A foiled attack in the Red Sea. Piracy in “active standby” mode?
(BRUSSELS2) Even if the situation in the Indian Ocean has nothing to do with what was happening 2 or 3 years ago, the threat of piracy remains visible, as evidenced by an attack and another suspicious approach to two sides of the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman area, which have occurred in recent days.
A bulk carrier was attacked on Monday (August 18) in the Bab El Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, while sailing between Eritrea (not far from Djibouti) and Yemen, in an area located at 12.52 north and 43.14 east. Four skiffs approached quite close to the ship, about 1,5 nautical miles (about 2800 m.), report the maritime sources, while a mother ship appeared to be stationed not far away, about 4 miles away. The captain gave the alarm and began diversionary maneuvers - acceleration of speed, avoidance - and sheltered unnecessary personnel in a "citadel". The skiffs closed up to 0,5 miles. And doubt about the intentions of the occupants of these boats was not allowed. A ladder was visible in one of the skiffs with 6 people on board. The private security guards, present on board the merchant ship, had to show their weapons – without it being possible to know if there were direct shots – to get the attackers to turn back.
Another "suspicious" approach was reported on Saturday (August 16) in the Gulf of Oman, between Oman and Pakistan, by the NATO maritime security center. A merchant ship was approached by 2 skiffs. Security guards on board used warning flares; the skiffs halted their approach after the guards showed their weapons.
The European Union Anti-Piracy Force (EUNAFOR Atalanta) is currently commanded by an Italian, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, aboard the ITS Andrea Doria and has 3 other ships: the auxiliary ship FGS Berlin, the Spanish frigate ESPS Navarre, the command and air defense frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, with an NH90 helicopter on board and a boarding party of Maltese sailors.
For its part, the NATO anti-piracy force (Ocean Shield) is made up of SNMG1 - the Standing NATO Maritime Group - under the command of Danish Rear Admiral Aage Buur Jensen aboard the HDMS Absalon. It includes 2 other frigates: the FGS Magdeburg (Germany) and theUSS Taylor (USA) and should also benefit from the reinforcement of the Italian ship ITS Mimbelli.
(NGV)
