HNLMS RotterdamEU NAVFOR

Press Release

After a three day hunt by NATO and EU counter piracy forces, HNLMS Rotterdam in close cooperation with EU Naval Force unit FGS Sachsen, has successfully disrupted a pirated dhow.

This end game took place in the coastal waters of Somalia. The crew has been freed and is in good condition. The suspected pirates will be transported to Rotterdam and will be detained awaiting further decisions on the follow-on process.

HNLMS Rotterdam is the flagship of the NATO Task Force 508 and is a part of the international effort to fight piracy in the waters around Somalia which fronted by EU NAVFOR ATALANTA. The combined NATO/EU action underlines the strength of the international maritime cooperation.

More detailed information will follow on 14th August.

EU NAVFOR ATALANTA

EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia - Operation Atalanta is part of the EU's comprehensive approach to tackle symptoms and root causes of piracy off the coast of Somalia and the EU Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa adopted in November 2011.

EU NAVFOR conducts anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and the Indian Ocean and is responsible for the protection of World Food Programme (WFP) shipping carrying humanitarian aid to the people of Somalia and Horn of Africa as well as the logistic shippings supporting the African Union troops conducting Peace Support Operations in Somalia (AMISOM). Additionally, Operation Atalanta contributes to the monitoring of fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

For more information, please visit our website www.eunavfor.eu.