EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

Yesterday in the Gulf of Aden, on the evening of 19 August, EU NAVFOR Flag Ship FS DE GRASSE disrupted a suspected pirate skiff, making it the third disruption in three days by the Force Command Ship.

A dhow and a skiff were located by a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft while on patrol over the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE at the time was sailing approximately 50 nautical miles from the suspect skiff and proceeded at full speed to the position given by the Japanese aircraft. FS DE GRASSE subsequently launched her Lynx helicopter and boarding party to intercept the skiff.

Six suspected pirates were found on board the skiff and all paraphernalia of possibly incriminating evidence had been thrown overboard. On completion of a search of the skiff, the suspect pirates were embarked on FS DE GRASSE where subsequent investigations took place. The suspected pirates on board FS DE GRASSE were released and have been able to sail back to Somalia.

The operation was conducted in conjunction with Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, who initially was involved in the pursuit of the dhow. This disruption highlighted the ability of Task Forces to conduct joint operations.

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 African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and to protect vulnerable vessels 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.