EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA was launched as part of a comprehensive approach on 8 December 2008 within the framework of the European Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) and International Law. The Operation has been extended by the European Council until December 2012 and has the following objectives:
· help deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery
· protect vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP), humanitarian aid and African Union Mission on Somalia (AMISOM) shipping
· protect vulnerable shipping
· and in addition contributes to the monitoring of fishing activities off the coast of Somalia
EU NAVFOR- Operation ATALANTA's participation goes beyond EU Member States. Croatia, Montenegro, Norway and Ukraine have provided assets to the operation.
Additionally, EU NAVFOR ATALANTA has permanent liaison with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), NATO and also units from China, India, Japan, Russia, and others to deconflict their operations in time and space in the mission area.
Rear Admiral Duncan Potts (UK Royal Navy) is currently appointed as the Operation Commander for the EU’s first Naval Operation, within the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy, and leads the Operation Headquarters based at Northwood, UK.
EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA assets in the operation area typically consists of 5 to 10 surface combat vessels, 1 to 2 auxiliary ship and 2 to 4 MPRAs.
EU NAVFOR is heavily involved in counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea helping to protect many of the 45,000 ships that transit the region every year.
Since the launch of the operation EU NAVFOR-Operation ATALANTA
For more information please visit the EU NAVFOR website.
The EU has established the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa in partnership with industry to improve coordination between commercial shipping and international military forces in the region.
With up to 95% of EU member state’ trade (by volume) transported by sea and 20% of Global trade passing through the Gulf of Aden, EUNAVFOR provide considerable focus to safeguard trade through this strategic area.
The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) is an initiative established by EUNAVFOR with close co-operation from industry. The MSC(HOA) 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 vessel movements through the region.
Finally in between routine or baseline operations, EUNAVFOR conducts focused operations aimed at achieving specific effects within a given area or time window. By concentrating forces to achieve specific effects EUNAVFOR can provide influence, deterrence or insight into legitimate and illicit activities in order to better co-ordinate future activities to deter piracy and armed robbery and thus reassure legitimate merchant mariners.