European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR) celebrated her twenty anniversary on the 15 MAY2015 in Cartagena.

Italian Navy’s Maestrale class frigate, Grecale F571, recently completed its 44th friendly approach as part of EU Operation Atalanta.

The vessel approached a Yemeni dhow on May 3 to strengthen friendly ties and exchange information.

ITS Grecale joined Operation Atalanta on February 17 and since conducted operations in Somali waters, the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa.

The Spanish Minister of Defence, Mr Pedro Morenés, was the guest of honour during Operation Atalanta’s Force Headquarters Change of Command ceremony that was held on board Dutch flagship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, on Wednesday 6 May 2015 in Djibouti.

On Wednesday 6 May 2015 Rear Admiral Alfonso Gómez from the Spanish Navy, assumed command of EUROMARFOR Task Group (COMGRUEUROMARFOR) and also Operation Atalanta Force Commander, during a ceremony held in Djibouti.

On Friday 13 February 2015 ended one more deployment of EUROMARFOR in the Operation Atalanta.

During her recent port visit to the Seychelles the EUROMARFOR warship integrated in the EU Naval Force, ESPS Rayo, welcomed on board the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Mr Maciej Popowski.

On Sunday 7 February 2015, the EUROMARFOR Flagship (and also EU Naval Force counter-piracy flagship), ITS Andrea Doria, provided urgent medical assistance to an injured seafarer, who had suffered a serious burns injury whilst at sea in his cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden.

During her visit to Port Victoria, Seychelles, EUROMARFOR warship ESPS Rayo hosted the Deputy Commander of Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Paolo Pezzutti.

On Friday 6 February, during her visit to Port Victoria, Seychelles, EUROMARFOR warship integrated in EU Naval Force, ESPS Rayo, conducted Local Maritime Training. This was in support of the EU maritime capacity building mission and in coordination with EUCAP Nestor.

On Friday 30 January the EU Force Commander and COMGRUEUROMARFOR, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, visited the Commander of the Chinese Escort Task Group 547, Rear Admiral Jiang Gouping, on board the Chinese flagship, CNS Linyi.

On Thursday 29 January the EU Force Commander and COMGRUEUROMARFOR, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, welcomed the Commander of the Korean Escort Task Group 17 and Commanding Officer of ROKS Dae Jo Yeong, Captain Sun-Woo Hwang, on board the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria.

On Monday, 26 January, the EUROMARFOR Flaship (and also EU Naval Force Flagship), ITS Andrea Doria, and the Japanese warship JS Harusame met at sea in the Gulf of Aden. On board the Flagship, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, hosted the Commander of Escort Division 2, Captain Masatoshi Kashihara, and a representative from his staff.

On 21 of January, the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force and Commander of EUROMARFOR Task Group (COMGRUEUROMARFOR), Rear Admiral Guido Rando, hosted on board his flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, the Commander of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151), Rear Admiral Wanich Pakorn.

On Sunday 11 January, during one of her counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, ESPS Rayo sighted several fishing vessels. In order to develop a greater understanding of the pattern of life of local seafarers and any concerns they may have about piracy, the Spanish Navy warship’s Commanding Officer tasked his Boarding Team to carry out a ‘Friendly Approach’ visits in the Gulf of Aden.

On Friday 9 January, ESPS Rayo, successfully conducted a Replenishment-at-Sea (RAS) with United States supply ship USNS Charles Drew in the Gulf of Aden.

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!