Tag: EUNAVFOR

Security measures to counter Somali pirates SecuOn 31 January 2012, the EUNAVFOR flagship ESPS PATIÑO conducted a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with the NATO Flagship TGN GIRESUN watched by Russian observers before the exercise was repeated by the Russian Flagship Admiral Tributs with the Russian Fleet Tanker Pechenga with NATO and EU NAVFOR observers embarked.During the morning, the EU NAVFOR and NATO ships demonstrated to several Russian observers on-board the two Flagships a RAS manoeuvre where the ships steer parallel courses only 40 - 50 metres apart while passing fuel between the ships. In the afternoon, the same challenging seamanship exercise was performed by the Russian Task Force units, this time watched by EU NAVFOR and NATO observers.The exercise was coordinated to improve the interoperability among ships from different forces that operate in the Horn of Africa countering Somali pirates.During the exercise, all observers had the opportunity not only to discuss this type of underway replenishment manoeuvres, but share their experience and views regarding the counter-piracy operations and the necessity for protecting World Food Programme shipping and the merchant shipping community in general. Following the exercise all those involved agreed that they were much better aware of the differences between ...

FGS LUEBECK forced Somali pirates to release an Indian dhow with 15 hostages After three days of persistent pressure, FGS LUEBECK has forced Somali pirates to release an Indian dhow with 15 Indian mariners held as hostages.On the 17 January 2012 the EU NAVFOR warship FGS LUEBECK re-located an Indian registered dhow which had been used as pirate mother-ship involved in the attack on M/V FLINTSTONE early the same day. A Dutch Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) stationed on the Dutch-registered civilian fall-pipe vessel had repelled the attack following a gun-fight and caused the attack skiffs to retreat back to the pirate mother ship with injuries to the suspected pirates.Having positively identified the dhow and sighted the attack skiffs and other pirate paraphernalia on deck of the dhow, FSG LUEBECK approached the dhow demanding that they comply via radio messages.The vessel did not react to radio calls or to subsequent warning gunshots. Sustained pressure was applied to the dhow through the presence of FGS LUEBECK including direct shots fired into the bow of the dhow and use of the ship's helicopter to neutralise the attack skiffs secured on the upper deck.Throughout the action the safety of the hostages was the primary ...

NATO findings show more active naval forces The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) has expressed concern that perceptions are growing that piracy attacks off Somalia are on the decrease. In a recent meeting in Brussels, EUNAVFOR Operation Commander Admiral Duncan Potts was alarmed by the notion that such attacks have vastly decreased, an opinion that flies in the face of official figures which show that pirate attacks have actually increased, although successful hijackings have significantly decreased.Several media reports have claimed that attacks are standing at roughly half the number of those carried out in 2010. EUNAVFOR's primary concern is that such perceptions (that the piracy threat is receding) and the conclusions being drawn from such opinions in the media, is misleading and does not accurately reflect the continuing and existing threat.Snapshot from report on piracy in the HRA:* Please note, disruptions are only from EUNAVFOR units and do not account for disruptions by CMF and NATO(You can keep up to date with EUNAVFOR's activities by visiting their website www.eunavfor.eu)NATO findings show more active naval forces The NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) has published its weekly findings, which show a naval force that is more willing to disrupt pirate operations than it ...

About 60 seafarers held by pirates are dead About 60 seafarers held by pirates off the coast of Somalia have been declared dead.According to EUNAVFOR, the European naval force operating on anti-piracy patrol, many seafarers have died in pirate captivity over the past four years.It said many others have suffered at the hands of the pirates who have tortured them and subjected them to ill-treatment.The belief that pirates are anxious to keep their captives alive to help secure a ransom is paid appears to have less foundation than originally, the report said. The truth about how seafarers are treated while in captivity is also withheld from the world's press by ship owners and operators who enforce the silence rule once seafarers are released.Even those that administer counselling to the released seafarers are told that to divulge what they learn will mean barred from any access to released seafarers in the future.Meanwhile, the Italian-flagged oil tanker SAVINA CAYLYN has been released after a ransom, reported to be of $11.5 million, was dropped near the ship. The ship and her crew of 22, comprising 17 Indians and five Italians had been held by the pirates for 11 months.The ransom was paid in ...

All stable and in no medical danger onboard the SPS PATINO Following a detailed assessment of the dawn attack on the SPS PATINO on 12 January 2012, the political decision has been made to hand-over the evidence pack for consideration by the courts for prosecution in Spain.The suspected pirates have all been given medical treatment for injuries sustained during their attack and two of the suspected pirates will require additional medical treatment once they have been landed. They are all currently stable and in no medical danger onboard the SPS PATINO.The group of suspect pirates made their attack while the Flagship was in the vicinity of Mogadishu following the escort of a World Food Programme ship carrying food-aid into Somalia. They attempted to climb onboard having fired light-calibre weapons into the superstructure to try to make the ship stop however the detachment of Spanish Marines, embarked for Force Protection Duties, returned fire in self-defence, forcing the suspected pirates to break-off their attack.The ship's Seaking helicopter was subsequently launched to track the skiff and the occupants surrendered. A search was instituted for a seventh man who was alleged by the suspected pirates to have been lost overboard from the skiff during ...

ESPS PATINO, was approached by one skiff with pirates At first light on 12 January 2012, having just completed the escort of a World Food Programme ship carrying food-aid into Somalia and while operating close to the Somali port of Mogadishu, the EU NAVFOR Flagship, the ESPS PATINO, was approached by one skiff with a group of suspected pirates onboard.The suspected pirates opened fire with light calibre weapons and tried to board the PATINO. The ship's force-protection team returned fire in self-defense and the ship's helicopter was launched.The skiff broke off the attack and the men surrendered to the helicopter after throwing their weapons, ladder and fuel barrels overboard.Five of the six men who were in the skiff had received injuries, two of which required medical treatment onboard the SPS PATINO.Investigations are ongoing to check whether the suspect pirates' report that a seventh man who had been in the skiff and who was lost overboard during the attack are correct.Source: EU NAVFOR

Proposals to modify the operational rules of EU NAVFOR Meeting behind closed doors shortly before Christmas, the EU's Political and Security Committee (EU PSC) discussed how the fight against piracy could be improved.No official statement on this has yet been released by the PSC. However, prompted by intensive coverage in the German media, the German Ministry of Defence has said that, among other things, the EU PSC has been asked to make proposals to modify the operational rules of EU NAVFOR in order to allow for shore-based missions against pirates. Following a request for information by INTERTANKO, this has now also been confirmed by a spokesperson for EU NAVFOR.While the mandate for EU NAVFOR remains unchanged and still entails only operations in the high seas and in the Somalian territorial seas, the developments in the EU PSC could mark a paradigm shift in the EU's, as well as the global, fight against piracy.The EU PSC monitors the international situation in the areas covered by the European security and defence policy (ESDP) and the common foreign and security policy (CFSP). It plays a central role in the definition of, and follow-up to the European Union's response to, a crisis.The EU PSC, ...

Due for release in January 2012 European Shipowners are set to announce new guidelines for the selection and appointment of armed guards onboard ships.The new detailed guidelines is due for release in January 2012 and came as a result of meetings between European security bodies, including EU-NAVFOR, and the European Community Shipowners' Association.It is claimed that its recommendations would provide both an overview of current guidance and extra details. According toECSA secretary-general Alfons Guinier there are still many problems for owners and the guidance will look to solve these issues.It is expected that the guidelines will cover everything from certification to liability, while providing more detail than the IMO guidance contained in IMO MSC 1405.However the association has also stressed that it does not support the use of armed guards as an ultimate solution to piracy, and is still looking for theinternational community, the member states, the members of the UN Security Council, to ensure that the sea is safe for merchant ships.The guidelines and requirements join an increasingly congested space, as there are a number of different standards seemingly being established. There have been P&I Clubs using their own vetting, there are moves by the UK Home Office to ...

At least 60 merchant seamen have died as a result of their captivity in the hands of the pirates Somali pirates are currently holding 200 people hostage as they continue to demand ransom which is part of their business, keeping hostages away from their families during the festive season, the EU's anti-piracy mission said.The EU Naval Force Somalia said the humanitarian tragedy is especially pertinent over Christmas, a time when families normally gather to celebrate."There are currently 199 men and one woman held hostage in Somalia following the pirating of their ships in the Indian Ocean and all are being held against their will to be used by criminal gangs as part of a ransom business," the mission said in a statement received here on Thursday.Demanding millions of dollars in ransom for captured ships and their crews, Somali pirates are intensifying operations not just off their own coastline, but further afield in the Red Sea - particularly during the monsoon season in the wider Indian Ocean.With unprecedented boldness, this year pirates also boarded and hijacked a chemical tanker at anchor in an Omani port, under the protection of coast state security.But although Somali pirates are initiating more attacks - 199 ...

Anticipating that the pirates will not take a break over the holiday period Anticipating that the pirates will not take a break over the holiday period, neither will the EU NAVFOR units patrolling around the Horn of Africa and in the Somali Basin.Whilst back at home in Europe the families of the deployed EU NAVFOR personnel celebrate this very special season of the year, the crews of all ships and aircraft of the entire EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA Task Force off the coast of Somalia maintain their guard at sea and continue with their duty of securing the safe transport of food to the people of Somalia. With this decision, the Naval Force underlines the commitment of the European Union to ensure the safe arrival of humanitarian aid, so desperately needed by thousands of suffering Somali people. In addition to the escorting of merchant vessels chartered by the World FoodProgramme, EU Naval Forces also continue to counter the threats imposed by Somali pirates on the international shipping community in a combined effort with other multinational Naval Forces in Indian Ocean. Currently, out of the 27 Nations contributing to the Operation, Sailors and soldiers from 13 different nations will be active ...