The MV Suez captured by pirates in the Gulf of Aden

(BRUSSELS2) A freighter flying the Panamanian flag, the MV Suez, was captured by pirates in the Gulf of Aden in the early hours of Monday 2 August. The news is confirmed by the HQ of Atalanta, the European anti-piracy operation. This is the first capture for several weeks of "calm" due to the monsoon. And that could announce a hot autumn as the French prepare to take command of the force in the area from mid-August.

Sailing in the international transit corridor, the sailors of the merchant ship had time to give the alert that they were under fire from pirates and that they had set foot on board the ship. Then silence. A helicopter was then directed to the scene which confirmed the presence of pirates on board. The vessel is monitored remotely by the EU NAVFOR force. The MV Suez has a crew of 23 (Egyptians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Indians) and carries a cargo of cements.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)