HMS Montrose dismantles pirate group near Somali shores
HMS Montrose, which is part of NATO's Operation Ocean Shield, thwarted a pirate attack near Somali shores on Thursday. The British ship had been alerted the day before to the presence of a group of 10 suspicious men in a small boat off the Somali coast, near a pirate camp. Their boat was loaded with ladders and many barrels of gasoline, and accompanied by two small skiffs, according to the traditional technique of Somali pirates. HMS Montrose's Lynx helicopter and a Royal Marines boat were dispatched on reconnaissance. As soon as they heard the helicopter 4 suspicious pirates detached one of the skiffs and tried to flee. The remaining men stopped the engine of their boat and tried to get rid of the ladders and other equipment overboard. The Marines seized the remaining equipment, and disarmed the pirates then freed them, transferring them to the remaining skiff.
For Commander Jonathan Lett, this arrest helped prevent suspected pirates from setting sail to attack innocent merchant ships. The British fleet, and HMS Montrose, will continue to help keep the waters safe. »
This is the second preventive action in the space of two weeks carried out by Operation Ocean Shield, which like the European operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta has been extended for two years until 2012. 4 other ships are currently participating in Ocean Shield: Danish Esbern Snare, Italian Bersagliere (Italy) and the Americans USS Kauffman and USS Laboon.
