European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta

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ESPS Relampago's helicopter demonstrates Search and Rescue procedures for members of the Somaliland Coastguard

Operation Atalanta Spanish Warship ESPS Relampago Conducts Maritime Training with Somaliland Coastguard Close to Port of Berbera

December 5, 2016 - 12:48

On Saturday 3 December ESPS Relampago conducted maritime training with members of the Somaliland Coastguard. The training included radar and Search and Rescue (SAR) training. During the day, Admiral Adbi Hersi from the Somaliland Coastguard was hosted on board ESPS Relampago by the ship’s Commanding Officer. Collaboration and training between Operation Atalanta and regional naval […]

Commodore Luyckx wishes all crewmembers well aboard ESPS Relampago as they continue to sail with Op Atalanta

Operation Atalanta Force Commander Bids Farewell to Spanish Sailors Aboard ESPS Relámpago

December 5, 2016 - 12:12

As the Operation Atalanta flagship, HNLMS Tromp, and her embarked Force Headquarters staff prepare to leave the EU counter-piracy operation and return to The Netherlands, the Force Commander made a final trip to ESPS Relámpago to bid farewell to Spanish colleagues. Both the Dutch and Spanish warships have been working closely together over the last […]

European Union and United Nations Carry out Maritime Capacity Building Training with Somaliland Coastguard in Berbera Port On Board Operation Atalanta Flagship Tromp

European Union and United Nations Carry out Maritime Capacity Building Training with Somaliland Coastguard and Hosts a Joint Maritime Security Seminar in Berbera Port On Board Operation Atalanta Flagship Tromp

December 4, 2016 - 14:51

On Saturday 3 December EU NAVFOR sailors, supported by staff from EUCAP Nestor, carried out radar training on board the Spanish offshore patrol vessel, ESPS Relampago, in Berbera Bay, as a precursor to an engagement the following day on board EU NAVFOR flagship, HNLMS Tromp. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) assisted the […]

Op Atalanta Flagship visited Super Servant 3

Operation Atalanta Force Commander Greets Dutch Marine Security Team on board Dutch-Flagged Cargo Ship in Gulf of Aden

November 29, 2016 - 11:41

On 19 November Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Commodore Luyckx, paid a visit to the Dutch-flagged cargo ship, Super Servant 3, during the vessel’s transit from Safaga in Egypt to Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The Netherlands has deployed more than 200 specially trained Dutch Marine Teams to the Gulf of Aden in recent years to […]

ABOUT US

The European Union Naval Force (Op Atalanta) Somalia - Operation Atalanta was launched on 8 December 2008 and is conducted in accordance with United Nations Security Council's resolutions. The Operation has been extended by the European Council until December 2018 and has the following objectives:

Protects vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP) and other vulnerable shipping.
Deters and disrupts piracy and armed robbery at sea.
Monitors fishing activities off the coast of Somalia.
Supports other EU missions and international organisations working to strengthen maritime security and capacity in the region.

For more information about our mission, our deployed units and chain of command please visit the link below. In this section there is also information about the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa. Read more

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PICTURE GALLERY

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KEY FACTS AND FIGURES

currently held by pirates

Vessels Held¹	Hostages Held²
0	0

since 2009

wfp vessels protected	394
amisom vessels protected	133
tonnes of food/aid delivered by WFP	1,291,304³

pirates transfered to competent authorities with a view to their prosecution

total
154

remanded
0

convicted
143

	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
suspicious events	8	59	99	166	74	20	5	1	2
total attacks	24	163	174	176	34	7	2	0	1
of which pirated⁴	14	46	47	25	4	0	0	0	0
disruptions⁵	0	14	65	28	16	10	1	0	0

Plus an unknown number of unreported/unconfirmed dhows and smaller vessels.
Estimated.
Reported metric tonnes of food/aid delivered to Somali ports by World Food Programme shipping protected by EU NAVFOR.
TOTAL ATTACK is the combined number of all attacks mounted by suspect pirates; those repelled/aborted and those leading to ships being in pirate hands and crews taken hostage.
An action that renders a pirate group incapable of further pirate operation.

COUNTERING PIRACY

OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA