Tag: EUNAVFOR

According to pirates in Harardhere After the EU NAVFOR's first strike to Somali pirates land base in Harardhere district of Mudug region in which were destroyed speedboats and step ladders , Somali pirates threatened to kill the hostages if they are attacked again, according to pirates in Harardhere who spoke Somalia Report on Wednesday evening.Ali Mumin, a pirate from the Ilays group which released the Italian-flagged MV Savina Caylyn for $11.5M last year, explained the ultimatum."Yes, they attacked us last night and destroyed two speedboats, and three step-ladders, but there weren't any casualties. We will not allow them to attack us again. Next time our response will be to kill the hostages we hold. We have a lot of hostages so if they want them to live, they will stop these airstrikes," he told Somalia Report.Omar, a pirate in Harardhere who refused to give the name of the group to which he is aligned, also vowed retaliation."Our threat is for the Europeans. We have Greek and other European hostages. If they think we are weak, they better think again. We have hostages to use for revenge. We promise if they attack again, we will not hesitate to kill hostages. It ...

Prosecution for 11 suspect pirates capture by EU NAVFOR The Republic of the Seychelles agreed to accept for prosecution 11 suspect pirates who were captured by EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) frigate HNLMS Van Amstel on Friday 11 May.Suspect pirates who were captured by EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) frigate HNLMS Van AmstelThe 11 suspect pirates had pirated an Iranian dhow with 17 innocent Iranian fishermen onboard at the beginning of May and it is thought the dhow was probably related to the unsuccessful attack against MV Super Lady on Wednesday 9 may. The suspect pirates are expected to be handed over to the Seychelles authorities in the coming days.Source: EUNAVFOR

EU forces conducted an operation to destroy pirate equipment Earlier today, following the decision taken on 23 March 2012 by the Council of the European Union to allow the EU Naval Force to take disruption action against known pirate supplies on the shore, EU forces conducted an operation to destroy pirate equipment on the Somali coastline.The operation was conducted in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1851 and has the full support of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The focused, precise and proportionate action was conducted from the air and all forces returned safely to EU warships on completion. Whilst assessment is on-going, surveillance of the area during the action indicates that no Somalis were injured ashore as a result of EU action.Speaking about the operation, the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Duncan Potts said "We believe this action by the EU Naval Force will further increase the pressure on, and disrupt pirates' efforts to get out to sea to attack merchant shipping and dhows. The local Somali people and fishermen - many of whom have suffered so much because of piracy in the region, can be reassured that our focus was on ...

Anti- piracy operation to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea

EU NAVFOR Force Commander The EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) French flag ship FS Marne visited Djibouti between Saturday 21 April and Friday 27 April. Whilst there the Task Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis and his staff met with representatives and authorities of the maritime world and various stakeholders in the fight against piracy.Located at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden and near the coast of Somalia, Djibouti is an important, strategic port in the fight against piracy. Its waters are a choke point for many merchant ships, and a regular harbor for warships sailing down the Red Sea and heading towards the Indian Ocean to fight against piracy. Djibouti is in particular a major logistical fulcrum for Operation Atalanta.In the presence of H.E. Mr Nicola Delcroix - Head of the EU delegation, and H.E. Mr Rene Forceville - Ambassador of France in Djibouti, on 23 April Rear Admiral Dupuis welcomed on board representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, defense and transport, Djiboutian port authorities, non-governmental organizations such as the World Food Programme, together with the ambassadors of countries participating in the fight against piracy. EU NAVFOR Force Commander also met Vice Admiral Franken, U.S. joint commander ...

EU NAVFOR Force Commander The EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) French flag ship FS Marne visited Djibouti between Saturday 21 April and Friday 27 April. Whilst there the Task Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis and his staff met with representatives and authorities of the maritime world and various stakeholders in the fight against piracy.Located at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden and near the coast of Somalia, Djibouti is an important, strategic port in the fight against piracy. Its waters are a choke point for many merchant ships, and a regular harbor for warships sailing down the Red Sea and heading towards the Indian Ocean to fight against piracy. Djibouti is in particular a major logistical fulcrum for Operation Atalanta.In the presence of H.E. Mr Nicola Delcroix - Head of the EU delegation, and H.E. Mr Rene Forceville - Ambassador of France in Djibouti, on 23 April Rear Admiral Dupuis welcomed on board representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, defense and transport, Djiboutian port authorities, non-governmental organizations such as the World Food Programme, together with the ambassadors of countries participating in the fight against piracy. EU NAVFOR Force Commander also met Vice Admiral Franken, U.S. joint commander ...

Anti-Piracy Operations to counter piracy

All eleven pirates that were apprehended by EU Naval Force warship FS Nivose All eleven pirates that were apprehended by EU Naval Force warship FS Nivose in May 2009 and transferred to Kenyan authorities in May 2009 were found guilty on 19 April 2012. By ruling of the Magistrate the eleven pirates now face 20 years imprisonment.It was 3 years ago when French frigate FS Nivose - part of the European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta, stopped a pirate mother ship (see EU NAVFOR article). The pirates had tried to escape in two skiffs, but the frigate's helicopter foiled the attempt. With the evidence found and confiscated, the suspects were detained and handed over to Kenyan authorities for onwards prosecution.In April 2012, the legal finish that the EU Naval Force seeks with every disruption, has been achieved and counter piracy efforts rewarded with a 20 year jail term for those pirates.Source: EUNAVFOR

More warships in the area are needed Even as India presses for "clear demarcation" of piracy-infested waters as well as clarity on the issue of deploying armed guards on merchant ships, the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) wants New Delhi and other independent players to deploy more assets to fight sea pirates in the Indian Ocean.Holding that Somali pirates had now even started carrying out attacks in the Northeast Indian Ocean region after facing heat in the Gulf of Aden, EU NAVFOR operation commander Rear Admiral Duncan Potts said more warships in the area from independent players like India, China and Japan would be a stronger deterrent against pirates.India, however, wants all nations to come together under the UN flag to battle the menace of piracy before it becomes "cancerous" by developing a nexus with terrorism. Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, during the recent Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in South Africa, stressed the need for "clear demarcation'' of piracy-infested waters as well as setting up "standard operating procedures'' to boost inter-operability among the different navies and taskforces operating in the region.In wake of the recent killing of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast by Italian naval personnel ...

EU Naval Force Spanish Warship Infanta Elena On Wednesday 18 April, EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Spanish warship, ESPS Infanta Elena rescued 6 Sri Lankan fishermen and their fishing vessel from 7 suspected pirates. The fishing vessel had been in the hands of suspect pirates since November 2011 and was reportedly being used as a mother-ship to launch attacks against merchant shipping in the region.At sunset on 18 April, 50 miles off the coast of Tanzania, ESPS Infanta Elena identified the pirated vessel and after closing its position, the Spanish boarding team went on board. Once there, they identified the 7 suspected Somali pirates and 6 Sri Lankan crew. The men received much needed medical care and were provided food and water. Earlier the same day, 5 suspect pirates had been arrested by Tanzanian maritime forces when their attack skiff, believed to have been operated from the Sri Lankan vessel, beached on the Tanzanian coast.The tired, but very relieved Sri Lankan fishermen were handed over to Tanzanian maritime forces close to Dar Es Salaam on 21 April and the European Union, via its delegation in Tanzania helped to ensure that the crew could quickly make contact with their families. Arrangements ...