On Saturday 2 January 2016, Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Barbieri, visited the Lithuanian Maritime Protection team that is embarked on board the World Food Programme (WFP) vessel, MSM Douro.

At the very beginning of the New Year we, at the EUROMARFOR Permanente Cell, would like to express our gratitude to the crews of the ships serving under the EUROMARFOR flag to create a more secure world.

Happy New Year to all the sailors that are at sea for peace!

While alongside in Djibouti, EU Naval Force frigate, ESPS Victoria, welcomed a Qatari Navy officer on board.

ESPS Victoria’s helicopter crew has handed over their duties to a new team during the Spanish warship’s port visit to Djibouti. The new team will fly ESPS Victoria’s SH-60B helicopter.

On Friday 25 December, sailors from EUROMARFOR flagship ITS Carabiniere, integrated in the EU Naval Force, welcomed local children on board to celebrate Christmas Mass during a visit to Madagascar.

Training with the local Navy for the EUROMARFOR Flagship during a port visit to Antsiranana.

On Wednesday 23 December 2015, Operation Atalanta flagship, ITS Carabiniere, supported a local orphanage and charitable organisations during her visit to Antisiranana.

From 22 to 26 December, EU Naval Force Flagship, ITS Carabiniere, pays her first visit to Antisiranana, Madagasacar.

The men and women of Operation Atalanta will be continuing with their counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean during the festive period in order to ensure that the World Food Programme (WFP) aid destined for the Somali people and seafarers will remain safe from any potential pirate attack.

Over the festive period, Operation Atalanta flagship, ITS Carabiniere, carried out a friendly approach with a fishing vessel off the Somali coast.

Yesterday, 17th of December 2015, The EUROMARFOR Permanent Cell representative of France, Commander Benoit Bernard, was awarded as Knight of French National Order of Merit (French: Ordre national du Mérite).

During her recent port visit to Salalah, Spanish warship, ESPS Victoria, became a polling station for the day to enable the 220 sailors on board to cast their vote for Spain’s general election.  The election will take place on Sunday 20 December 2015.

On Sunday 13th December 2015, Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ITS Carabiniere, conducted a replenishment at sea (RAS) with United States Supply ship, USNS Laramie.

On Friday 11 December 2015, ITS Carabiniere conducted maritime training with the Royal Navy of Oman.

On Thursday 10 December 2015, Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander and also commander or EUROMARFOR Task Group, Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri, visited Spanish warship, ESPS Victoria.

On Wednesday 8 December 2015, Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ITS Carabiniere hosted members of the Japanese Escort Division 3 during a port visit to Salalah.

EU Naval Force Welcomes Rear Admiral Wu Manjiang from Chinese Navy on board ITS Carabiniere.

Today is the Italian Navy Patron Saint day.

On Thursday 3 December 2015, Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ITS Carabiniere met up with USNS Laramie off the coast of Somalia to replenish fuel and stores.

On Tuesday 01 December 2015, Operation Atalanta and EUROMARFOR flagship, ITS Carabiniere successfully completed escort duties for the UN FAO initiative to deploy Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) along the Somali coast.

On Tuesday 01 December 2015, members of Operation Atalanta’s Force Headquarters (FHQ), namelly the EUROMARFOR team, on board ITS Carabiniere took the opportunity to celebrate Romania’s 97th Great Union Day, known as Ziua Marii Uniri.