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| Operation Atalanta | |||||||
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| Part of counter-piracy efforts off the Horn of Africa | |||||||
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List | Somali pirates | ||||||
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| Unknown | ||||||
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| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Operation Atalanta, formallyEuropean Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR)Somalia, is an ongoing counter-piracy military operation at sea off theHorn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean, that is the first navaloperation conducted by theEuropean Union (EU), in support of United Nations resolutions 1814, 1816, 1838, and 1846 adopted in 2008 by theUnited Nations Security Council. Since 29 March 2019,[1] the operational headquarters is located atNaval Station Rota (NAVSTA Rota) in Spain, having moved from London as a result of theBritish withdrawal from the EU.[2]
It is part of a larger global action by the EU to prevent and combat acts ofpiracy in the Indian Ocean, and it is the first EU naval operation to be launched.[3] It cooperates with the multinationalCombined Task Force 151 of the US-ledCombined Maritime Forces (CMF) and NATO's anti-piracyOperation Ocean Shield.
The mission was launched in December 2008 with a focus on protectingSomalia-bound vessels and shipments belonging to theWFP andAMISOM, as well as select other vulnerable shipments. In addition, Operation Atalanta monitors fishing activity on the regional seaboard.[4] In 2012, the scope of the mission expanded to include Somali coastal territories and internal waters so as to co-ordinate counter-piracy operations with Somalia'sTransitional Federal Government (TFG) and regional administrations.[5] On 16 July 2012, the EU also mandated theEUCAP Nestor mission to build up the maritime capacity of regional navies.[6]
In July 2018, theCouncil of the European Union extended the Mandate of Operation ATALANTA until December 2020.
On 1 January 2021, the Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/2188[7] of 22 December 2020 that extended again the mandate of the EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation ATALANTA for another two years was implemented.
Under EU Council Joint Action 851, which is based on various UN resolutions, Operation ATALANTA:
The Operation's mission evolved over its first ten years. On 8 December 2009, monitoring of fishing activity was formally added to the mandate. Although it took time for the data to lead to direct legal consequences,DG MARE has subsequently used the information EU NAVFOR provides to build sanctions cases against foreign governments. On 17 December 2018 the EU Council granted permission for EU NAVFOR to share data on forms of maritime crime other than piracy with INTERPOL and EUROPOL.
Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/2188 extended the mandate of the EU NAVFOR Somalia Op. ATALANTA for another two years until the end of 2022.With this latest mandate extension, besides operation's core tasks, there were included some non-executive secondary tasks:
Finally, the new mandate includes the possibility to activate as an executive secondary task, the contribution to the disruption of drug and weapons trafficking inside EU NAVFOR Somalia area of operations.
Located inBrest (FR) and depending on the Headquarters of Operation ATALANTA, is the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA),[8] an initiative established by the European Union Naval Force, with close co-operation from industry. The MSCHOA centre provides 24-hour manned monitoring of vessels transiting through the Gulf of Aden, whilst the provision of an interactive website enables the centre to communicate the latest anti-piracy guidance to industry and for Shipping Companies and operators to register their movements through the region.
Participation in EU NAVFOR goes beyond EU member states. Norway was the first non-EU country to contribute to the Operation, with a warship in 2009. Thereafter Croatia (pre-Accession), Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine and the Republic of Korea have provided staff officers either to the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) or to the Force Headquarters (FHQ). Ukraine contributed a warship early in 2014, and New Zealand contributed an MPRA asset (aLockheed P-3 Orion ofNo. 5 Squadron RNZAF) later the same year.[4][9] The Republic of Korea formally joined EU NAVFOR on 27 February 2017.
Around 700 personnel are involved in ATALANTA,[9] with the size of the force typically varying between 1–6 surface combat vessels and 1–3Maritime Patrol Aircraft. In 2019, the budget was around €5 million for the common costs of the mandate.[4]For 2021 the budget will be €4.4 million for the common costs of the mandate.
The operation takes its name from themythological Greek heroineAtalanta.[10]
Piracy has to be understood as organised criminal activity occurring at sea. It is organised on land, with kidnapping crews and ships for ransom as the business model. Prosecution of piracy suspects is a key component of the overall fight against piracy. The EU NAVFOR seeks, where possible, a legal finish. Transfers of suspect pirates for trial to competent authorities remain necessary to put an end to impunity in the Indian Ocean.
The EU is assisting the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in their work to establish sufficient conditions to allow fair and efficient piracy trials in Somalia. The EU is the largest contributor to the UNODC counter-piracy programme. In the short term, transfers for trial from EU NAVFOR ships remain necessary to put an end to impunity in the Indian Ocean.
The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia wrote to the President of theUnited Nations Security Council asking for international help to fight piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia. In June 2008, the Council unanimously passedResolution 1816 authorising nations that have the agreement of the Transitional Federal Government to enter Somali territorial waters to deal with pirates.[11] The measure, which was sponsored by France, the United States andPanama, was to last six months. France initially wanted the resolution to include other regions with pirate problems, such as West Africa, but were opposed byVietnam,Libya andChina, who wanted the sovereignty infringement limited to Somalia.[12]
Operation Atalanta formally commenced on 8 December 2008 in accordance with the mandate laid down in UNSCResolution 1814.
On 1 January 2009, eight Somali suspects were captured by the French avisoPremier-Maître L'Her as they attempted to seize a Panamanian-registered cargo ship (MV S Venus) some 50 nautical miles south of Yemen.[13]
On 14 April 2009, the French frigateNivôse (F 732), attached to Operation Atalanta, captured 11 suspected pirates, together with theirmother ship and two skiffs, in an EU NAVFOR focused operation carried out in the Indian Ocean. The French ship responded to the distress message by the 21,000 tonne Liberia-flaggedMV Safmarine Asia which came under small arms andRPG attack from two skiffs operating from a pirate mother ship. The warship deployed its helicopter, which quickly arrived on the scene, to deter the hijacking and shadow the mother vessel until the frigate arrived.[14]
On 26 May 2009, the EU Naval Task Force vesselHSwMSMalmö responded to a distress call from the European cargo vesselMV Antonis and apprehended seven suspected pirates.[15]
From 5 to 7 March 2010, forces from France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden were in action; the French frigateNivôse secured its "biggest seizure" to-date in a vital shipping lane off the coast of Somalia, with 35 pirates arrested and four mother ships seized in three days.[16]
In May 2010, there were a number of incidents in the area. The Russian destroyerMarshal Shaposhnikov freed the 106,474-tonMV Moscow University, which was about 350 miles east ofSocotra, transporting crude oil from Sudan to China.[17] Two days later, however, Russia's Defense Ministry said it had proved impossible to establish the pirates' citizenship or to establish legal grounds for prosecuting, therefore the pirates were returned to their boat and set free.[18] In another incident, a Swedish aircraft attached to the EU Naval Force, the French warshipLa Fayette and the Dutch warshipHNLMS Johan de Witt collaborated in the spotting and capturing of a pirate action group composed of a whaler and two skiffs, about 400 miles northwest of theSeychelles. Reports on these incidents, citing other news reports, concluded that pirates were holding almost 20 vessels and about 300 crew members.[17]
In September 2011,marines from the Spanish landing platform dockGalicia rescued the French citizen Evelyn Colombo. She had been kidnapped from the French yachtTribal Kat, and her husband Christian killed while trying to protect her.[19]
In November 2012, Marines from the Spanish corvetteInfanta Cristina [es] liberated 21 Pakistani sailors from the trawlerAl Talal, who had been kidnapped, detaining 9 pirates.[20]
On 15 May 2012, EU naval forces conducted their first raid on pirate bases on the Somali mainland as part of the operation, saying they "destroyed several boats". The forces were transported by helicopter to the pirate bases near the port ofHarardhere. The attack was carried out overnight, and, according to the European forces, no local residents were hurt during the mission.[21]
On 24 October 2014, the first non-European third state asset integrated into EU NAVFOR when New Zealand provided a P-3 Orion of 5 Squadron RNZAF.
On 27 October 2016, following an appeal from the President ofPuntland direct to the Operational Headquarters,Spanish patrol vessel Relámpago diverted to the Puntland coast in the first EU NAVFOR show of force against violent extremist organisations when the coastal town ofQandala was overrun by ISIS sympathisers.
In November 2017, a six crew member motor whaler acting as mother ship, and a skiff attacked a 52,000 tonne container ship and a fishing vessel in the Southern Somali Basin. The suspected pirates were apprehended by the Italian Marines from theItalian frigate Virginio Fasan after their vessels were located usingVirginio Fasan's SH-90 helicopter, following initial searches by the Spanish Maritime patrol aircraftCisne.
On 27 October 2018, EU NAVFOR destroyed a whaler that took part on a boarding attempt against theMV KSL Sydney on 16 October to prevent it being used for pirate acts.
In April 2019, several piracy incidents took place involving different shipping vessels and a Yemeni dhow where captured off the coast of Somalia. On 21 April, EU NAVFOR dispatched its Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPRAs) and conducted a search in the area, resulting in identifying the mothership dhow. On 23 April, in collaboration with its MPRAs, EU NAVFOR's flagship, theSpanish frigate Navarra, successfully intercepted and boarded the captured dhow vessel. EU NAVFOR apprehended five suspected pirates, and the 23 hostages aboard the hijacked[failed verification] were released unharmed.
In March 2024, a vessel was deployed to track the hijackedMV Abdullah off the coats of Somalia.[22]
Between 26 May and 1 June 2025,Antonio Marceglia andReina Sofia visitedMumbai Port while operating underEUNAVFOR Atalanta. The port visit was followed by a military exercise with theIndian Navy.[23]
The following vessels were part of EU NAVFOR's fleet in Operation Atalanta. Operation Atalanta has thetask force designator Task Force 465.[24]
| Country | Vessel | Type | Helicopter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Spanish Navy | Canarias | Santa María-class frigate | SH-60 | Flagship |
 Italian Navy | Virginio Fasan | Bergamini-class frigate | NH90 capable | Deployed duringOperation Prosperity Guardian[25] |
As of May 2021 the following aircraft were deployed with the European Union Naval Force – Operation Atalanta.[26]
| Country | Aircraft | Type |
|---|---|---|
 Spanish Air and Space Force | P-3M Orion | Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft |
| Spanish Air and Space Force | ScanEagle | Unmanned Aerial System(UAS) |
The following vessels have, among others, been committed to the Operation as of 15 May 2021[update].[27][28]
Karel Doorman-class frigateLouise-Marie (F931), Belgium[29][30]Karel Doorman-class frigateLeopold I (F930), Belgium
Brandenburg-class frigateBrandenburg (F215), (Germany)[31]Brandenburg-class frigateMecklenburg-Vorpommern (F218), GermanyBrandenburg-class frigateSchleswig-Holstein (F216), (Germany)[32]Brandenburg-class frigateBayern (F217), GermanyBremen-class frigateRheinland-Pfalz (F209), (Germany)[31]Bremen-class frigateKöln (F211), (Germany)[33]Bremen-class frigateNiedersachsen (F208), (Germany)[34]Bremen-class frigateLübeck (F214), (Germany)[35]Sachsen-class frigateHamburg (F220)[36][37]Rhön-class tankerRhön (A1443), (Germany)[38]Rhön-class tankerSpessart (A1442), (Germany)[38]Berlin-class replenishment shipBerlin (A1411), Germany
De Zeven Provinciën-class frigateHNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802), NetherlandsDe Zeven Provinciën-class frigateHNLMS Tromp (F803), NetherlandsDe Zeven Provinciën-class frigateHNLMS De Ruyter (F804), NetherlandsDe Zeven Provinciën-class frigateHNLMS Evertsen (F805), Netherlands[39]Karel Doorman-class frigateHNLMS Van Speijk (F828), NetherlandsKarel Doorman-class frigateHNLMS Van Amstel (F831), Netherlands[40]Replenishment oilerHNLMS Amsterdam (A836), Netherlands[41]Replenishment oilerHNLMS Zuiderkruis (A832), NetherlandsRotterdam class amphibious transport dockHNLMS Johan de Witt (L801), Netherlands[42]Holland-class offshore patrol vesselsHNLMS Groningen (P843), Netherlands
Bergamini-class frigateCarabiniere (F 593), Italy[43]Bergamini-class frigateCarlo Margottini (F 592)Maestrale-class frigateMaestrale (F 570), ItalyMaestrale-class frigateGrecale (F 571), Italy[44]Maestrale-class frigateLibeccio (F 572), Italy[45]Maestrale-class frigateScirocco (F 573), Italy[46]Maestrale-class frigateEuro (F 575), Italy[46]Maestrale-class frigateEspero (F 576), Italy[47]Maestrale-class frigateZeffiro (F 577), Italy[48][49]Comandanti-class patrol vesselComandante Borsini (P 491), Italy[50]Comandanti-class patrol vesselComandante Bettica (P 492), Italy[51]San Giorgio-class amphibious transport dockSan Giorgio (L 9892), Italy[52]San Giorgio-class amphibious transport dockSan Giusto (L 9894), Italy[53]Horizon-class destroyerAndrea Doria (D 553), Italy[54]AGF/AOREtna (A 5326), Italy[55]
helicoptercruiserJeanne d'Arc (R97), France[56]Mistral-class amphibious assault shipTonnerre (L9014), FranceGeorges Leygues-class frigateJean de Vienne (D643), FranceGeorges Leygues-class frigateGeorges Leygues (D640), France[56]La Fayette-class frigateAconit (F713), France[57][58]La Fayette-class frigateGuépratte (F714), France[59]La Fayette-class frigateLa Fayette (F710), France[60]La Fayette-class frigateSurcouf (F711), France[61][62]Tourville-class frigateDe Grasse (D612)[63]Floréal-class frigateFloréal, France[64][65]Floréal-class frigateNivôse (F732), France[27][66]Cassard-class frigateJean Bart (D615), France[67]D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisoEnseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet (F794), France[68][69]Durance-class tankerMarne (A630), France[70]Foudre-class landing platform dockSiroco (L9012), France[71]
Lockheed P-3 Orion P-3K2 Orion, New Zealand
Vasco da Gama-class frigateNRPVasco da Gama (F330)[72][73]Vasco da Gama-class frigateNRPÁlvares Cabral (F331)[74]Lockheed P-3 Orion P-3C Papa, Portugal[75]Santa Maria-class frigateSanta Maria (F81), SpainSanta Maria-class frigateVictoria (F82), Spain[76]Santa Maria-class frigateNumancia (F83), SpainSanta Maria-class frigateNavarra (F85), SpainSanta Maria-class frigateCanarias (F86), SpainSanta Maria-class frigateReina Sofía (F84), Spain[77]Álvaro de Bazán-class frigateBlas de Lezo (F103), SpainÁlvaro de Bazán-class frigateMendez Nuñez (F104), SpainDescubierta-class corvetteInfanta Elena (P76), SpainDescubierta-class corvetteInfanta Cristina (P77), Spain[78]Descubierta-class corvetteCazadora (P78), SpainDescubierta-class corvetteVencedora (P79), Spain[79]Galicia-class landing platform dockGalicia (L51), Spain[80]Galicia-class landing platform dockCastilla (L52), SpainReplenishment oilerPatiño, Spain[81][82]Meteoro-class offshore patrol boatMeteoro (P41)Meteoro-class offshore patrol boatRelámpago (P43), Spain[83]Meteoro-class offshore patrol boatTornado (P44), SpainLockheed P-3 Orion P-3M Orion, Spain
Type 23 frigateHMS Richmond (F239), United Kingdom - (Non EU member contribution)Type 23 frigateHMS Northumberland (F238), United Kingdom - (Non EU member contribution)Bay-class landing shipRFALyme Bay (L3007), United Kingdom - (Non EU member contribution)
Hydra-class frigateHSSalamis (F455) Greece[84][85]Hydra-class frigateHSPsara (F454) GreeceElli-class frigateHSElli (F450), Greece[86]Elli-class frigateHSAdrias (F459), Greece[87][88]
Stockholm-class corvetteHSwMSStockholm (K11), SwedenStockholm-class corvetteHSwMSMalmö (K12), Sweden[89]Akademik Shuleykin-class auxiliary vesselHSwMSTrossö (A264), Sweden Off-shore Patrol VesselHMSCarlskrona (P04), Sweden[90]
Fridtjof Nansen-class frigateHNoMSFridtjof Nansen (F310),Norway – (Non EU member contribution)
Pohjanmaa class minelayer FNSPohjanmaa, Finland[91][92]
Type 22-class frigateRegele Ferdinand (221), Romania
Krivak-class frigateHetman Sahaydachniy (U130), Ukraine – (Non EU member contribution)
Offshore patrol vesselARC7 de Agosto (PZE-47) – (non-EU member collaboration),Colombia[93]The first EU naval mission, Operation Atalanta, launched in 2008 is still an active operation that has had its mandated extended to meet the need for its continuance.
The EU launched Operation Atalanta, named after the mythological Greek huntress, in December 2008 as a collective initiative of its Member States...
Six pirate action groups have been intercepted, mother ships and skiffs have been destroyed and over 40 pirates have been taken into custody
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