A combination of factors including stepped up naval patrols closer to shore is leading to a drop in pirate attacks off the Somali coast, the former commander of NATO's counter-piracy mission said Monday (17 December).
15th May - Earlier today, following the decision taken on 23 March 2012 by the Council of the European Union to allow the EU Naval Force to take disruption action against known pirate supplies on the shore, EU forces conducted an operation to destroy pirate equipment on the Somali coastline.
As part of the efforts exerted by INEGMA's "Counter-Piracy and Somalia Capacity-Building Program" (CPSCB) to spread awareness for the purpose of building expertise and providing recommendations with regards to maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia, the INEGMA team held discussions with Rear Admiral Antoine BEAUSSANT, Commander of the French Joint Force in the Indian Ocean , who deliberated on the latest developments, efforts, recommendations, as well as the upcoming agenda of ALINDIEN* and EUNAVFOR with regards to maritime piracy.
Just a few weeks after the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob TARRANT, issued another warning about the on-going piracy threat, there have been two more piracy related incidents off the Somali coast.