EU NAVAL FORCE SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA

Data collated since 2008 demonstrate that EU NAVFOR, in co-operation with her counter-piracy partners, has become highly effective in preventing attacks before they happen.

Taken together, intelligence-led operations, a robust and proactive stance, as well as the continued effort to impress upon the maritime industry and the merchant community the importance of self-protection measures, have decreased the success rate of those attacks which are mounted.

At the height of Somali piracy in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 ships were being held by pirates. By October 2016 that number has dropped to no hostages and ships being held.

Since the launch of the Operation in 2008, EU NAVFOR – Operation ATALANTA has:

• Had a 100% success rate in providing protection to WFP vessels delivering food / aid to the Somali people and to AMISOM shipments critical to the success of the African Union operation in Somalia.
• Ensured the protection of other vulnerable shipping within the IRTC and the High Risk Area.
• Contributed to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia.
• Transferred suspected pirates to competent authorities with a view to their prosecution and conviction as a result of its close co-operation with regional governments such as those of The Republic of the Seychelles, Mauritius and Kenya.

Moreover, EU NAVFOR has conducted and supported numerous Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) rescue missions in the area, helping local, regional and international trading and fishing vessels in distress.

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 Decisions by the Council of the European Union in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) and International Law.

Detention of Suspected Pirates

In the Area of Operations, EU NAVFOR units can arrest, detain and transfer persons suspected of intending to commit, committing, or having committed acts of piracy or armed robbery at sea.

EU NAVFOR assets can seize vessels of suspected pirates or armed robbers, vessels captured by an act of piracy or armed robbery at sea, and such vessels which are in the hands of the pirates or armed robbers, as well as the property on board.

The suspects can be prosecuted by an EU Member State, by Regional States, or by any other Third States with which the EU has agreements, and which wishes to exercise its jurisdiction over the suspected pirates. Suspected pirates may not be transferred to a Third State unless conditions relevant to International Law, notably International Law on Human Rights, are met

Operation Atalanta is part of the commitment undertaken by Spain, under the EU flag, in its effort to maintain security in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia waters, by protecting the World Food Programme protecting the ships of the World Food Programme, the ships of the UN misión for Somalia (AMISOM) and maintaining the security of vulnerable maritime traffic..

The transfer of the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) from the British city of Northwood to the Rota Naval Base, in Cadiz, was formalized on  the March 29, 2019, following the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

Since its beginning in 2008, Operation Atalanta contributes to increase security in the Indian Ocean. For that purpose, it executes maritime surveillance activities with the aim of preventing and stopping possible acts of piracy; it collaborates in monitoring fishing activities in the Somali coast and assures food delivery from the World Food Programme (WFP). Spain, since its inception, has continuously participated in this mission by providing several naval and air resources to the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR).

The amphibious assault vessel (BAA) “Castilla”, with Embarked Air Unit (UNAEMB in Spanish) of two helicopters SH-60B/F, was deployed. Besides, the Embarked International Staff (Force Headquarters, FHQ) of the operation is on board the Armed Forces ship. Afterwards, the BAM (Maritime Action Ship) “Relámpago” was deployed to the area until 10^th March 2019, being taken over by the Spanish frigate Navarra (F85).

The Commander of the Operation is in charge of the OHQ, ready to be employed at any time and to exercise command of any operation or mision under the Common Security and Defence Policy. This command has been assumed by the Spanish Mayor General of Marine Infantry, Antonio Planells Palau.

Spain has on several occasions assumed command of the Force Headquarters (FHQ) of the European Union Naval Operation in the Indian Ocean from the ship deployed in the area. This command has been firstly assumed by the Counter Admiral Alfonso Pérez de Nanclares, and starting March 2018 by the Rear Admiral Ricardo Atanasio Hernández López.

Spain, contributes to the Operation Atalanta with the following personnel and assets:

• Frigate F-84 'Reina Sofía'.
• Orión Detachment in Yibuti; including a P-3 'Orión' airplane and 50 airmen belonging to the Spanish Air Force.
• OHQ Rota.

 2020

• December 16th. Spanish CHOD visits frigate 'Reina Sofía' and Air Detachment 'Orión'
• October 15th. Frigate “Reina Sofía” relieves frigate “Santa María” in the operation Atalanta in the waters of the Indian Ocean.
• September 20th. A P3 from the 22nd group takes off from the French base in Djibouti bound for Spain, carrying airmen from the 71st rotation of the 'Orion' detachment, within the framework of the EU Naval Force's Operation Atalanta in Somalia.
• September 20th.  An A310 from the 45th group lands in Djibouti with the personnel belonging to the 38th contingent assigned to the ‘Orion’ detachment which will carry out the relevant missions within Operation Atalanta.
• August 27th. Force change of command of "Operation Atalanta". Rear Admiral Ignacio Villanueva hands over command to his Italian counterpart, who will act as commander from the frigate "Luigi Rizzo"
• July 26th. A P3 airplane from Spain lands in Djibouti carrying airmen belonging to the 71st rotation of Detachment 'ORION' to keep carrying out their duties within Operation 'ATALANTA'.
• May 27th. The 37th contingent of Detachment 'ORION' takes over within Operation ‘ATALANTA’.  Spanish Armed Forces keep their commitment with the 'ATALANTA' despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
• May 6th. Spain takes command of Operation ‘ATALANTA’. Rear Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano takes over from the Spanish frigate ‘Numancia’.
• February 17th. The frigate 'Numancia' took over from the 'Victory' in Djibouti. This is the third time that this Navy vessel is deployed in the European Union operation.
• February 4th. Orion detachment, deployed in Djibouti; transfer of authority between the 68th and 69th rotations.

2019

• July 24. The 35^th Contingent takes full responsibility for the “Orión” detachment in Yibuti.
• July 23. “Canarias” frigate takes over from “Navarra” frigate.
• March 27. The 34^th Contingent of the Spanish Air Force Orión Detachment has taken over command in Djibouti. The new contingent, whose relief overlaps the 64^th rotation, is composed by 60 soldiers and is under the command of Lieutenant colonel Jaime Peñuela, replacing Lieutenant colonel Marín Rodríguez.
• On 10^th March, FFG (F85) “Navarra” frigate is deployed, taking over from “Relámpago” meteoro-class offshore patrol vessel (BAM in Spanish). From 10^th March to 23^rd July, Spain has taken over the command of the Force Headquarters (FHQ) from the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation, leading from the F-85 Navarra, under the command of Rear Admiral Ricardo Atanasio Hernández López.

2018

• December 6. “Relámpago” meteoro-class offshore patrol vessel (BAM) takes over from “Castilla” amphibious assault ship (BAA in Spanish), and it has been integrated into the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) for its participation in operation Atalanta against piracy. “Relámpago” has stayed in the area of operations in the Indian Ocean until March.
• August 6. Spain takes over the Force command by using the amphibious assault ship as a command ship.
• July 30. The EU Council extends the command of operation Atalanta, EU NAVFOR Somalia until 31^st December 2020. On 29^th March 2019, the Council also decided to relocate the operating headquarters of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) from Northwood (UK) to Rota (Spain). On the same date, Vice admiral Antonio Martorell Lacave of the Spanish Army was appointed as the new Operation Commander. Both the relocation and change of command were necessary due to the UK decision to leave the EU.
• April 23. “Meteoro” meteoro-class offshore patrol vessel (BAM), whose military base is located in the Arsenal of Las Palmas, has taken over from “Patiño” replenishment oiler (BAC in Spanish) within the framework of the operation Atalanta.

2017

• December 28. Participation is extended till 31^st December 2018. Up to 375 troops take part in the operation.
• February 24. Spain takes the command of the operation till 27^th July. “Galicia” amphibious assault ship acts as a flagship.

2015

• April 6. Spain takes over the Force command of the operation till 6^th August. “Galicia” amphibious assault ship acts as the command ship.

2012

• December 6. Spain takes over the command of the operation till 6th April 2013. “Méndez Núñez” frigate acts as the command ship.
• August. For the first time in the Indian Ocean, Spain deploys “Relámpago”, one of its new offshore patrol vessels.

2011

• September 10. “Galicia” ship releases a French citizen and arrests the hijackers.
• September 5. Spain takes over the Force command of operation Atalanta.

2010

• December 14. Spain takes over the command of operation Atalanta.
• February 25: Atalanta´s functions are extended, including port and pirate´s headquarters control.

2009

• October 2. Hijacking of the Basque fishing “Alakrana”. Spain sent a frigate to the south to protect the tuna fleet.
• April 6. Our country takes over for the first time the Force command.
• January 23. Spain sent the first ship to the area, “Victoria” frigate.
• January 23. The Council of Ministers approves Spanish participation in the operation.
• January 21. The Congress of Deputies authorizes sending a Spanish contingent to Atalanta.

2008

• December 8. Operation Atalanta is started.
• November 10. The European Union approves the creation of a naval air force.
• September 23. “Orión” maritime surveillance aircraft P-3 is sent by Spain to Djibouti.