14 Oct 13 - 10:28
EUNAVFOR continues its mission to enhance maritime security
On
6th of October, whilst in the Indian Ocean ITS Zeffiro handed over the
Italian commitment to the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia
Operation Atalanta to ITS Libeccio. The counter-piracy duties were
handed over in Djibouti from Commander Marco Antoniazzi (ITS Zeffiro) to
his successor Commander Stefano Calvetti (ITS Libeccio).
ITS Libeccio participated in Operation Atalanta in 2010 and was
involved in the arrest of 9 suspected pirates and several disruptions.
Image shows conductiong an escort of a merchant ship carrying
humanitarian aid (Photo Credti: EUNAVFOR)
During their four months deployment within Operation Atalanta since
6th June, ITS Zeffiro has travelled approximately 27,000 nautical miles
in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. The frigate patrolled
in an area approximately 1.5 times the size of Europe. During their
mission the Italian frigate provided escorts to four vessels of the
World Food Programme (WFP), and conducted four friendly approaches with
dhows and skiffs.
This is not the first EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation for ITS Libeccio.
The Italian frigate participated in Operation Atalanta in 2010, and was
involved in the arrest of 9 suspected pirates and several disruptions.
Commander Calvetti stated following the handover, "As Commanding Officer
of the Italian Frigate Libeccio and on behalf of my crew, we are proud
to join Operation Atalanta, which has achieved the superb result of
highly reducing piracy attacks in the Indian Ocean. My crew and I are
ready to start this adventure with the other European Union ships to
help fight the piracy phenomenon."
Following the handover ceremony the ITS Zeffiro set sail on a return journey to Taranto harbour.
