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The French warship FS Marne has become the new flagship vessel of the European Union's Naval Force in Somalia, responsible for counter-piracy efforts in the Horn of Africa region, the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) said in a statement on Monday (April 10th).

The Marne takes over from the Spanish warship the ESPS Patino, which led the force for the past four months under the command of Rear Admiral Jorge Manso. At the handover ceremony in Djibouti, Manso expressed his pride in the EU NAVFOR's team "who have worked so tirelessly to track down and disrupt armed pirate attack groups who prowl the waters off the Horn of Africa", the statement read.

Incoming commander Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis, said it was an honour to serve after the Patino's sailors and marines, "who have done a great job and reduced the threat off the coasts of Somalia".

The EU NAVFOR mission began in December 2008 after a rapid increase in piracy in Horn of Africa coastal waters, and since that time EU NAVFOR says EU warships have conducted round-the-clock counter-piracy patrols and protected over 843,000 tonnes of food destined for the Somali people.