Bob Tarrant News

Just a few weeks after the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, issued another warning about the on-going piracy threat, there have been two more piracy related incidents off the Somali coast. The first incident involved EU Naval Force German frigate, FGS Niedersachsen which prevented 10 suspect pirates from getting far out to sea. The second incident was 460 miles south east of Mogadishu, when a merchant ship had to repel an attack from 5 armed pirates. FGS Niedersachsen first located 2 small vessels – a whaler towing a skiff, close to the Somali coast.

EU Naval Force confirms that a fully laden Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was fired upon by eight armed men in two ‘skiffs’ 230 miles off the Somali coast, 11, October 2013. The attack was successfully repelled by the Armed Security Team on board the super tanker and the vessel is now safe. The Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa), based at the EU Naval Force Operations Centre, Northwood, UK, has issued an alert about the whereabouts and nature of the attack, to warn other ships transiting the area to be vigilant.

On 4 September 2013, off the coast of Mogadishu, the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Atalanta hosted the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on board the Dutch EU NAVFOR flagship, HNLMS Johan de Witt. The President, his Ministers and security commanders met with EU Special Envoy to Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso, the EU Naval Force Operation Commander, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant and Head of Mission of EU Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP) Nestor, Etienne de Poncins. It was discussed how the different EU instruments can support the development of a comprehensive Somali Maritime Strategy.

'CNS Mianyang' takes over escort duties of a World Food Programme (WFP) aid ship from Italian warship 'ITS Zeffiro'. The Italian warship had been escorting the WFP vessel since she entered the pirate High Risk Area in the Western Indian Ocean a few days earlier. At an agreed location, CNS Mianyang took over the duty to escort through the Gulf of Aden to Djibouti. The WFP ship being due to arrive in the African port shortly. Speaking about the cooperation between the European Union and the Chinese Navy…

14 Indian seafarers are now safe, after pirates, who took control of their cargo vessel were hounded away by a EUNACFOR warship. This type of cargo vessel, known as a dhow, has been used in the past by pirates as a ‘mother ship’, to enable them to sail far out to sea to attack passing merchant ships. The master of the Indian dhow had sent out an alert yesterday morning, saying that it was under attack from 12 armed pirates. Upon hearing the alert, Royal Swedish Navy warship, HSwMS Carlskrona…

Fourteen Indian sailors are now safe, after pirates, who took control of their cargo vessel yesterday morning, June 5, in the Gulf of Aden, abandoned the attack hours later after EU Naval Force warship HSwMS Carlskrona, together with NATO counter piracy Dutch warship HNLMS Van Speijk, closed in. This type of cargo vessel, known as a dhow, has been used in the past by pirates as a ‘mother ship’, to enable them to sail far out to sea to attack passing merchant ships. The master of the Indian dhow had sent out an alert yesterday morning, saying that it was under attack from 12 armed pirates. Upon hearing the alert, Royal Swedish Navy warship…

"The revelation this week that the owner of an Algerian cargo ship whose crew was held by Somali pirates paid them $2.6 million in ransom is yet another indication that the rewards these denizens reap for their illegal, life-threatening work remain a serious stumbling block to ending maritime organized crime," AdvanFort Company President and COO William H. Watson said. “Those ship owners and operators who have still not hired a highly-reputable private maritime security company (PMSC) continue to risk paying what amounts to an illegal tax in support of further organized maritime extortion…

The Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, has issued a renewed warning that Somali pirates are still determined to get out to sea and, if presented with an easy target, will attack. “I am very concerned that seafarers and nations will lower their guard and support for counter piracy operations in the belief that the piracy threat is over. It is not; it is merely contained," he said. "We should remember that at its height in January 2011, 32 ships were pirated by Somali pirates and 736 hostages were held.

Chemical tanker 'MV Royal Grace' unexpectedly sailed out of pirate's anchorage, then assisted by EUNAVFOR warship. The pirates had held the vessel after attacking it over a year earlier, on 2 March 2012 in the Gulf of Oman. Early in the  morning of 8, March 2013, ESPS Mendez Nunez was conducting counter-piracy patrols 20 nautical miles off the northern Somali coast, when she sighted Royal Grace sailing north from the pirate anchorage at a speed of 4 knots. Shortly afterwards, the warship received a radio call from the master of the tankship…

On Monday 25 February Dutch EU Naval Force frigate HNLMS De Ruyter transferred nine suspected pirates to the Seychelles authorities for prosecution. The transfers happened after HNLMS De Ruyter, who was conducting counter piracy patrols, stopped two skiffs on 19 February 120 nautical miles off the Somali Coast and apprehended nine suspected pirates on board. During the operation, helicopters from both HNLMS De Ruyter and EU Naval Force flagship ESPS Mendez Nunez, together with the Spanish EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), were able to locate the two skiffs and in a combined effort, stop them in the water approximately 200 nautical miles north east of Eyl.

EU Naval Force transfers 12 suspect pirates to Mauritius for prosecution after attack on merchant vessel off Somalia. At the time of the attack on 5th January, 2013, the master of the merchant vessel sent out a distress call reporting that he and his crew were coming under attack from a fast moving boat, armed with rocket propelled grenades (RPG). Sailors from the EU Naval Force French Frigate Surcouf  were later able to arrest the men suspected of carrying out this attack and brought them on board the warship for full enquiries to be made. When suspect pirates are apprehended at sea, EU Naval Force always seeks, where possible, a legal finish and after engaging with Mauritian authorities…