland's Royal Navy arrive at the premiere of the pirate movie Captain Phillips in the movie theater Tuschinski, Amsterdam. Along with the premiere in Amsterdam, the film is also shown on board the naval vessel HNLMS Johan de Witt in the port of Muscat, Oman. The top of the Netherland's Royal Navy and about 200 sailors were present as guests of honour at the premiere of the pirate movie Captain Phillips in the movie theatre Tuschinski, in Amsterdam. The German warship is fully equipped for emergencies. In addition to the ship’s doctor, the Niedersachsen has a surgeon, an anaesthesiologist, a dentist and extra paramedics embarked for the deployment. This is not the first time that FGS Niedersachsen has provided medical assistance at sea. Last month the German frigate received an emergency call from the Italian merchant vessel MV Jolly Perla. FGS Niedersachsen provided immediate help to a crew member German frigate FGS Niedersachsen, which is currently deployed with the EU Naval Force, recently carried out two friendly approaches on dhows. German frigate FGS Niedersachsen provides medical assistance during a friendly approach. EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Peter Lenselink and members of his staff, visited RFA Lyme Bay. RFA Lyme Bay recently joined EU Naval Force’s Operation Atalanta. EU Naval Force warship ESPS Meteoro hosts Seychelles Coast Guard during port visit RFA Lyme Bay has carried out the first of six friendly approaches in the Gulf of Aden. It was the first friendly approach carried out by a UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Class ship, as part of European Union Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta. On Sunday, 3 November, EUNAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Peter Lenselink and members of his staff, visited the Italian warship, ITS Libeccio. Commodore Lenselink had a chance to witness the capabilities that ITS Libeccio can offer into the mission. The Force Commander explained he was “impressed by the motivation of the crew and the capabilities that ITS Libeccio brings to the Force.” After being welcomed by the ship’s commanding officer, Commander Stefano Calvetti, Commodore Lenselink was introduced to the crew and given a tour of the ship. ITS Libeccio departed her home port of La Spezia, Italy, on 26th August and joined Operation Atalanta on 6th October. EU NAVFOR Force Commander visits Commander Stefano Calvetti on ITS Libeccio. During the mission the aircraft also overflew the Royal Navy’s HMS Westminster, which was patrolling the East Coast of Somalia as part of the Combined Maritime Forces task force (CTF151), another counter piracy force in the region. The Danish Detachment has operated from the Seychelles Airport for a number of years and carried out an abundance of sorties, providing vital intelligence to the joint maritime forces in their fight against piracy. EU Naval Force Officer joins flying mission with NATO’s counter piracy patrol aircraft. The counter piracy Force Commanders from Combined Maritime Forces, Commodore Jeremy Blunden, the EU Naval Force, Commodore Peter Lenselink and NATO, Commodore Henning Amundsen, met at sea off the Somali Coast on board the EU Naval Force flagship, HNLMS Jo ITS Zeffiro sent a Djiboutian linguist with the warship’s security team to the dhow in order to investigate the nature of the crew’s activities. On Tuesday 1 October 2013, Italian warship ITS Zeffiro conducted a Friendly Approach with a Yemeni dhow in the waters of the Gulf of Aden.