On September 17, 2015, the Commander in Chief of the Italian Fleet (CINCNAV), Vice Admiral Filippo Maria Foffi has assumed the Command of the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR), relieving the Spanish Admiral Javier Franco Suanzes (the Spanish Admiral of the Fleet - ALFLOT).

Change of Command of EUROMARFOR

On Sunday 6th September 2015, the EU Naval Force counter-piracy flagship, ESPS “Galicia”, provided urgent medical assistance to an injured seafarer, who had suffered a flattening on his hand during a fishing campaign on the Atlantic Ocean on board the Spanish fishing vessel “Jai Alai”.

The fishing ship was 350 nautical miles to the north of the Seychelles islands when she directly called her shipping company requesting for medical assistance. The shipping company relayed the distress call to the Spanish Warship “Galicia” that was sailing in the north of Seychelles.

Offshore Patrol Vessel ESPS “Meteoro” and ARC “Siete de Agosto” encountered yesterday at sea in Somali Basin while conducting counter-piracy operations.

The helicopter from “Siete de Agosto”, Altair, transferred a small group of crew members to “Meteoro”, so they could know this ship and her capabilities. After some explanations about the main characteristics and the typical exchange of gifts, the helicopter took off and performed a photographic report while both ships sailed together.

Finally, “Siete de Agosto” reassumed her route towards the Gulf of Aden, while “Meteoro” kept her course southwards heading for her next task. It has been an excellent chance to tighten bonds between these two countries that have so many things in common, including historical background; two nations so geographically apart but now so close at sea keeping this area of the world safe.

During the 3^rd of September’s morning, as part of the on-going Local Maritime Capacity Building program, practice-led training was carried out by Spanish sailors.

Local practice beneficiaries mentored by British-led initiative, made the most out of the two hour training frame, which got on to a remarkable start as the weather provided shifty atmospheric conditions.

Offshore Patrol Vessel ESPS “Meteoro” joined EUROMARFOR Task Group in Operation Atalanta on September 1st, after three weeks of transit from her home port in Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain).

EUROMARFOR Task Group integrates now ESPS Castilla (flagship), ITS Libeccio and ESPS Meteoro.

From the very beginning of the ATALANTA Operation, Spain has shown a firm commitment to fight and eradicate Somali-based piracy and armed robbery at sea, off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean.  Its main air asset is currently the D-4, which is the MPRA (Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft) version of the CN-235 transport aircraft. 

Just after the end of the replenishment at sea with USNS “John Ericsson”, the Operation’s “Atalanta” Force Commander was flown with the Spanish SH3D helicopter to visit the German Warship FGS “Erfurt”. 

During a counter piracy patrol on the Gulf of Aden, the Spanish Warship “Galicia” encountered at sea the Colombian Warship “7 de Agosto.

On the morning of the 22nd August, a crew members exchange among the two Warships, ESPS “Galicia” and ARC “7 de Agosto” was scheduled. In spite of all activities programmed for the encounter at sea, only the Force commander and staff members were able to visit the Colombian Warship due to the strong southwesterly winds blowing on the area.

During the encounter, the two warships performed light weight replenishment at sea to exchange some traditional gifts of the two countries. The passenger exchange was executed with the Colombian helicopter Augusta Bell 412.

During the visit to the Acting Commander of the Royal Omani Navy, they could share some talks about the current piracy situation on the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden and about the maritime security situation in general. 

Sailors from Italian Navy warship, ITS Libeccio, which is currently deployed in the Indian Ocean as part of the European Union’s counter-piracy operation ‘Atalanta’, have provided much-needed food and water to twenty four stranded seafarers.

On Wednesday 12 August Operation Atalanta flagship, ESPS Galicia, hosted the Spanish Ambassador to Oman during a port visit to Muscat.  The Force Commander, Rear Admiral Alfonso Fernández Gómez de Córdoba, welcomed His Excellency Mr Juan José Urtasun on board.

During a port visit to Muscat, the European Union Flagship, Spanish Warship “Galicia” strengthened ties with the Combined Counter-Piracy task Force 151 represented by the Pakistani Warship “Aslat”.

On the 12^th August 2015, the ESPS “Galicia” arrived to the port of Muscat after a Counter piracy patrol off the East coast of Somalia of 10 days.

So as to seize the opportunity that, both the Operation Atalanta flagship and the Pakistani Warship moored in the port of Muscat, a meeting on board the Spanish Warship was held to coordinate efforts against piracy activity.

On August 9^th Spanish Warship “Meteoro” (P‐41) left her home base in Canary Islands in her first phase of integration on EU Operation Atalanta under EUROMARFOR Flag.

The Colombian Warship “7 de Agosto” will joined the Operation Atalanta as Associated support last 8th of August. During her time on the Operation, she will monitor and protect the vulnerable shipping, the vessels of the World Food Program and the African Mission in Somalia. She will also collaborate in deterring and disrupting any piracy activity in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

During the 7th August the Puntland Maritime Police Force performed a rescue to the Yemeni fishing vessel “Al Amal”, stranded off the east coast of Somalia, near to the small village Eyl.

The Force Headquarters on board ESPS “Galicia” received early in the morning of the 5th August the information coming from a South Korean Warship, belonging to the Combined Task Force 151. Right after receiving this information, the Battle Watch Captain of the Force Headquarters was phoned by the Yemeni fishing vessel’s master.

Taking advantage of the Maritime Patrol Aircraft flight scheduled for the morning of the 5th, the Force Headquarters tasked the Spanish Airplane “Barbo” to fly over the area and to check the situation of the fishing vessel “Al Amal”.

Rapidly, the Force Headquarters reacted and coordinated the rescue with the local authorities of Puntland. The continuously interaction with the Puntland Maritime Police Force permitted the Force Headquarters to be uninterruptedly updated over the course of events.

On Sunday 2 August 2015, the Commanding Officer of ESPS Galicia, Captain Rafael Fernandez-Pintado, met officers from the Royal Navy of Oman during the Spanish warship’s port visit to Salalah.

On 31 July 2015, Operation Atalanta flagship, ESPS Galicia, sailed into the port of Salalah to resupply the Spanish warship with food and stores.  During the visit, Force Commander, Rear Admiral Alfonso Fernández Gómez de Córdoba, took the opportunity to invite on board the commanding officer of INS Sunayna, Commander Sarvpreet Singh, as the Indian warship was also berthed in the Omani port.

The curriculum of the new ALFLOT and new COMEUROMARFOR.

On the 29^th July 2015, Admiral D. Francisco Javier Franco Suanzes assumed the duty of Chief of Spanish Fleet (Almirante de la Flota - ALFLOT) and COMEUROMARFOR (Operational Commander of EUROMARFOR).

One of the core tasks of European Union Warships in Somalia for the Operation Atalanta is the protection of World Food Program (WFP) vessels delivering aid to Somalia. This particular escort of a WFP chartered vessel was conducted by the European flagship ESPS “Galicia”.