When pirates call European sailors to the rescue...
(BRUSSELS2) Imagine the scene. We are in the Indian Ocean. And the Maran Centaurus, a 300.000 ton tanker, has been in the hands of pirates for almost two months. With 28 crew on board (including 9 Greeks and 1 Romanian). The end is near. The parties agreed on a ransom to be paid. 5,5 million $ which must in particular be released on the deck of the ship by parachute dropped from a plane passing at low altitude. When… two pirate skiffs approach the tanker at high speed. Skiffs do not belong to the same band as those on board. Shots are exchanged on both sides. A pirate would have died in the clashes (4 according to other sources). Only the ship is filled with fuel and any misguided action can cause an explosion. Farewell then, ransom, fuel, boat and men… Neither one nor two. The Greek frigate, Salamis, which is nearby and observing the scene, is called to the rescue. She dispatches her two helicopters. The attackers flee... The field is clear. The ransom can be delivered. The tanker and the crew can be freed... And we say thank you who?
NB: to thank the crew for their "cooperation", the pirates would have returned part of the ransom: half a million $. A nice reward...
