Italian Navy’s FREMM Carlo Bergamini-class frigate Antonio Marceglia has departed La Spezia on September 3 for the Gulf of Guinea, where it will participate in the Operation ” Gabinia ” operation, a mission with a primary goal of preventing and combatting piracy.

Italian frigate will conduct counter-piracy operations in the area to ensure the safety of maritime routes, but also will cooperate with the regional navies in order to increase mutual knowledge and trust, and will conduct capacity-building activities.

The ship is embarked with an SH-90 Helicopter, fast boats, and SOF units in order to react promptly to a piracy event.

Gulf of Guinea

The Gulf of Guinea, on west Africa’s southern coast, is the world’s most pirate-infested sea. The Gulf of Guinea accounted for nearly half (43%) of all reported piracy incidents in the first three months of 2021, according to the latest figures from the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB). In addition, the region accounted for all 40 kidnapped crew incidents, as well as the sole crew fatality, according to IMB.

“Pirates operating within the Gulf of Guinea are well-equipped to attack further away from shorelines and are unafraid to take violent action against innocent crews” warns IMB Director Michael Howlett. “It’s critical that seafarers remain cautious and vigilant when traveling in nearby waters and report all incidents to the Regional Authorities and the IMB PRC. Only improved knowledge sharing channels and increased collaboration between maritime response authorities will reduce the risk to seafarers in the region.”

The furthest recorded kidnapping occurred on 11 March 2021 when pirates kidnapped 15 crew from a Maltese flagged Chemical Tanker, 212 nm south of Cotonou, Benin. In another incident, a fishing vessel hijacked on 8 February 2021 was used by pirates as a mother vessel to facilitate other attacks.

The IMB PRC commends the Coastal response agencies and independent international navies tasked in the Region for actively responding to reported incidents and encourages their continued efforts in making the GoG waters safer for the seafarers.

Check out the IMB Piracy & Armed Robbery Map 2021

ITS Antonio Marceglia

Antonio Marceglia (F 597) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy. She was laid down on 12 July 2015 and her launching ceremony took place at the Fincantieri plants in Riva Trigoso. She was commissioned on 16 April 2019.

Main Specifications:

Check out Naval Library App to find out the specifications of the FREMM Carlo Bergamini-class frigates.