Spanish rear-admiral García de Paredes hands over command of the Force

Early today (April 6th), rear-admiral Pedro García de Paredes handed over command of Operation Atalanta to the Portuguese commodore Jorge Novo Palma in the course of a ceremony on the flight deck of frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’, docked at Djibouti port.

The F-100 frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ was the flagship of the Spanish rear-admiral during his four-month tour of duty of this EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR).

Apart from the handing over of command, the frigate ‘Numancia’ relieved the ‘Méndez Núñez’ and joined another Spanish Navy ship in the area; the offshore patrol boat ‘Rayo’.

After the ceremony, a press conference was held on board the ‘Méndez Núñez’ with Spanish journalist who had travelled to Djibouti for the occasion. During the conference, the Operations Command Admiral, Teodoro López Calderón, RA García de Paredes, the Commanding Officers of both frigates, and the Commander of the Air Force ‘Orion’ Detachment, answered the different questions raised by the journalists.

During RA García de Paredes’ four-month tour of duty, all escort and protection tasks were successfully carried out. World Food Program ships were able to effectively deliver 30,000 tons of humanitarian aid in the main Somali ports without being harassed by pirates.

Of the six pirate groups operating in the area, two were forced to retreat to the coast and the remaining four were detained by Atalanta units. 29 suspect pirates were arrested and 21 of them brought to justice. Such a number of detainees represents an unprecedented success in the fight against piracy at judicial level.