Tag: EUNAVFOR

26 April 2011 update EU Navfor has issued a press release concerning the estimated total number of hostages held and the total number of vessels under pirate control.To view the press release please click hereSource: EU NAVFOR

Carrying 24 crew members Somali pirates on Saturday released a Panama-flagged vessel carrying two dozen Filipino crew members, the Filipino government confirmed on Tuesday.The MV Renuar, a Panama-flagged and Liberian-owned bulk cargo vessel, was hijacked on December 11, 2010, about 1,050 nautical miles (1,944 kilometers) east of the Somali coastal village of Eyl, or about 550 nautical miles (1,018 kilometers) from the coast of India.The vessel was en-route to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates from Port Louis in Mauritius when it was taken over by a group of Somali pirates, who have together hijacked hundreds of vessels in recent years."The attack was launched from two attack skiffs, supported by a mother ship, with pirates firing small arms and rocket propelled grenades at the merchant vessel," EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) spokesman Per Klingvall said in December. "Since the attack, the pirates have confirmed that they have control of the ship which is now heading West towards the Somali Coast."The crew of 24, all whom are Filipino, had tried to evade the pirate attack for a while, but failed. Eventually, after several attempts, the pirates were able to board the vessel and take over the ship.A statement from the Department of ...

Pirate transfer from an EU NAVFOR French navy unit to Kenyan authorities During her port visit to Mombasa on the 11th April, EU NAVFOR warship FS GUEPRATTE welcomed a Kenyan delegation on board.This visit was organized by the UN Office for Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) who are deeply involved in the pirates transfer agreement process with East Africa, Seychelles and now Mauritius.The UNODC finances judicial establishments and courtrooms in Mombasa, as well as jails in Somaliland and Puntland. The delegation was represented by the Crime Investigation Department regional head as well as some home department and department of justice local representatives. They were accompanied by a British instructor from the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) mandated by the UNODC.The aim of this day was to highlight the key points of a suspected pirate transfer from an EU NAVFOR French navy unit to Kenyan authorities, in order to provide a fully legal, precise and indisputable dossier.The Kenyan delegation arrived on board in the morning and attended the operation officer and legal adviser conference. They described the chronology of a suspected pirate apprehension operation and the evidence process until their transfer to foreign authorities, such as Kenya.After the meeting, the delegation had ...

Under pirate control for 199 days The general cargo ship MV ASPHALT VENTURE was released from pirate control on 15th April 2011. She had been under pirate control for 199 days.The Panama flagged vessel, had been pirated on 28 September 2010 approximately 100 nautical miles South-East of DAR ES SALAAM in the Somali Basin, the vessel was on route to Durban when it was attacked.She is on route to a safe port.Source: EU NAVFOR

Ceremony held at the Commercial Port of Djibouti Today, 14 April, in a ceremony held at the Commercial Port of Djibouti, Portuguese Commodore Alberto Correia took over the command of Task Force 465 (TF 465) as the new European Union Naval Force Headquarters - Operation ATALANTA Force Commander. Commodore Correia takes over the duty from his predecessor, Spanish Rear Admiral Juan Rodriguez.During the handover, presided over by EU NAVFOR Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, Commodore Correia congratulated Rear Admiral Rodriguez for the results achieved during his command and thanked him for his outstanding efforts. He emphasized that "The mission priorities given to TF 465 are absolutely clear to me. No significant changes will be made in the operational planning process and that escorts to World Food Program and AMISOM will remain as the top priorities".For the next four months, Commodore Correia will lead the Multinational Force Headquarters onboard the EUNAVFOR Portuguese warship NRP VASCO DA GAMA.Source: EU NAVFOR

After being held for 81 days The general cargo ship MV BELUGA NOMINATION was released from pirate control on 13 April 2011 after being held for 81 days.The German owned vessel, which is Antigua & Barbudan flagged, had been pirated on 22 January 2011 approximately 390 nautical miles north of the Seychelles. She was on route to Port Victoria in the Seychelles when she was attacked.The vessel is believed to be making for a safe port.Source: EU NAVFOR

Focus on global crisis management The International Conference and Exhibition on Maritime Security and Defence Hamburg at the Hamburg Fair site, June 15-17 2011, will feature the changing mission of navies toward a focus on global crisis management."The special value of MS&D is that it puts the researchers and government officials in contact with practitioners of the merchant fleet and navy, to exchange views with them," said Vice Admiral Axel Schimpf, Chief of Staff German Navy, in an exclusive interview in the run-up to MS&D 2011, the international conference and exhibition on maritime security and defence, held at the Hamburg Fair site from 15 to 17 June. Vice Admiral Schimpf will present the keynote paper on "Development and perspectives of maritime security", including the change in the mission of the navies.Vice Admiral Schimpf already talked about this aspect in the interview: "The mission and tasks of the German Navy have changed very substantially in the past two decades. Today conflict prevention and crisis management are the major elements in our responsibilities worldwide."In the past, the Navy had concentrated on protection of coastal waters from any threats from a specific enemy, but now there was a significant change in operating area, ...

18 suspected pirates were detained On the afternoon of 9 April, the EU NAVFOR Finnish warship FNS POHJANMAA destroyed a dhow-typed vessel used by a suspected Pirate Action Group (PAG) to prevent it being used in any future attacks. FNS POHJANMAA disrupted the suspected PAG on Wednesday 6 April (link) and took the dhow in-tow pending further investigation. 18 suspected pirates were detained during this action.Before destroying the Dhow, some of the material considered relevant as evidence in a possible future prosecution was transferred to FNS POHJANMAA. Any material considered to be possibly dangerous to the environment was also removed. This material will be handed over for recycling at the earliest opportunity.The 18 suspected pirates are currently detained onboard FNS POHJANMAA. Legal negotiations regarding a possible prosecution are currently on-going.Source: EU NAVFOR

At least 10 pirates In the early morning of 8 April, theGeneral Cargo ship MV SUSAN K was pirated approximately 200 nautical miles North-East of Salalah, Oman; a location only 35 nautical miles from the Omani coastline.The vessel was attacked and boarded by at least 10 pirates although exact details of the attack are not known at this time.The Antigua & Barbuda flagged and German owned vessel was on its way to Port Sudan (Sudan) from Mumbai (India) when it was attacked. The MV SUSAN K has a crew of 10 (4 Ukraine and 6 Filipino). There is no further information about the crew at present.The MV SUSAN K wasregistered with MSC(HOA) andwas reporting to UKMTO. EUNAVFOR are continuing to monitor the situation.Source: EU NAVFOR

Agreement between the EU and the Seychelles 11 suspected pirates detained by the EUNAVFOR Spanish warship, ESPS CANARIAS on 28 March 2011 were today transferred to Seychellois legal authorities for possible prosecution.The suspected pirates were detained by the EUNAVFOR warship after they allegedly threatened a Seychelles-flagged fishing vessel 260 nautical miles North West of the Islands. The transfer has been made possible due to the agreement between the EU and the Seychelles.Source: EU NAVFOR