Djibouti  - A German Navy frigate left its base in Djibouti Tuesday to join the EU anti-piracy mission off Somalia.

German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung officially sent off the frigate Karlsruhe, saying the warship carrying 220 sailors was authorized to use force to seize ships seized by pirates operating off the Somali coast.

Jung stressed the mission had an unprecedented "robust mandate."

The German Navy is supporting the EU mission Atalanta, set to prevent pirate attacks on ships in the region. In 2008, pirates seized more than 200 ships demanding millions of dollars in ransom. (dpa)