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source© Bundeswehr.de source© Bundeswehr.de FS Siroco, rendezvoused at sea in the Gulf of Aden with Hellenic warship, HS Psara. HS Psara has had a long history with Operation Atalanta as she was the first EU Naval Force flagship in December 2008. The meeting was also an opportunity for Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean to visit the crewmembers of the Hellenic Navy frigate. The Force Commander held fruitful discussions with the ship’s commanding officer, Commander Ioannis Hristou and his crewmembers. After two hours on board, Admiral Bléjean thanked Commander Hristou for his hospitality and stressed the very good impression he had received during his visit. SPS Tornado in formation with FGS Hessen SPS Tornado during a mail transfer with Hessen last December With the crew of 83, ESPS Relampago will be part of the EU Naval Force for a period of four months. This is the second time ESPS Relampago has joined the EU Force as it also participated in the operation in 2012. On 6 March 2014 the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean was invited to brief Seychellois government and administration representatives and diplomats on the EU’s counter piracy operation. The event was hosted by the EU presidency representative to the Seychelles, Ambassador HE Genevieve Iancu. Force Commander Rear Admiral Bléjean said on this occasion: “This country may be small by its population, but huge by its commitment against piracy – the Seychelles willingness to prosecute pirates is a key factor for current counter-piracy achievements.” During the last week, EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta warships FGS Hessen and ESPS Tornado have carried out several ‘Friendly Approaches’ in the Gulf of Aden. Friendly approaches are conducted to gather information on piracy, as well as gaining a better understanding of the maritime community off the Horn of Africa by speaking with the crews of fishing and trading vessels in the region. EU Naval Force warships and their boarding teams routinely conduct reconnaissance and surveillance operations, including visual and physical checks of vessels transiting the High Risk Area. During these visits, Masters are also made aware of the Best Management Practices for Protection against Somali Based Piracy (BMP), i.e. self-protection measures against pirates. The numbers of friendly approaches by EU Naval Force Warships has increased recently due to the rising number of skiffs and dhows in the Gulf of Aden, following the end of the North East Monsoon. During FS Siroco’s port visit to the Seychelles, 20 trainees from the Basic Training course for the Seychelles Coast Guard embarked for electronic navigation equipment training. The trainees received practical and theoretical instruction in how to use equipment such as GPS, radar, and gyro-compass. The Seychelles Coast Guard Basic Training Programme is a 27-week course. It has been developed by the Coast Guard and EUCAP Nestor and covers various aspects of maritime security and the Coast Guard functions. Speaking about the training, the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard, Lt Col Dine said "The training was extremely useful. It provided the trainees with hands-on instruction on how to handle essential navigation equipment. I am grateful to the EU Naval Commander Jean-Michel Tafani shakes hand with the XO of the Serbian AVPD MSgt Zeljo Kupresak during the medal parade in Djibouti. Major Ivan Tanackovic, Commanding Officer of Serbian AVPD shakes hands with Commander Bertand from French Forces Djibouti who along with Support Element Atalanta provides logistic support to the AVPD whilst they were deployed. Serbian Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment. Serbian AVPD and members of the Support Element Atalanta in Djibouti. On Wednesday 26 February 2014, German Navy frigate, FGS Hessen which is operating as part of the EU Naval Force, and South Korean destroyer, Kang Gam Chan, met up in the Gulf of Aden to carry out a joint exercise. During a brief visit to Salalah, Oman last week, the commanding officer of Kang Gam Chan invited the commanding officer of FGS Hessen, Commander Dirk Jacobus, for lunch and a tour of his ship. Commander Jacobus was accompanied by his doctors and pilots and other German sailors who had been involved in the rescue operation After a return visit by South Korean sailors to FGS Hessen the following day, it was agreed that both ships would conduct a joint exercise at sea, with such exercises helping to strengthen understanding and cooperation between nations. The ships carried out a series of manoeuvering exercises, with coordinated changes of course and speed. FGS Hessen then simulated a merchant vessel that had been taken by armed pirates and the special forces team on board Kang Gam Chan performed a rescue operation to free the vessel and crew. The exercises ended in the late afternoon with an exchange of operational experiences between both commanding officers. Commander Jacobus stated “We were able to use this day to strengthen the cooperation in the fight against piracy. All exercises, but especially the exchange of experiences and coordination between the units over the last few days have contributed to tight Rear Admiral Bléjean, who is embarked in the EU Naval Force flagship, FS Siroco, took the opportunity to meet the Kenyan Navy Commander, Major General Ngewa Mukala. He also met jointly with the EU representative in Tanzania, HE Lodewijk Briet, the French Ambassador, Rémi Maréchaux, the Mombasa County Governor, Hassan Joho and members of his government. On Monday 24th February, European Union counter-piracy operation Atalanta and EUCAP Nestor, the civilian-led Maritime Security Capacity building EU Mission, hosted two training sessions for Tanzanian Maritime Police and Navy in Dar es Salaam to share know Operation Atalanta Force Commander, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean opening a press conference on board FS Siroco in Tanzania. "I am very pleased to see how much EU Naval Force can rely on Tanzanian Navy and also maritime Police Forces for counter-piracy in Ea As part of the European Union’s comprehensive approach to secure the waters in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean, the strengthening of maritime security capacities through trainings and experience-sharing with local authorities plays a vital rol Ambassador Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi , Head of EU Delegation to Tanzania , talking to local journalists during EU Naval Force press conference in Tanzania.