10 December 2009 marks the first anniversary of EU NAVFOR Somalia - Operation Atalanta, the EU Naval Force operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin against piracy. Hosted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson CBE and co chaired by Didier Lenoir…
IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos expressed concern that adverse weather conditions and other contributing factors may bring about an accident to the supertanker Maran Centaurus – hijacked by pirates on 29 November 2009 with a cargo…
On 11 Dec 2009, Rear Admiral Thorsten Kaehler (German Navy) handed over the responsibility of Deputy Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia Operation ATALANTA, the EU anti-piracy campaign in the Horn of Africa area, to Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá (Spanish navy)…
An Indian Navy spokesperson said the MT Nordik Spirit, a Norway flag vessel, was attacked off the Somalia Coast by pirates firing small arms. The Indian Navy warship flew out helicopters with marine commandos and the pirates retreated. The incident occurred around 3 pm local time…
In the evening of December 6, approximately 250 nautical miles North West of Victoria Seychelles a pirate attack group was neutralized by EU NAVFOR and the Seychellois Coast Guard.On December 5th an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, stationed at the Seychelles…
On November 25, 2009 EU NAVFOR Greek warship HS Adrias neutralized a suspected Pirate Attack Group approximately 260 nautical miles North-East of Seychelles. MV Eclipse, a France flagged Ro-Ro Cargo Ship was approached the day before by a suspected skiff…
Piracy off Somalia’s coast is a symptom of wider problems ashore, and any strategy to tackle it must also deal with its root causes and strengthen regional capacity, the United Nations envoy to the country warned on Nov. 18.Briefing the Security Council…
On Tuesday November 17th 2009 an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft stationed at the Seychelles detected three suspected pirate skiffs approximately 300 nautical miles north of Seychelles and another two suspected pirate skiffs to the east of that position…
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reminded mariners about the importance of taking necessary precautions and implementing best practices in the wake of recent attacks on the M/V Harriett and Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia. “These…
MANAMA, Bahrain, Nov. 18, 2009 - The U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama's security team repelled an attack from suspected pirates this morning 560 nautical miles off the northeastern coast of Somalia, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command officials reported…
On Nov. 17 the hijacked Spanish Fishing Vessel Alakrana was released by pirates after spending seven weeks in pirate captivity. EU NAVFOR understands from the Spanish Government that earlier today, Alakrana got underway from the Somali coast and made her way to open sea…
On 16 November in the Gulf of Aden, the Ukrainian Cargo Ship MV Lady Juliet (flagged St Vincent & The Grenadines) heading West was attacked by pirates firing Kalashnikovs and rocket propelled grenades. The attack commenced when two small skiffs…
Early on the morning of 11 November a Greek owned (Marshall Island flagged) vessel named the MV Filitsa was hijacked in the south Somali Basin, 400 nautical miles North East of the Seychelles. The Bulk Carrier with a deadweight of 23,709 tonnes…
The U.S. Coast Guard issued an updated advisory concerning the placement of firearms on U.S. vessels to defend against or deter pirate attacks in high-risk waters. The advisory summarizes issues related to compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)…
On the morning of 12 November, east in the Gulf of Aden, two merchant vessels were attacked by pirates. There are no reports of casualties.The first attack was on MV Full Strong, a Hong Kong flagged 721.8 ft long Bulk Carrier. MV Full Strong…
