At the end of 2022, EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA was extended until December 2024 with a new mandate reflecting the achievements, challenges and future of the Operation. EU Member States decided that the Operation should keep its main effort on the following missions: protecting World Food Programme (WFP) vessels and other vulnerable vessels transiting the region; deterring, preventing, and suppressing piracy and armed robbery in the Operations Area; monitoring fishing activities in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean; fighting drug trafficking and assisting in the weapons embargo on Somalia, illegal trade in charcoal and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing ("IUU fishing").
As ATALANTA is part of the EU's Comprehensive Support to the Horn of Africa, the Operation actively supports the 'sister missions' EUCAP-Somalia (EU Capacity Building - Somalia) and EUTM-Somalia (EU Training Mission - Somalia). It also maintains close links with EU representations throughout the area and contributes to the implementation of EU programmes aimed at improving the regional maritime security framework.
Furthermore, the new mandate expresses the will to establish a new relationship with EMASOH-AGENOR, by developing new ties and synergies with this operation, in which European countries are involved, focused on the Strait of Hormuz.
In fact, the new mandate sets the objective of making ATALANTA a reference throughout the North-West Indian Ocean as a maritime security provider in the region.
At the end of 2022, EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA was extended until December 2024 with a new mandate reflecting the achievements, challenges and future of the Operation. EU Member States decided that the Operation should keep its main effort on the following missions: protecting World Food Programme (WFP) vessels and other vulnerable vessels transiting the region; deterring, preventing, and suppressing piracy and armed robbery in the Operations Area; monitoring fishing activities in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean; fighting drug trafficking and assisting in the weapons embargo on Somalia, illegal trade in charcoal and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing ("IUU fishing").
As ATALANTA is part of the EU's Comprehensive Support to the Horn of Africa, the Operation actively supports the 'sister missions' EUCAP-Somalia (EU Capacity Building - Somalia) and EUTM-Somalia (EU Training Mission - Somalia). It also maintains close links with EU representations throughout the area and contributes to the implementation of EU programmes aimed at improving the regional maritime security framework.
Furthermore, the new mandate expresses the will to establish a new relationship with EMASOH-AGENOR, by developing new ties and synergies with this operation, in which European countries are involved, focused on the Strait of Hormuz.
In fact, the new mandate sets the objective of making ATALANTA a reference throughout the North-West Indian Ocean as a maritime security provider in the region.
MANDATE
At the end of 2008, the European Union Council adopted Resolution 2008/851/CFSP, based on various UN resolutions, to establish the EU maritime military operation - ATALANTA Operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention, and repression of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia. Over time, the mandate of EU NAVFOR has been adapted to reflect the evolving situation in the region and the increased presence of the International Community, with the aim of developing the Operation into a provider of maritime security in the North-West Indian Ocean.
On 12 December 2022, EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2441 amended the tasks of ATALANTA as follows:
Data collected since 2008 shows that EU NAVFOR, in cooperation with its partners in the fight against piracy, has been highly effective in preventing attacks before they occur.
Overall, both the operations carried out by the Operation and the continued effort to advise the International Shipping Industry and the Merchant Community of the importance of self-protection measures have drastically reduced the success rate of attacks in the Area of Operations.
At the height of piracy in the region in January 2011, piracy networks held up to 736 hostages and 32 vessels. Since its deployment in 2008 as the first EU naval operation, EU NAVFOR ATALANTA:
In addition, EU NAVFOR has conducted and supported numerous Saving Lives at Sea rescue missions (SOLAS actions) in the area, assisting local, regional and international merchant and fishing vessels in need.
WHERE EU NAVFOR OPERATES
The EUNAVFOR ATALANTA - AOO Area of Operations, according to the new mandate, includes (map attached):
Within this area, EU NAVFOR units carry out their tasks in line with the established mandate, currently for the period 2023-2024. Close cooperation with WFP ensures that no vessel carrying humanitarian aid travels unprotected in the region.
EU NAVFOR assets also conduct patrols in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden and the rest of the Western Indian Ocean included in the AOO.
In addition, warships and air assets conduct regular reconnaissance and surveillance operations. Warships and their boarding teams routinely carry out visual or on-board checks of vessels transiting the area.
Meetings are held with local seafarers, the so-called "Friendly Approaches", to learn more about maritime practices directly from the crews of fishing and merchant vessels in the region. Likewise, the Masters of these vessels are urged to take into account the Good Practices Manual (BMP version 5) and to register in the Voluntary Registration System (VRS) of the Maritime Security Center for the Horn of Africa (MSCHOA, which reports to the Operation Headquarters). These are the best measures to achieve safe navigation and enable immediate assistance in case of need.
In addition, EU NAVFOR vessels have and will come to the aid of vessels in distress, whether from an assault, attack or because the vessel is in another emergency situation at sea.
EU NAVFOR operates in an Area of Operations covering the Southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and a large part of the Indian Ocean, including the Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros. The Area of Operations also includes the Somali coastal territory, as well as its territorial and internal waters. This represents an area of about 4,700,000 square nautical miles (approximately 8,700,000 square kilometres).
Within the Area of Operations, EU NAVFOR units conduct tasks in accordance with the Mandate. Close co-operation with WFP and AMISOM ensures that no vessel transporting humanitarian aid (or logistics for the African Union mission) will travel unprotected along the Somali coastline.
EU NAVFOR warships also conduct patrols in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Furthermore, warships and Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) conduct reconnaissance and surveillance operations. Warships and their boarding teams routinely conduct visual or physical checks of vessels transiting the High Risk Area.
Meetings with local seafarers, or ‘friendly approaches’, are conducted to gather a better understanding of maritime practices by talking with the crews of fishing and trading vessels in the region and to make ships’ masters aware of the Best Management Practices (BMP) for protection against Somali-based piracy, i.e. self-protection measures.
A significant objective of EU NAVFOR is the deterrence and disruption of acts of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas. Warships apprehend suspected pirates following intelligence reports of pirate activity or sightings by merchant vessels and MPRAs.
When EU NAVFOR assets locate suspicious vessels, and further investigation confirms the suspicion, the pirate groups will be disrupted. This means action will be taken in order to render a suspected group incapable of further pirate operations. Suspected pirates may be detained with the aim to transfer them to competent national authorities for prosecution. Their equipment is often confiscated for evidence purposes. A disruption of a pirate logistics dump was also carried out on the Somali coastline as part of a focused and deliberate operation in May 2012.
In addition, EU NAVFOR warships regularly come to the aid of vessels in distress, either because of a pirate attack or because the vessel is otherwise in an emergency situation at sea.
EU NAVFOR assets also support UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s programmes to monitor fishing activity in the area.
EU NAVFOR is based on European Union Council Resolutions, which in turn are based on United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) and international law.
In relation to persons suspected of unlawful acts on which the Operation may act under its current mandate, the legal framework is:
Atalanta Opertation is part of Spain's commitment, under the flag of the European Union, to keep security in the Gulf of Aden waters and the Western Indian Ocean, protecting World Food Programme vessels and keeping vulnerable maritime traffic safe.
The transfer of the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) from the British city of Northwood, London (United Kingdom) to the Rota Naval Base in Cadiz, Spain, was formalised on 29 March 2019, following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union.
The Operation Commander leads the ES-OHQ, which is ready to be used at all times, and to exercise command of any operation or mission of the Common Security and Defence Policy. This command was assumed by Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano on 23rd November 2023 in Rota.
Spain is currently contributing to Operation Atlanta with approximately 350 military personnel and the following assets:
Friendly approach to a fish boatYoutube video Destachment Orion in Djibuti: P3 'Orion' flightYoutube video Frigate F-85 'Navarra': Vessel monitoring in Operation AtalantaYoutube video Frigate F-84 'Reina Sofía': flying a 'Scan Eagle' UAV within EUNAVFOR 'Atalanta'Youtube video
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El Destacamento Aéreo Táctico ‘Orión’ alcanza las 15.000 horas de vuelo en la Operación ‘Atalanta’
2024/10/31En Yibuti
More informationLa fragata ‘Santa María’ realiza ejercicios conjuntos con el buque keniano ‘Shujaa’
2024/10/30En Mombasa, Kenia
More informationLa fragata ‘Numancia’ regresa a la base naval de Rota
2024/10/29En Rota
More informationThe frigate 'Santa Maria' calls at Mombasa port
2024/10/28In Mombasa, Kenya
More informationDeputy Commander of ‘Operation Atalanta’ visits the ‘Orion’ Detachment
2024/10/17In Djibouti
More informationThe frigate 'Santa María' takes over from the frigate 'Numancia' in the Operation 'EUNAVFOR ATALANTA'
2024/10/16In Djibouti
More informationArrival of Delta 4 aircraft at Tactical Air Detachment ‘Orion’
2024/09/25In Djibouti,
More informationTactical Air Detachment ‘Orion’ marks 16 years of deployment in Djibouti
2024/09/23In Djibouti
More informationSpain takes command of the ‘Atalanta’ operation
2024/06/21In Djibouti
More informationThe frigate ‘Numancia’ takes over from the frigate ‘Canarias’ in Operation ‘EUNAVFOR Atalanta’
2024/06/11In Djibouti
More information