Tag: EUNAVFOR

There are currently 199 men and one woman held hostage in Somalia While the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia has received significant coverage over the past 4 years, with the exception a number of high-profile individuals, the fate of the merchant crews which make up the majority of those held hostage, is not often considered or reported.This 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. Since the start of the EU NAVFOR counter-piracy mission in December 2008, a total of 2317 merchant seamen have been held hostage for an average of nearly 5 months. The longest period in captivity is 19 months for the 24 crew members of the M/V ICEBERG 1, who are still being held.It is estimated that at least 60 merchant seamen have died as a result of their captivity in the hands of the pirates and many more have suffered torture and abuse. 49 of ...

Representatives of NATO and coalition Counter-Piracy Task Forces Deputy Commander Operation ATALANTA Rear Admiral Christian Canova and newly appointed EUNAVFOR Force Commander Captain Jorge Manso paid a visit to NATO Operation Ocean Shield Force Commander, RADM Sinan Azmi Tosun, onboard his Flagship TCG Giresun.With representatives of NATO and coalition Counter-Piracy Task Forces in attendance, the change of Command ceremony of the EUNAVFOR Force Commander held in Djibouti on December 6th on board EUNAVFOR Flagship, FGS Bayern, was an opportunity to display unity of effort between key counter piracy actors.Following the change of command ceremony Admiral Canova and the new EUNAVFOR Force Commander Captain Jorge Manso Revilla called on the Force Commander of the NATO Task Force, Rear Admiral Sinan Azmi Tosun on board TCG Giresun in Djibouti Harbour. Although short, the visit was extremely positive and provided both Admiral Canova and Admiral Tosun the opportunity to discuss the vitally important exchange of operational information and the opportunities for mutual support between EUNAVFOR and the NATO Task Force. The very close cooperation in the use of Maritime Patrol Aircraft over the past few months was a perfect example.Notwithstanding their political mandates differ, the two organizations share the common goal of eradicating ...

Only 12 pirate attacks in November There were only 12 pirate attacks in November, according to figures released by EU NAVFOR for its area of operation.While some sources have questioned such a low number of reported attacks, the figures themselves make for interesting reading, said Neptune Maritime Security in a note.Although the data does not list latitude and longitude positions for the attacks, they still demonstrate the considerable 'reach' Somali pirates have in surrounding waters, despite the presence of the international naval force, with vessels being attacked 420 nautical miles off Mogadishu.Of more interest, said Neptune Maritime Security, were the successful hijackings, with just two vessels taken by Somali pirates, both of which were fishing vessels.While the measures taken to avoid hijacking in five cases are listed as 'unknown', just one vessel cited best management practice (BMP) as the reason for its successful escape from pirates.Meanwhile, the other five merchant vessels all credited private armed security guards as the reason the attacks upon them failed.While this will not come as a surprise to anyone in the maritime security industry, it does reinforce the fact that so far, not a single vessel operating with an armed vessel protection team (VPT) has ...

12 attempted pirate attacks in November 2011, compared to 35 last year The number of hijackings by Somali pirates was sharply down last month compared to the same period last year.The latest figures provided by the European Naval Force show just 12 attempted pirate attacks in November 2011, compared to 35 last year.BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner says this is partly the result of the growing number of armed guards on board ships.But at least 200 hostages are still being held in or just off Somalia.Our correspondent says Somali pirates appear to be finding it increasingly difficult to hijack vessels at sea.EU Navfor, the European Naval Force that patrols the western Indian Ocean, says that of last month's 12 recorded attacks, only one was partly successful.That compares to 35 attacks in November last year, of which seven were successful.Naval officers told our correspondent this was down to a combination of factors.More and more ships are now carrying armed guards, many vessels are better protected with razor wire and water cannon, and there has been an increased number of naval interceptions of pirate boats, known as 'skiffs'.Britain is to allow UK-flagged ships to carry armed guards next year.But as of today, ...

19 Somali men were onboard AL JABAL , surrendered On 8 November, following detection by EU NAVFOR warships and aircraft working in close cooperation in the Somali Basin, the Yemen registered dhow, AL JABAL, which had been stolen for use as a pirate mother-ship, was stopped by the FGS KOELN. A group of 19 Somali men were onboard and surrendered to the boarding team; two Yemeni crew members were released.The dhow had been previously detected in the area of a number of failed pirate attacks and tracked to a position where an unopposed boarding could be carried out. Regrettably, without sufficient evidence to prove piracy and the reluctance of the two crew members to testify against their captors, the 19 men were returned to Somalia. The dhow, with a crew of German sailors onboard, has sailed towards the port of Al Mukalla on the Yemen coast where it will be handed-over to the Yemen Coastguard for return to its owners and for the two crew members to be reunited with their families.EU NAVFOR conducts counter-piracy in the Indian Ocean and is responsible for the protection of World Food Program ships carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Somalia and the ...

A whaler and skiff, 50 nautical miles off the coast of Tanzania On 4 November 2011, following a coordinated search and detection by a French Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft, the German warship FGS KOELN, operating as part of the EU NAVFOR, disrupted a pirate action group comprising a whaler and skiff, 50 nautical miles off the coast of Tanzania.On detection, the suspect pirates jettisoned their pirate equipment overboard and were stopped. They have been transferred onboard FGS KOELN and the two pirate boats sunk, preventing their use against merchant shipping in the area.EU NAVFOR Somalia is a counter-piracy taskforce operating in the area of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean responsible for repressing acts of piracy and for the safe escort of ships carrying World Food Program aid and vessels of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Additionally, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.Source: EU NAVFOR

To sail the Gulf of Aden is like playing Russian Roulette Christian Colombo, a former French Navy sailor and his wife were on their way to fulfil their dream. They were sailing to see the world in their yacht, the SY TRIBAL KAT until this dream was destroyed in the most traumatic way.The TRIBAL KAT was attacked by Somali suspect criminals off the coast of Yemen while passing through the Gulf of Aden. Christian Colombo was killed during the attack, his body thrown overboard and his wife taken against her will by the suspect criminals. She was being moved by skiff towards Somalia when by a combination of good fortune, considering the vast area to be searched, and close cooperation between the counter-piracy forces in the region, a complex and dangerous rescue operation succeeded in recovering Mrs. Colombo uninjured.The SY TRIBAL KAT was only the most recent of about 10 yachts attacked and their crews captured by Somali suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean in the past three years.Nearly every recorded attack on a yacht has led to the crew being taken hostage and moved to Somalia where they were kept on land, their yachts ...

Cooperation to fight piracy and to ensure World Food Programme ships cary their cargo safely The flagship FGS BAYERN of the EU-led mission Atalanta recently visited in the port city of Mombasa in Kenya. The commander of Task Force 465, Rear Admiral Thomas E.P.Jugel, used the occasion to introduce himself to the commander of the Kenyan Navy, Major General Ngewa Mukala. In Kenya's Maritime Headquarters, the German Navy Officer, was welcomed with full military honours.In a follow up conversation, the two senior officers have agreed that in future they want to strengthen their operational cooperation in the fight against piracy in the region and to ensure World Food Programme (WFP) ships can deliver their cargo safely.Together, the two Flag Officers have agreed that their common goal is to make the sea around the Horn of Africa safer. The future task is to intensify the multinational cooperation between the navy units of EU NAVFOR and the Kenyan Navy and work closely together.Source: EU NAVFOR

Piracy in Somalia, Trends and Best Practices Rear Admiral Antonios Papaioannou (HN Rtrd), Past Commander, EUNAVFOR, Diaplous Maritime Services, is giving a presentation regarding Piracy in Somalia; the Trends and Best Practices regarding Piracy in Somalia; the Trends and Best Practices , during the 2nd Annual Safety4Sea Forum, Session 5The 2nd Safety4Sea Forum, a PRO BONO event, successfully completed on 5th of October 2011 in Athens, covering a wide range in QHSE issues.The event has been attended by over 340 delegates at the venue representing more than 170 companies, plus more than 100 persons watching live streaming. The event organized by IBS Marine Consulting Group and sponsored by Aspida Maritime Security, Dorian Hellas, Transmar Shipping and Lloyd's Register and supported by BIMCO, Intermanager, SaveOurSeafarers campaign, Steamship Mutual, Green Award, Cardiff University, ELNAVI, NAFTIKA XRONIKA, Tanker Operator, Shipmanagement International and Marintech NewsFor more information about the Forum visit http://www.safety4sea.com/forum/2For more information about Safety4Sea visit the official site http://www.safety4sea.com

Transfer of persons detained by EUNAVFOR The European Union has approved an agreement signed between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius on 14 July 2011 regarding the transfer of persons suspected of attempting to commit, committing or having committed acts of piracy within the area of operation of EUNAVFOR, on the high seas off the territorial seas of Mauritius, Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, Seychelles and Réunion Island, and detained by EUNAVFOR.According to the agreement, Mauritius may accept, upon request by EUNAVFOR, the transfer of persons detained by EUNAVFOR in connection with piracy and associated property seized by EUNAVFOR, and submit such persons and property to its competent authorities for the purpose of investigation and prosecution.Source: European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)