Farewell to the French ship Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet
On 28 September, after replacing the FS “Premier-maître L’HER”, the French ship Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet entered as part of the maritime Task Force of EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA.
The FS Jacoubet has been deployed off the coast of Libya, as operation SOPHIA’s contribution to the UN arms embargo, in accordance with the UNSCR 2292 (2016). The Jacoubet was under the European chain of command, taking orders directly from the Force Headquarters on board the Italian light aircraft carrier Garibaldi and cooperating with the other ships of the naval Task Force.
During her mission, the Jacoubet’s crew was reinforced by a detachment of navy marines, and a specialized team in detecting explosives, that has been an additional and important support of expertise also during counter illegal arms trafficking activities.
Since her arrival in the area of operations, the FS Jacoubet and her crew did a great number of activities, focused on the contribution to the embargo as well as in information and intelligence gathering. “I’m very proud of the work my team did in this operation. It has been a great honour and experience to participate to this mission” said Jacoubet’s Commanding Officer when leaving the force.
The FS Jacoubet is now on her way back to Toulon, and the European Force Commander wishes her a safe trip back, congratulating for the outstanding job that she has done in more than one month in operation SOPHIA.
For one ship that leaves, in few days, the French ship “Commandant l’Herminier” will join EUNAVFOR MED.
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 344 boats were removed from the criminal organization availability. Nonetheless, seven merchant vessels were checked and 122 were queried as EU contribution to the arms embargo.