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Somali Piracy: EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Launches Operation Atalanta

Posted: 09 Dec 2008 12:18 PM CST

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Anti Piracy Operation off the coast of Somalia is getting stronger. The European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) has launched Operation ‘ATALANTA’ on December 09 , in the presence of Jean Christof Belliard the EU Special Advisor on African Affairs and the Operation’s Commander Rear Admiral Phillip Jones from the UK Navy.

Some of the interesting features of Operation Atalanta are:

  • The operation is in support of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008), 1838 (2008) and 1846 (2008)
  • To operation will focus on:
    • the protection of vessels of the WFP (World Food Programme) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia.
    • the protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast.
    • the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.
  • It is the first EU maritime operation, and is being conducted with in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
  • Operational Details
    • EU Operation Commander: Rear Admiral Phillip Jones UK Navy.
    • Deputy Operational Commander: Le Contre Amiral Jean-Pierre Labonne from the French Navy.
    • EU Force Commander at Sea: Commodore Antonios Papaioannou from the Greek Navy.
  • The operation will go on for 12 months with a Headquarters in Northwood, (West London) United Kingdom.
  • 6 ships and 3 maritime patrol aircrafts will be taking part in the operation.
  • In the first 4 month phase of the operation, forces from the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Spain, and Germany with approximately 1200 people will be taking part at any one time.
  • It will also have the authority to liaise with other organisations and States, working in the region to combat acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.

The shipping community can register, in the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) website to avail the following facilities:

eu_navfor_somalia1

Post in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

Development of Robots for Marine Applications by Japan

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Type 45 Destroyers of Royal Navy: an Overview

Posted: 09 Dec 2008 09:45 AM CST

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Type 45 Anti Air Warfare (AAW) Destroyers are getting ready to join the Royal Navy. Six of Type 45 AAW Destroyers are to succeed the long serving Type 42 destroyers, commissioned between 1975 and 1985. Type 45 AAW Destroyers are expected to provide specialist air warfare capability upto 2040.

Some of the interesting features of Type 45 AAW Destroyers are:

  • The six ships to join the Royal Navy are: HMS Daring, HMS Dauntless, HMS Diamond, HMS Dragon, HMS Duncan, HMS Defender.
  • The ships are being built on the River Clyde using innovative modular construction method by BVT Surface Fleet, the shipbuilding joint venture owned by BAE Systems and VT Group.
  • The ships are designed to provide the best accommodation ever seen by the Royal Navy on a warship with a 39% increase in individual crew space.
  • The crew complement is 190 and can be to a maximum of 235 depending on the mission.
  • Facts and Figures are here.

type45_destroyer

HMS Daring (D32)hms_daring

  • Seventh ship to bear the name.
  • Motto is: ‘Splendide Audax’ (Finely Daring).
  • Launched at the BAE Systems, shipyard in Scotstoun on February 01, 2006 by HRH the Countess of Wessex.
  • Commenced sea trials on July 18, 2007.
  • Final contractor sea trials are over in September 2008.
  • To join the Royal Navy by 2009.
  • Video clips are here: launching, sea trials, tour.
  • Photo gallery is here.

Here is a photograph of HMS Daring during sea trials from the Royal Navy.

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HMS Dauntless (D33)hms_dauntless

  • Fifth Royal Navy ship to bear the name.
  • Motto is: Nil Desperandum (’Never Despair’)
  • Launched on January 23, 2007 by the Ship’s Sponsor, Lady Mary Burnell-Nugent.
  • Undergoing her first set of contractor sea trials from November 2008.
  • To join by 2010.
  • Launch video clip is here.

HMS Diamond (D34)

  • Launched in December 2007.
  • To join by 2010.
  • Launch video clip is here.

HMS Dragon (D35)hms_dragon

  • Launched on November 17, 2008.
  • To join by 2011.
  • Launch video clip is here and here.

HMS Defender (D36): To join by 2012.

HMS Duncan (D37):

  • To join by 2012.
  • The bow section for this final Type 45 Destroyer has reached BVT Surface Fleet’s facility in Govan during the first week of December 2008.

Here is an interesting video clip of Type 45 AAW Destroyers.

Here is the photo gallery of Type 45 AAW Destroyers from the Royal Navy.

Read more about HMS Daring from BAE Systems and read more about progress of Type 45 AAW Destroyers from BVT Surface Fleet.

All the above images are from the Royal Navy and for more information on Type 45 AAW Destroyers, log on to Royal Navy.

Post in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

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