B2 The Daily of Geopolitical Europe. News. Files. Reflections. Reports

Brief blogmaritime piracy

The frigate Leopold I leaves the Indian Ocean

(credit: Belgian Ministry of Defense / M. Azoug)
(credit: Belgian Ministry of Defense / M. Azoug)

(B2) The Belgian frigate engaged in the EU anti-piracy operation (EUNAVFOR Atalanta) left the area on 30 November. She crossed the Suez Canal and is on her way to Belgium. Arrival at home (Zeebrugge) scheduled for the 170 crew members (157 men and 13 women) on December 14. In three months, the Belgians traveled the equivalent of a world tour in the area: 21 nautical miles (approximately 789 km), according to the Belgian navy, which draws up an assessment of this commitment.

They have not encountered the shadow of a pirate. A series of 30 ship inspections or "friendly approaches" (friendly approaches) took place, both to verify the harmlessness of the people or goods transported but also to gather information. The on-board Alouette III helicopter carried out 134 operational flights for a total of 175 hours. But the Vessel Protection Detachment (Merchant Vessel Protection Team) was not deployed.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

s2Member®