Three ships rotation in EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia Task Force
As part of a planned rotation among EUNAVFOR MED operation SophiaTask Force assets, this week the Spanish frigate ESPS NUMANCIA, the German corvette FGS LUDWIGSHAFEN AM RHEIN and Auxiliary ship FGS FRANKFURT AM MAIN have joined the operation respectively replacing ESPS CANARIAS 
, FGS WEILHEIM and FGS BERLIN .
Having joined the operation on the 5th of October, few days before EUNAVFOR MED moved to its second phase in high seas, the Spanish frigate CANARIAS has spent more than 110 days at sea patrolling and collecting information on human smugglers and traffickers business model. The ship effectiveness was also enhanced by the embarked SH 60 helicopter , which conducted 37 Intelligence, Surveillance and Recognition flights before leaving the floor to the AB 212 helicopter that flown additional 23 missions and will now leave the operation together with ship.
On the other hand the German mine hunter WEILHEIM leaves the force after almost two months in which, among all the fulfilled tasks, the ship has also provided assistance to a Tunisian fishing vessel in distress in international waters off of the Libyan coast.
Last but not least, the German auxiliary ship BERLIN that has guaranteed for more than 100 days an invaluable logistic support to operation Sophia’s Task Force enhancing ships endurance at sea.
Furthermore, when called to intervene by the competent Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, the three ships have saved more than 2800 lives and removed 24 boats from illegal organizations availability.
Launched last June the 22nd, Operation Sophia is part of a wider EU’s comprehensive approach to migration, tackling both current symptoms and root causes such as conflict, poverty, climate change and persecution.