EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

EU NAVFOR can confirm that on the morning of 27 February a ransom drop was successfully made for the release of the Greek owned  Panama flagged Bulk Carrier, the MV NAVIOS APOLLON. The MV NAVIOS APOLLON was hijacked on the 28 of December approximately 200 nautical miles East of the Seychelles.

The NAVIOS APOLLON (Deadweight 52,073 tonnes) which has a crew of 19 (1 Greek and 18 Philippine) was destined for Thailand when hijacked. No requests for assistance have been made at this time. EU NAVFOR continues to monitor the situation.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.