Starting this summer, the Netherlands will take part in two anti-piracy missions off the coast of Somalia. This decision was taken today by the Dutch government, in response to a proposal by foreign minister Maxime Verhagen and defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop. The missions in question are the EU-led Operation Atalanta, to which the Netherlands will be renewing its existing contribution, and the NATO-led Operation Ocean Shield.

‘These pirates must be pursued and rounded up, to protect global trade, Dutch shipping and the security of the Somali people,’ said Mr Verhagen. From July 2010 to the end of April 2011, three Dutch vessels will successively be patrolling the waters around Somalia for Operation Ocean Shield: HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, HNLMS De Ruyter and HNLMS Tromp. This autumn, from September to the end of November, HNLMS Amsterdam will serve as a supply ship for Operation Atalanta.

The contributions to Ocean Shield are connected to the Netherlands’ involvement in one of the standing NATO maritime groups. As of 1 July 2010, the Netherlands will be providing the commanding officer and some of the international staff for this group. During the period when the group is deployed for Ocean Shield, the Netherlands will also have command over the ships involved in the operation.

The main reasons for Dutch participation are the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia and the continued threat of piracy off that country’s coast. Humanitarian organisations depend on escorts in order to transport emergency aid by sea. Protecting such transports is one of the primary tasks of the EU and NATO. The Dutch contribution to these operations also responds to various appeals made by the UN Security Council.

At the same time, free and secure global shipping routes are vital to the Netherlands’ security and economic and strategic interests. Piracy off the coast of Somalia is a major threat to commercial shipping. Every year, between 20,000 and 30,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden, including 450 Dutch-registered vessels.

These operations are having an effect. Although the overall number of attempted hijackings has risen since late 2008, when the operations began, the percentage of successful attacks has fallen.



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