European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta

Operation Atalanta
Part of Piracy in Somalia

Piracy area of interest in the Indian Ocean (2005-2010)
Date8 December 2008 – ongoing
(6 years, 4 months, 2 weeks and 4 days)
LocationGulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean
Belligerents

 European Union

[3][4]		 Pirates
Commanders and leaders

United Kingdom Major General Martin Smith MBE
Operation Commander EU Naval Force

Italy Rear Admiral Paolo Pezzutti
Deputy Operation Commander EU Naval Force


Sweden Rear Admiral Jonas Haggren
Force Commander EU Naval Force		 Unknown
Strength
Typically 4–6 surface vessels, 2-3 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Unknown

Operation Atalanta, also known as European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU-NAVFOR-ATALANTA), is a current military operation that is the first undertaken by the European Union Naval Force. The operational headquarters is located at Northwood Headquarters in the UK.[5]

The mission launched with a focus on protecting Somalia-bound vessels and shipments belonging to the WFP and AMISOM, as well as select other vulnerable shipments. In addition, Operation Atalanta monitors fishing activity on the regional seaboard.[5] In 2012, the scope of the mission expanded to include Somali coastal territories and internal waters so as to co-ordinate counter-piracy operations with Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and regional administrations.[6] On 16 July 2012, the EU also mandated the EUCAP Nestor mission to build up the maritime capacity of regional navies.[7]

It is part of a larger global action by the EU to prevent and combat acts of piracy in the Indian Ocean. It cooperates with the multinational Combined Task Force 151 of the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and NATO's anti-terrorism Operation Ocean Shield.

Overview

Under EU Council Joint Action 851, which is based on various UN resolutions, Operation ATALANTA:

On 21 November 2014 the Council of the EU extended the Mandate of Operation ATALANTA until December 2016.[5]

Located within the Headquarters of Operation ATALANTA is the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), an initiative established by the European Union Naval Force, with close co-operation from industry. The MSCHOA centre provides 24-hour manned monitoring of vessels transiting through the Gulf of Aden, whilst the provision of an interactive website enables the Centre to communicate the latest anti-piracy guidance to industry and for Shipping Companies and operators to register their movements through the region.[8]

Participation in EU NAVFOR goes beyond EU member states. Norway was the first non-EU country to contribute to the Operation, with a warship in 2009. Thereafter, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine have provided staff officers to the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) and Force Headquarters (FHQ). Ukraine contributed a warship early in 2014, and New Zealand contributed an MPRA asset later the same year.[5][9]

Around 1,200 personnel are involved in ATALANTA,[9] with the size of the force typically varying between 4-6 surface combat vessels and 2-3 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. For 2015 and 2016, the budget for each year will be €7.35 million for the common costs of the mandate.[5]

Judicial international cooperation to end impunity

Piracy has to be understood as organised criminal activity occurring at sea. It is organised on land, with kidnapping crews and ships for ransom as the business model. Prosecution of piracy suspects is a key component of the overall fight against piracy. The EU NAVFOR seeks, where possible, a legal finish. Transfers of suspect pirates for trial to competent authorities remain necessary to put an end to impunity in the Indian Ocean.

The EU is assisting the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in their work to establish sufficient conditions to allow fair and efficient piracy trials in Somalia. The EU is the largest contributor to the UNODC counter-piracy programme. In the short term, transfers for trial from EU NAVFOR ships remain necessary to put an end to impunity in the Indian Ocean.

Prelude

The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia wrote to the President of the United Nations Security Council asking for international help to fight piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia. In June 2008, the Council unanimously passed Resolution 1816 authorising nations that have the agreement of the Transitional Federal Government to enter Somali territorial waters to deal with pirates.[10] The measure, which was sponsored by France, the United States and Panama, was to last six months. France initially wanted the resolution to include other regions with pirate problems, such as West Africa, but were opposed by Vietnam, Libya and China, who wanted the sovereignty infringement limited to Somalia.[11]

Operational Highlights

On 2 January 2009, one of the Operation's ships captured eight pirates who were about to board a ship.[12]

On 14 April 2009, the French frigate Nivôse attached to Operation Atalanta, captured 11 suspected pirates, together with their mother ship and two skiffs, in an EU NAVFOR focused operation carried out in the Indian Ocean. The French ship responded to the distress message by the 21,000 tonne Liberia flagged MV Safmarine Asia which came under small arms and RPG attack from two skiffs operating from a pirate mother ship. The warship deployed its helicopter, which quickly arrived on the scene, to deter the hijacking and shadow the mother vessel until the frigate arrived.[13]

On 26 May 2009, the EU Naval Task Force vessel HMS Malmö responded to a distress call from the European cargo vessel M/V Antonis and apprehended seven suspected pirates.[14][15]

From 5 to 7 March 2010, forces from France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden were in action; the French frigate Nivôse (F 732) secured its "biggest seizure" to-date in a vital shipping lane off the coast of Somalia, with 35 pirates arrested and four mother ships seized in three days.[16]

In May 2010, there were a number of incidents in the area. The Russian destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov freed the 106,474-ton MV Moscow University, which was about 350 miles east of Socotra, transporting crude oil from Sudan to China.[17] Two days later, however, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had proved impossible to establish the pirates’ citizenship or to establish legal grounds for prosecuting, therefore the pirates were returned to their boat and set free.[18] In another incident, a Swedish aircraft attached to the EU Naval Force, the French warship Lafayette and the Dutch warship HNLMS Johan de Witt collaborated in the spotting and capturing of a pirate action group composed of a whaler and two skiffs, about 400 miles northwest of the Seychelles Islands. Reports on these incidents, citing other news reports, concluded that pirates were holding almost 20 vessels and about 300 crew members.[17]

On 15 May 2012, EU naval forces conducted their first raid on pirate bases on the Somalia mainland as part of the operation, saying they 'destroyed several boats'. The forces were transported by helicopter to the pirate bases near the port of Harardhere. The attack was carried out overnight, and, according to the European forces, no local residents were hurt during the mission.[19]

Deployed Units

Vessels

The following vessels are part of EU NAVFOR's current fleet in Operation Atalanta, as of 31 December 2014.[20] Operation Atalanta has the task force designator Task Force 465.[21]

Country Vessel Type Helicopter
 Germany FGS Hessen (F 221) Sachsen class frigate
 Netherlands HNLMS Johan de Witt (L 801) Landing platform dock
 Germany FGS Berlin (A 1411) Berlin class replenishment ship Sea King Mk 41
 Spain ESPS Rayo (P 42) Meteoro class Offshore Patrol Vessels AB212
 Italy ITS Grecale (F 571) Maestrale class frigate AB212
 Spain ESPS Infanta Cristina (P77) Patrol Descubierta None
 France FS L'Adroit (P 275) Gowind class corvette Camcopter S-100 (UAV)

Aircraft

As of 31 December 2014 the following aircraft are currently deployed with the European Union Naval Force - Operation Atalanta.[22]

Country Aircraft Type
 Spain CASA CN 235 VIGMA Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft

Vessels and aircraft in former rotation periods

ITS Maestrale frigate.

The following vessels have, among others, been committed to the Operation as of 25 February 2015.[23]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.infodefensa.com/latam/2015/03/25/noticia-chile-enviara-barco-indico-participar-operacion-atalanta.html. Retrieved 8 April 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "Colombia se une a la operación multinacional Atalanta-2015". infodefensa.com. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "EU naval operation against piracy (EUNAVFOR Somalia - Operation ATALANTA)" (PDF). EU Council Secretariat. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Serbian Detachment Completes Protection Of World Food Programme Ship MV Caroline Scan As Part Of EU Naval Force". 5 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Mission". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "EU Extends Counter-piracy Operations Off Somalia By Two More Years". RTT News. 23 March 2012.
  7. ↑ "GGI Analysis: The Somali crisis and the EU". Global Governance Institute. 24 July 2012.
  8. ↑ MSCHOA: About us
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Lithuania will take part in the EU counterpiracy Operation ATALANTA". Ministry of National Defense Republic of Lithuania. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  10. ↑ United Nations Security Council Verbatim Report 5902. S/PV/5902 2 June 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  11. ↑ " Navies to tackle Somali pirates", BBC News, 2 June 2008
  12. ↑ "France captures 'Somali pirates'", BBC News, 2 January 2009
  13. ↑ Maritime Security Centre (EU)
  14. ↑ Dagens Nyheter Video
  15. ↑ The Local: Swedish navy arrests pirates off Somali coast
  16. ↑ "European naval forces capture more pirates". Independent Online (South Africa). 9 March 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010. Six pirate action groups have been intercepted, mother ships and skiffs have been destroyed and over 40 pirates have been taken into custody
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Russian Destroyer Frees Hijacked Oil Tanker" by Alan Cowell with reporting by Mark McDonald from Hong Kong, The New York Times, 6 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2010. An EU-NAVFOR press release on the Russian action was cited in the article.
  18. ↑ "Russia Frees Somali Pirates It Had Seized in Shootout" by Ellen Barry, The New York Times, 7 May 2010 (8 May 2010 on p. A4 of the NY ed.). Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  19. ↑ "Somali piracy: EU forces in first mainland raid". BBC. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  20. ↑ "EU NAVFOR Deployed Units". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  21. ↑ United Nations, S/2010/91, p.71
  22. ↑ "EU NAVFOR Deployed Units". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "L'opération Atalanta". LePoint.fr. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  24. ↑ "EU NAVFOR welcomes the Belgium frigate BNS LOUISE-MARIE". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  25. ↑ "EU NAVFOR thanks BNS LOUISE-MARIE after three months of operation". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  26. ↑ "Colombia se une a la operación multinacional Atalanta-2015". infodefensa.com. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG leads HANSA STAVANGER safely into Mombasa". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  28. ↑ "EU NAVFOR thanks the German frigate FGS SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  29. ↑ "The German warship FGS KOELN leaves EU NAVFOR after more than 2 months on operation". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  30. ↑ "EU NAVFOR Warship Sinks Pirate Skiffs". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  31. ↑ "EU NAVFOR warship FGS LUEBECK successfully releases Indian dhow and crew". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  32. ↑ "EU NAVFOR welcomes the German frigate FGS HAMBURG to the Mission". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  33. ↑ "German frigate FGS HAMBURG leaves EU NAVFOR after four months of valuable contribution". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  34. ↑ "EU NAVFOR German warship FGS RHOEN leaves EU NAVFOR after 102 days of operation". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  35. ↑ "EU NAVFOR meets Omani Authorities". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  36. ↑ "EU Naval Force Rescues Iranian Fishermen". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  37. ↑ "EU NAVFOR thanks HLMNS AMSTERDAM after more than 2 months of operations". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  38. ↑ "Dutch LPD-ship JOHAN DE WITT was a true Force multiplier for EU NAVFOR". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  39. ↑ "EU NAVFOR thanks ITS LIBECCIO after 125 days in Operation ATALANTA". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  40. ↑ "EU NAVFOR welcomes the Italian warship ITS ZEFFIRO". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  41. ↑ "Italian frigate ZEFFIRO leaves EU NAVFOR after two months of valuable contribution". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  42. ↑ "EU NAVFOR welcomes the Italian Frigate ESPERO". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  43. ↑ "Somali Fishermen Rescued by EUNAVFOR Atalanta Italian Ship Scirocco". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  44. ↑ "EU Naval Force Quick To Capture Suspect Pirate Boat – update". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  45. ↑ "EU Naval Force Flagship ITS Andrea Doria Visits Dubai in Support of UAE Counter-Piracy Week". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 (French) Journaux de bord - Marine nationale
  47. ↑ "EUNAVFOR welcomes the French frigate ACONIT". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  48. ↑ "French frigate ACONIT leaves EU NAVFOR after one month of outstanding performance". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  49. ↑ "EU NAVFOR thanks FS GUÉPRATTE after two months: "Always proactive" says Force Commander". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  50. ↑ "EU High Representative Visits French EU Naval Force Warship FS La Fayette Whilst in Kenya and Somalia". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  51. ↑ "EU Naval Force French Frigate Surcouf and NATO Warship USS Halyburton Work Together to Apprehend Twelve Suspect Pirates". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  52. ↑ "EU Naval Force French Frigate Surcouf Rescues Ten Sailors in Indian Ocean". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  53. ↑ "EUNAVFOR thanks French warship FS DE GRASSE after 4 months of operations". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  54. ↑ "Warship Floréal captures suspected pirates". European Commission. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  55. ↑ "EUNAVFOR thanks FS FLOREAL after three and a half months of operation". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  56. ↑ "French Frigate NIVÔSE departs EU NAVFOR Task Force after a four month deployment". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  57. ↑ "EU NAVFOR thanks French frigate Jean Bart: "Successfully accomplished mission"". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  58. ↑ "EU NAVFOR welcomes the French warship FS JACOUBET". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  59. ↑ "EUNAVFOR thanks FS JACOUBET after one month of operation". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  60. ↑ "French Warship FS Marne Becomes EU Counter Piracy Flagship". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  61. ↑ "Suspect Pirates Apprehended by EU Naval Force Flagship Transferred To The Seychelles". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  62. ↑ http://www.eunavfor.eu/2011/04/portuguese-take-command-of-eu-navfor-counter-piracy-taskforce/
  63. ↑ http://www.eunavfor.eu/2011/05/eu-navfor-flagship-npr-vasco-da-gama-assists-the-seychelles-coast-guard/
  64. ↑ "The European Union And The Somali Federal Government Strengthen Ties On Board EU Naval Force Counter Piracy Flagship". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  65. ↑ "EU NAVFOR thanks Portuguese Maritime Patrol Aircraft Detachment". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  66. ↑ "Spanish frigate VICTORIA leaves EU NAVFOR after four months of excellent service". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  67. ↑ "EU Naval Force Warship “ESPS Reina Sofía” Escorts Freed Dhow to Yemeni Coast". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  68. ↑ "EUNAVFOR thanks SPS INFANTA CRISTINA". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 9 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  69. ↑ "Spanish OPV Vencedora contributed outstandingly to EU NAVFOR with 85 percent of time on main task". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  70. ↑ "The Spanish warship SPS GALICIA leaves EU NAVFOR mission after 82 days on operations". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 21 November 2010.
  71. ↑ "EUNAVFOR welcomes the Spanish Combat Replenishment Ship SPS PATINO". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 9 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  72. ↑ "EU NAVFOR thanks SPS PATIÑO after one and a half months of operation". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  73. ↑ "EU Naval Force Warship ESPS Relampago Rescues 68 People Adrift In Gulf of Aden". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  74. ↑ "Pirates release Greek Crude Oil Tanker M/V Maran Centaurus". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  75. ↑ "Bulk Carrier Filitsa released by pirates". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  76. ↑ "EU NAVFOR warship HS ELLI conducts her final tasks". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  77. ↑ "EUNAVFOR thanks HS ADRIAS". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  78. ↑ "HS Adrias". Hellenic Frigates Command. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  79. ↑ "EU NAVFOR ships BNS LOUISE-MARIE and HSwMS MALMOE escorts vulnerable giant MIGHTY SERVANT 1". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  80. ↑ "EU NAVFOR thanks Swedish warship HSwMS CARLSKRONA after 7 months of operations". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  81. ↑ "Finnish Navy Ship POHJANMAA joins operation Atalanta". EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  82. ↑ Miinalaiva Pohjanmaa päättää tehtävänsä. Iltalehti 30 April 2011. http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2011043013635718_uu.shtml

External links