During a recent port visit to The Seychelles, EUROMARFOR flagship ITS Andrea Doria conducted a counter-piracy exercise called ‘Exchange 2015’ with members of the Seychelles Coast Guard and Maritime Police.

Warship ESPS Rayo provided much-needed medical assistance during a ‘friendly approach’ to local Yemeni seafarers during counter-piracy operations in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

During their recent port visit to Djibouti, the Operations Officer and three pilots from the EUROMARFOR warship, ESPS Rayo, met with personnel from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (ERSQ), who are stationed at US base, Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.

Spanish warship "Rayo" was off the coast of Djibouti on 2 January assigned to Combined Task Force 465, the European Union Naval Force (that includes EUROMARFOR task group), conducting anti-piracy patrols off the Horn of Africa, and was replenished by HMAS Success.

A key role for the EU Naval Force is to protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels carrying humanitarian aid to the Somali people from possible pirate attack.  On Monday 22 December the EUROMARFOR flagship ITS Andrea Doria took on the important duty of escorting WFP ship, MV Liberty, 500 nautical miles from Mombasa to Mogadishu.

In this truly special time, we recall humanity and community, the true pillars of civilization, the only ones that can offer us a good present and an auspicious future.

In this time of renewal, reflection, opportunity, sharing, be higher. We warmly hope that this spirit transforms itself into such will that flood the future with the best colors and the biggest smiles. We will do our best and EUROMARFOR will remain at sea for peace.

We at EUROMARFOR wish you an astonishing Happy New Year!

During their recent port visit to Djibouti, on 30 December 2014, ESPS Rayo (warship of EUROMARFOR task group integrated in EU Naval task force) welcomed the Spanish Chief of Defence Staff, General Admiral Fernando García Sánchez, on board.

The Spanish Fleet Admiral, Admiral Santiago Bolíbar Piñeiro, actual EUROMARFOR Operational Commander (COMEUROMARFOR) was also on board, so did the Spanish Joint Operations Commander, Admiral Teodoro Lopez  Calderon. 

During what is the festive season for many, ITS Andrea Doria, has remained at sea conducting counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia. The Italian Navy destroyer has spent time escorting a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel along the East coast of Somalia to protect it from possible pirate attack.

On Sunday 21 December whilst conducting counter-piracy patrols, Spanish Navy warship, ESPS Rayo, met local seafarers in the Gulf of Aden.

This is the third meeting that the crew from ESPS Rayo has carried out with local fishermen since her departure from Spain. ESPS Rayo belongs to EUROMARFOR Task Group, integrated in the EU Task Force, that is fighting against piracy in the Horn of Africa.

During the morning of 19^th December, EUROMARFOR warship ESPS Rayo (unit of EU Naval Force) and the South Korean destroyer ROKS Daejoyeong met at sea to to enhance the relationship between EU Naval Force warships and those of other task forces operating in the area.

On 16 December, during her port visit to Antsiranana, the EUROMARFOR flagship (and EU Naval Force flagship), ITS Andrea Doria, conducted Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) training with personnel from the Madagascan Navy.

On Monday 15 December, during her port visit to Djibouti, EUROMARFOR warship (within EU Naval Force) ESPS Rayo conducted Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) training in support of and in coordination with, the EU maritime capacity building mission, EU CAP Nestor.

On 10 December 2014, Spanish Navy warship (ESPS) NAVARRA started her trip back home, after completing a deployment in Atalanta Operation. ESPS NAVARRA had been integrated in EUROMARFOR task group, which is the major contributor with assets to the EU Naval Force in the Indian Ocean.

On Monday 8 December Spanish warship ESPS Rayo joined EUROMARFOR and then the EU Naval Force.  The ship will be deployed at sea in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden for the next 6 months.

On Friday, 5th December, the EUROMARFOR task group ships meet at sea. The Spanish frigate Navarra rendezvoused off the coast of Somalia with the EUROMARFOR flagship Andrea Doria. These two EUROMARFOR ships are integrated in the EUNAVFOR task force and ITS Andrea Doria is the flagship.

Over the past few weeks, the EUROMARFOR warship ESPS Navarra (In the EUNAVFOR task force), has carried out several friendly approaches to fishing dhows off the northern coast of Somalia.

On 2 December the Flagship of EU Naval Force ITS Andrea Doria paid a port visit to Djibouti. Rear Admiral Rando visited Brigadier-General Philippe Montocchio, the Commander of French Forces in Djibouti.

During their recent port visit to Dar es Salaam, the EU Naval Force flagship (EUROMARFOR flagship), ITS Andrea Doria conducted Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) training with personnel from the Tanzanian People’s Defence Force.  The tr

During the last week EUROMARFOR warship, ESPS Navarra, invited local Somali leaders on board in order to help build relations between the EU Naval Force and the Somali people.

On the 25th of November 2014, EUROMARFOR participated in the "Youth and European Defense” forum that has been organised by the French Defense Commission “Youth and Defense” in the French “Ecole Militaire” in Paris.      

The Council has extended the EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta by two more years, until 12 December 2016. The Operation’s main focus is the protection of World Food Programme vessels delivering humanitarian aid to Somalia; and the deterrence, repression and disruption of piracy off the Somali coast. In addition, Operation Atalanta contributes to the monitoring of fishing activities off the coast of Somalia.