A few days after NATO finished its anti-pi[ds_preview]racy mission in the Indian Ocean, the European Union takes a stand in the opposite and extended its own mission »Atalanta« for another two years.
The NavFor Operation announced that the European Council extended its mandate to deter, disrupt and repress acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia, until 31 December 2018. The extension »comes amidst concerns within European Union Member States that whilst pirate attacks on merchant ships transiting the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are currently suppressed, pirates still have the intent and capability to go out to sea and mount an attack«, a statement said.
However, there are still threats to the merchant shipping community and its seafarers, especially as local leaders of Somalia claimed an increase in illegal fishing activities off their coast and experts warned that this might lead to another surge in piracy. The most recent pirate incident occurred on 22 October 2016, when the German chemical tanker, »CPO Korea« of shipping company Claus-Peter Offen, was attacked by six armed men 330 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia. The attack was confirmed after a thorough investigation into the incident.
»Atalanta« launched in 2008
The »Atalanta« operation was launched in December 2008 following a surge in piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. At the same time, the World Food Programme (WFP) was increasingly concerned about the safety of its much-needed humanitarian aid deliveries to Somalia.
»Since then EU NAVFOR warships and maritime protection teams have escorted over one million tonnes of humanitarian aid for the Somali people and, together with their international partners, have helped to reduce pirate incidents significantly. At the height of piracy in January 2011 over 700 hostages and 32 vessels were being held by Somali pirates, with huge ransoms demanded for their release. Today, no vessels or hostages are being held by Somali pirates«, the operation added.
According to the EU, NavFor-crews also assist sister EU missions and instruments working within Somalia and the wider region to strengthen maritime domain awareness, security, local governance and the rule of law. »A recent example of this was the maritime training that EU NAVFOR sailors and marines provided to the Bosasso Port Police, in close partnership with a team from EU mission, EUCAP Nestor.«
In the coming year, EU NAVFOR commanders will be working with regional partners and the shipping industry to look at what measures will need to be put in place beyond December 2018 to ensure that Somali-based piracy remains suppressed.
