European Union Naval Force Somalia
Press release
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Earlier today, Tuesday 6 August, Commodore
Jorge Novo Palma Portuguese Navy handed over the Force Command of EU
Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta to Commodore Peter
Lenselink Royal Netherlands Navy during a change of command ceremony
aboard NRP Álvares Cabral in the Port of Djibouti.
Deputy Operation Commander of EU Naval Force Rear Admiral Jean Martens presided over the handover.
The outgoing Force Commander reflected on a very successful four months in command:
"During the past four months there were no confirmed attacks on
merchant vessels within the area of operations and it has been over a
year since the last ship was hijacked by pirates. Also the protection of
World Food Programme aid ships by EU Naval Force warships has ensured
that over 21,000 tonnes of food and other aid have been safely delivered
to the Somalia people. To all the units that have been part of EU
NAVFOR force, the crew of the flagship and the Force Headquarters staff,
I want to express to all of you that is has been an honour and a
privilege to work with you and share the accomplishment of our mission."
During Commodore Palma's time as Force Commander, the EU Naval Force
continued to strengthen links with regional states and continued with
the maritime capacity building programme throughout the area of
operations. EU Naval Force also hosted a meeting between members of the
Somali Federal Government and the EU on board NRP Alvares Cabral off the
coast of Mogadishu. NRP Alvares Cabral was the first EU Naval Force
ship to visit the port of Mozambique.
The new Force Commander Commodore Peter Lenselink will command the EU
Naval Force from the Dutch Warship HNLMS Johan de Witt for the next 4
months. During the handover ceremony he stated, "I am very honored to
fulfill this important task. It is my intention to continue to command
the operation in the same proactive and engaging way as my predecessors,
vigorously executing the mandate of EUNAVFOR operation Atalanta . It is
also my intention to work as closely as possible with the other EU
missions that operate in the region, EUTM and EUCAP NESTOR, in order to
support the EU's comprehensive approach".
Following the transfer of command, the Deputy Operation Commander of
EU NAVFOR, Rear Admiral Jean Martens, thanked Commodore Palma for his
achievements and welcomed Commodore Lenselink. He went on to say that:
"We should always remember that the reduction in pirate attacks is
entirely reversible until Somalia is able to police and protect its own
waters. The European Union Naval Force will advise Somalia in developing
a maritime security strategy and will continue to deter and disrupt
piracy. At the same time, we will help support the EU's comprehensive
approach to Somalia in cooperation with other EU Missions and the other
counter piracy operations from NATO and Combined Maritime Forces."
The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests from many nations
as well as representatives from the Djiboutian Authorities, other EU
Missions and representatives of the units of EU Naval Force.
EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant
vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and
vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden
and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EUNAVFOR also monitors
fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.