Attack foiled by a French helicopter in the Gulf of Aden
(BRUSSELS2) The helicopter of the French frigate Aconit (F-713), which participates in the European anti-piracy force "Atalanta" thwarted, this Monday morning, an attack by Somali pirates in the eastern zone of the Gulf of Aden (Position 12 23N 043 42E).
Photo credit: Ministry of Defence, the Aconit Panther helicopter on a rescue mission on the Al
Tarek, July 1 (*).
A mother ship and two skiffs approached a 265.000 tanker tons, flying the flag of Liberia, registered in the database of MSCHOA - the Maritime Security Center for the Horn of Africa. The pirates attempted several assaults, opening fire on the merchant ship. This one succeeded - with various maneuvers to thwart these attacks. Responding to the distress call, the Aconit helicopter arrived quickly on the scene. Scaring away the pirates. The mother ship was then spotted not far away. And a warning message broadcast to all merchant ships in the area.
In recent days, the pirates have regained new vigor, seizing, on July 8, a turkish ship. Two other Yemeni tankers had escaped the pirates on July 4 near the strait of Bab el-Mandab, thanks to the intervention of the Yemeni navy, according to the national news agency.
(Update July 14) The Atalanta air force, the Aconit helicopter and a maritime patrol aircraft tracked the pirates. They have thus located the skiffs and the mother ship used for the attack, which seems to be the Nafeya, a ship hijacked earlier by the pirates.
Photo credit: Eunavfor, the Nafeya
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