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Naval operation against pirates

The European Union is launching a British-led anti-piracy armada off the Horn of Africa in Europe’s first joint naval operation.

Operation Atalanta, whose mission includes protecting ships taking food aid to Somalia, will be approved by EU Foreign Ministers .

It will be coordinated at Northwood, Britain’s joint operation headquarters, north-west of London, initially under the command of Rear Admiral Phil Jones.

At least seven ships, including the frigate HMS Northumberland, will take part in the mission.

John Hutton, British Defence Secretary, said last week after a meeting at Northwood with Herve Morin, his French counterpart, that piracy’s challenge to world trade and commerce was growing substantially and tackling it would be difficult.

Twenty per cent of world trade passed through the Gulf of Aden, the area being targeted by the mission, he said. The EU has launched more than 20 civilian and military missions in three continents, but Atalanta is its first maritime mission.

Pirates equipped with speedboats, assault rifles and rocket launchers have carried out more than 100 attacks off Somalia this year.

Some argue that foreign fishing fleets have for years plundered Somali fishing resources illegally and that is why they have the support of coastal communities.

Somali pirates are holding between 13 and 16 ships, including the Sirius Star and a Ukrainian ship with 33 battle tanks on board.

Ships from a NATO taskforce have been patrolling a large international maritime corridor in the Gulf of Aden. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2008

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