Today 27 July the European Multi-Mission Frigate (FREMM) Virginio Fasan has assumed the role of Flag Ship of the operation "EUNAVFOR Atalanta", a European Union mission operating in an area between the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and part of the Indian Ocean, to guarantee presence, surveillance and police on the high seas aimed at combating the phenomenon of piracy.
Admiral Fabio Gregori, who replaced the Navy Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas of the Spanish navy, aboard the frigate of the Italian Navy.
14 July departure from the port of La Spezia, Nave Virginio Fasan participates for the first time in this mission, in an area that has seen the constant commitment of Nave in the last four months I hope and of Nave Carabiniere.
Before heading to the operations area, ship Fasan made a stop in Souda, on the island of Crete, to test and increase the crew's knowledge of Maritime Interdiction Operation by carrying out activities at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center (NMIOTC), NATO's center of excellence.
During the stop in Crete, the ship received the visit of the shipowner in charge of the naval team of the Navy, Team Admiral Donato Marzano, who greeted the men and women of the crew before the operation began.
On this occasion Admiral Marzano also met his Greek counterpart, team admiral Ioannis Pavlopoulos and the commander of the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center, commodore Georgios Tsogkas.
The operation Atalanta, decided by the European Council in November of the 2008, is the first European-led maritime military operation, created with the aim of preventing and suppressing acts of piracy in the Horn of Africa area (Gulf of Aden and the Somali basin) ) that continue to represent a threat to the freedom of navigation of merchant shipping and in particular to transport humanitarian aid of the World Food Program.
Although the constant presence of naval units and aircraft located in the area for surveillance and the recognition of suspected illegal activities affecting maritime trade, coupled with the adoption by the merchant navy of adequate self-protection measures, have led to a reduction in the number of Incidents related to the phenomenon of piracy, the same can not be said to have been eradicated as recent events in the area prove.
The attention of the whole of Europe in general, that of our country and of the Navy especially in the Horn of Africa testifies that the Mediterranean region can not be considered as a closed system, but an area subject to the effects of political dynamics, Social, economic, cultural and religious activities exerted by adjacent areas.
Ship Fasan and its crew will be engaged in the area of the Horn of Africa until next December.
Also read: "Pirates are back!"
