German frigate departs for Red Sea as part of EU mission
The German naval frigate Hessen has set sail on an EU military mission to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea against attacks by Houthi militants in Yemen.
The warship, with a crew of about 240 sailors on board, left the German Navy's largest base in Wilhelmshaven on the North Sea coast on Thursday morning.
"This is the most serious deployment of a German naval unit for many decades." Jan Christian Kaack, the inspector of the German Navy, said. "There is no unit in the German Navy that is better prepared, better trained and better equipped for this."
Multiple sources in Brussels told dpa on Thursday that the EU's 27 member countries have approved the mission to the Red Sea, with a formal vote on the matter expected at a meeting of foreign ministers on February 19.
The mission involves deploying European warships and airborne early warning systems to protect cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters.
Germany's parliament is also expected to approve the country's participation in the mission sometime shortly afterward. The Hessen is expected to arrive in the Red Sea area by the end of the month.
Comrades, family members and friends gathered on the pier to see off the ship. Siemtje Möller, a senior official at the Ministry of Defence, called it a "memorable day."
"It is absolutely clear that the mission is essential," said Möller.
The Red Sea corridor is a major shipping lane for cargo and vessels headed to and from Europe via the Suez Canal, which opens into the sea. The route is particularly important for oil and gas shipments from the Gulf, as well as trade between Europe and south-western Asia, including India and China.
The attacks by Houthi rebels have led many global shipping firms to reroute ships around the southern tip of Africa instead, adding considerable time and cost to journeys.
The Iran-backed Houthis have demanded that Israel halt its war in the Gaza Strip and have attacked ships with alleged links to Israel, a conflict that broke out after the Palestinian militant group Hamas staged unprecedented attacks and massacres on Israel on October 7.
The 143-metre-long frigate Hessen is equipped with anti-aircraft missiles with a range of more than 160 kilometres, among other armaments, and was designed for escort and maritime surveillance duties.
In addition to the regular crew and two helicopters, there are also other emergency personnel on board, including a team of doctors and a military priest, according to the navy.
