Chinese freighter spotted by maritime patrol planes

(B2) The Chinese freighter DE Xin Hai, was spotted by an Atalanta maritime patrol aircraft, Atalanta HQ announced. Captured by pirates on October 19, 350 miles northeast of the Seychelles (roughly at the height of the Maldives) and more than 700 nautical miles from the Somali coasts, this capture constitutes a new "feat" of pirates (read soon "organized pirates"). As soon as the catch was known, the Atalanta maritime patrol plane – the Luxembourg Merlin III according to initial information – which was patrolling not far from there turned towards the area, to carry out a visual identification and produce as is the procedure a text and image report. He thus recorded video and several photos, much more precise than that publicly broadcast by Atalanta (read soon "exclusive report with the Luxembourg Merlin III"). Four pirates were identified as well as two skiffs. The crew (25 people) thus seemed visible in several places on the ship and partially free to move.

(Photo credit: EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft)