Spanish Rear-admiral Bartolomé Bauzá appointed Deputy Commander of operation ‘Atalanta’
Monday, January 20, 2014
On January 15th, Spanish Navy Rear-admiral Bartolomé Bauzá was appointed Deputy Commander (DCOM) of operation ‘Atalanta’. The change of command ceremony took place in Northwood (UK), Headquarters of this European Union counter-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean.
Royal Navy Rear-admiral Bob Tarrant took command of the EU Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR) Headquarters in January 2013 while the force itself, deployed in Somali waters, is under the command of French Rear-admiral Hervé Bléjean on board the amphibious ship ‘FS Siroco’.
RA Bauzá relieved the German RA Jean Martens as DCOM. Current deployed units comprise the Spanish Navy offshore patrol vessel ‘Tornado’ and the Spanish Air Force ‘Orion’ detachment in Djibouti.
DCOM’s tasks include day-to-day support of the Operation’s Commander, replacing him when needed. RA Bauzá’s main mission will be to advise RA Tarrant on operational aspects of the mission.
In December 2008, the EU activated operation ‘Atalanta’ and deployed a naval force (EUNAVFOR) off the coast of Somalia within the framework of the European Common Security and Defense Policy fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean.