Latest piracy news (April 2, 2011)
(BRUSSELS2)
Sat (April 2) Assault to free a merchant ship
United Arab Emirates anti-terrorist special forces freed the merchant ship on Saturday morning Mv Arrilah I, a 37.000 ton bulk carrier, captured by pirates in the Arabian Sea on April 1, while en route to the port of Dubai Jebel Ali, coming from Australia. The pirates have surrendered. The operation was carried out with the support of US forces from the 5th Fleet.
Sat (April 2) 11 pirates transferred to Seychelles
The 11 suspects arrested by the frigate "Canarias" have been handed over to the Seychelles authorities to be tried on the archipelago. They are suspected of having taken part in the attack on the Draco, a Spanish tuna vessel flying the Seychelles flag. This is the first transfer to justice carried out for four months by the multinational forces. The last transfer dates from the end of November 2010, with a pirate arrested by the Louise-Marie and transferred to Belgium. All suspects arrested since then have been systematically released. Also read: An attempted attack on a Spanish tuna boat foiled. 11 pirates arrested
Tue (March 29). Iranian navy steps in
Military ships of the Iranian 13th Fleet, which include the tonb and Delvar, deployed in the Gulf of Aden have thwarted, one after the other, two attacks on their merchant ships, announces the national agency FNA. The first foiled attack concerns the Valhlh, attacked by three pirate skiffs in the Suez Canal. The second concerns a merchant ship, the Nabi, which left the Egyptian port of Ain Sukhna and was pursued by 4 fast skiffs. This time, Iranian special forces had to fire on the pirates to get them to retreat. No information on possible victims.
Tue (March 29). Two Al-Mortoza sailors were killed
The pirates who boarded the Al-Mortoza, transformed into a mother ship, killed two of the hostage sailors. A Pakistani was killed during the exchange of fire by the pirates fleeing the boat, accuses the deputy commissioner of the port of Mumbai. While an Iranian sailor was killed shortly after the capture of the Iranian whaler. The 16 pirates arrested were charged with murder. Read: Latest piracy news (March 27)
Mon (March 28). Emirati tanker captured
The MV Zirku was hacked around 9 a.m. Zulu, about 250 miles southeast of Salalah (Oman) in the eastern part of the Gulf of Aden, confirms the European anti-piracy HQ of Atalanta. The Kuwaiti tanker, flying the flag of the United Arab Emirates, was on its way to Bashayer (Sudan) when it was attacked by 2 pirate skiffs with RPGs and guns. It includes a crew of 29 sailors (1 Croat, 1 Iraqi, 1 Filipino, 1 Indian, 3 Jordanians, 3 Egyptians, 2 Ukrainians and 17 Pakistanis).
Sun (March 27). The Nivose on patrol in the Gulf of Aden
After a stopover of a few days in Djibouti, the frigate Nivose - which is part of the European anti-piracy operation (EUNavfor Atalanta) has returned to sea for patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
Thu (March 24). A Ukrainian plane for Atalanta in 2012
Ukraine has announced its intention to send a Be-12 seaplane from the Saki Brigade to carry out maritime surveillance in the EU (Atalanta) naval anti-piracy operation, starting in 2012. Military experts from the EU and the Ukrainian Navy are discussing the preparations for the operation. In particular, this involves providing for the equipment of the aircraft (communications, liaison with headquarters) and logistical support for the crews. A Ukrainian officer has been seconded to the Atalanta operation headquarters since November. President Yanukovic had signed the mission order in February. Ukrainian participation has been announced several times for almost 2 years. And we seem perhaps close to a concrete solution. Also read: COPS accepts Ukrainian participation in EUNAVFOR Atalanta
Also read these days:
Comments closed.