EU NAVFOR’s seek, disrupt and destroy policy continues it’s success

May 2, 2010, published by EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office

All the suspected pirates are clear and the boarding team starts to investigate the whaler

Following hot on the heels of EU NAVFOR French ship Tonnerre’s success, who earlier today (1st May) tracked down and destroed a mother ship, EU NAVFOR FS La Fayette destroyed another Mother ship and held another 9 suspected pirates for questioning.

A helicopter from the La Fayette spotted a pirate action group (PAG), with one mother ship and one skiff, in the Indian Ocean, between Mogadishu and the Seychelles.

When detected, the suspected pirates tried to escape and threw paraphernalia over board. The helicopter fired warning shots and the mother ship finally stopped.

La Fayette then did an unopposed boarding and found evidence to show the intention of the suspects to commit piracy. Nine individuals were held for further investigation and the mother ship was destroyed. The skiff was taken onboard La Fayette, as evidence.

This is the second successful disruption on the same day which continues to show EU NAVFOR’s more offensive strategy is working. The joint action by EU NAVFOR’s French warships Tonnerre and La Fayette and Maritime Patrol Aircraft from the Seychelles was evidence of excellent teamwork and a determination to fight these criminal acts.

In another action today, a unit from Task force 508 (NATO) disrupted a PAG and held 5 suspects. EU NAVFOR works closely with other coalition forces in the area (including CMF) and sharing assets such as EU NAVFOR’s Maritime Patrol Aircraft, makes for a potent and extremely effective combination in fighting piracy.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of African Unions Mission for Somalia, AMISOM and to protect vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

European Union Naval Force Somalia