For the frigate Hydra, the hunt for pirates is over. Back home

(B2) Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts, Commander of Eunavfor Atalanta, has one more problem to solve. Find a ship that can replace Greece. The Hydra frigate, which is thus taking part in the EU's anti-piracy operation, will return to the country a month earlier than planned. By order of the Minister of Defense, Dimitris Avramopoulos. And because of budget restrictions.

The frigate will not have remained long on the spot. She had been operating off the Somali coast since January 29 and was to remain there for two months. Greece having undertaken to provide a frigate for two months twice a year. An early return due, according to sources at the Ministry of Defense quoted by the Greek press agency, to budgetary difficulties. The cost of a frigate being approximately 2,5 million euros per month, the expected savings will be 7,5 million euros during this year. A drop of water in the latest restriction plan, approved at the end of February, which plans to save 400 million euros on the defense budget (100 million in operational costs, 300 million in investments).