EU NAVFOR warship SPS INFANTA CHRISTINA left Mombasa’s waters last week to assume the escort of merchant vessel PETRA 1 which carries supplies for the African Union troops operating in Somalia as part of the AMISOM force.
The journey is from Mombasa to Mogadishu and in addition to the ship escort, a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) of Uganda’s Army was embarked on the merchant vessel during the escort to optimise the safety of PETRA I. Once PETRA 1 is unloaded, both ships return back to Mombasa.
The Spanish warship joined EU NAVFOR – Operation ATALANTA on 29 August 2011 as part of the multi-national force combating piracy in the area of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The ships and aircraft are responsible for deterring, preventing and repressing acts of piracy, for the safe escort of ships carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and to protect other vulnerable vessels. Additionally, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.
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Source: EU Navfor, October 26, 2011 .