The Belgium ship Louise Marie leaves the European Task Force
Louise Marie was part of EUNAVFOR MED since mid November.
Yesterday 18 December 2016, the Belgium ship BNS Louise-Marie ends her operational time within EUNAVFOR MED, and she is now heading towards her home port, Zeebruges (Belgium).
During her operational period, Louise-Marie has carried on several friendly approaches on other ships in order to broaden the general knowledge on the pattern of life of the ships transiting in the Area of Operation.
BNS Louise-Marie also gave her contribution also rescuing about 170 people at sea during two different rescue operations. Thus far, EUNAVFOR MED has saved more than 30.900 lives at sea.
Last 20 June 2016, the Council extended until 27 July 2017 operation Sophia’s mandate reinforcing it by adding two supporting tasks, the training of the Libyan Navy Coast Guard and the Libyan Navy, and the contribution to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya. On 6 September, the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) formally authorized EUNAVFOR MED to commence the EU contribution to the UN arms embargo.
Thus far, following EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia’s activities, 101-suspected smugglers and traffickers have been prosecuted by the Italian authorities and 366 boats were removed from the criminal organization availability. Nonetheless, as the EU contribution to the UN arms embargo, the operation carried on 258 events in accordance with the UNSCR 2292 (2016).
