13 august 2009

On the 12th of August 2009 the Air Defence and Command frigate Hr. Ms. Evertsen passed the Suez Canal on its way to the Red Sea. Starting the 13th of August it will take command of the EU-led mission Atalanta for four months.

H.E. Mrs. Susan Blankhart, The Netherlands Ambassador in Egypt, together with Mr Geert Kuiper, head of the office of  the Secretary General from the Ministry of Defence visited the ship on its journey through the canal. They were briefed on the Atalanta mission.

Operation Atalanta is the first naval task force, set up to ensure the protection of vessels delivering WFP food supplies to people in need in Somalia, as well as deterrence of acts of piracy through presence and surveillance.

The Dutch Commander Pieter Bindt who is on board the Hr. Ms. Evertsen took command of the EU-led mission which involves ships and surveillance aircrafts of several European countries.