Somali Pirates: Indian Dhow Saved by EU NAVFOR

EU NAVFOR reports "Indian Sailors Safe After EU NAVFOR Forces Pirates To Abandon Attack on Cargo Vessel":

Fourteen Indian sailors are now safe, after pirates, who took control of their cargo vessel . . .  (5 June 2013) in the Gulf of Aden, abandoned the attack hours later after EU Naval Force warship HSwMS Carlskrona, together with NATO counter piracy Dutch warship HNLMS Van Speijk, closed in.

This type of cargo vessel, known as a dhow, has been used in the past by pirates as a ‘mother ship’, to enable them to sail far out to sea to attack passing merchant ships.

 HSwMS Carlskrona

The master of the Indian dhow had sent out an alert yesterday morning, saying that it was under attack from 12 armed pirates. Upon hearing the alert, Royal Swedish Navy warship, HSwMS Carlskrona, which has been part of the EU’s counter piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, since 6 April, closed the scene and as darkness fell, maintained a constant watch on the vessel.

HNLMS Van Speijk

As the Swedish helicopter from HSwMS Carlskrona overflew the scene, the pirates, now under increasing pressure from the military forces, forced the master to close the Somali coast so they could abandon the vessel in the dead of night.

Shortly afterwards, it was with a great sense of relief, that the Indian master was able to report to the EU Naval Force that all the pirates had left his ship and that none of his crew were injured.

Somali Pirates: Fire on NATO Ship, Lose Dhow in Return

NATO reports, Pirates Fire on NATO Ship:

On 24 October, while conducting routine surveillance off the Somali coast, HNLMS ROTTERDAM the flagship for the NATO ‘OCEAN SHIELD’ counter piracy mission, came under sustained fire from groups of suspected pirates.

  Small boat from the HNLMS Rotterdam returning fire on a suspect Dhow after coming under fire during an approach off coast Somalia on the 24th of October 2012.  (Photo courtesy: HNLMS Rotterdam)

A boarding team from Rotterdam was making an approach on a suspect dhow near the coast when they came under fire from ashore and from the dhow itself. Rotterdam returned fire in accordance with Rules of Engagement, during which the dhow was seen to ignite and crew members were observed leaping into the water. One crew member of the dhow was killed in this action and 25 people were subsequently rescued from the water by Rotterdam. Commodore Ben Bekkering, the commander of the NATO Task Force, said that the Rotterdam and her boats remained under sustained fire from the shore throughout, even while attempting to rescue the crew of the stricken dhow and one of Rotterdam’s rigid inflatable boats was damaged.

Those rescued were subsequently transferred to the NATO flagship where those who required it, were given prompt medical attention. None of the crew from the ROTTERDAM were injured during this action.

"We know that pirates are increasingly using larger dhows as mother ships. Therefore, we routinely inspect them" says Commodore Ben Bekkering, Commander of the NATO Task Force. "In this instance the pirates openly choose confrontation. This does not happen often and it indicates that we are indeed impeding their operations and in doing so, pushing them to take more extreme options.”

Suspect Dhow on fire after engagement with a small boat from the HNLMS Rotterdam

24 Oct 2012.

(Photo courtesy: HNLMS Rotterdam)

Commodore Bekkering praised the calm professionalism of the ROTTERDAM crew and stated that this incident together with ROTTERDAM’s successful interdiction of seven pirates on 11 October made two things very clear. "Firstly, it is obvious that the scourge of piracy has not gone away and we need to maintain our vigilance. Secondly, the risks to the pirates themselves are becoming much greater and while we regret any loss of life, we will deal with any threat we encounter in a firm, robust but always proportionate manner.”

HNLMS Rotterdam

Chases pirates, too

Somali Pirates: Danish Navy Ship Fights Pirates, Rescues 18 Hostages

Dhow Freed by HDMS Esbern Snare (Danish Navy Photo)

Reported as Danish warship frees 18 hostages after skirmish with pirates off Somalia coast:

According to a statement released by the Danish Navy, the warship stopped and boarded a suspected pirate mother-ship on April 2. The warship's helicopter and special maritime action team were also deployed.

"Despite warning shots, the pirates opened fire on the [ special] team, following which the team, returned fire," the statement said.

HDMS Esbern Snare

Three pirates were wounded in the fight and later treated by doctors from the Esbern Snare and the Dutch warship Tromp, the statement added. No Danish soldiers were hurt.

In all, 15 suspected pirates were captured and are currently being detained on board the Esbern Snare. Their case has been transferred to Denmark's Public Prosecutor for Serious International Crime.

HNLMS Tromp (F803)

The Danish Navy said a cache of items "related to piracy" were found on board the vessel. This includes "14 grenade launchers, 9 machine guns (AK-47s), 2 large boxes of ammunition for machine guns, 5 hand grenades, 6 ladders and 3 pirate attack boats (skiffs) with powerful outboard motors."

The mother-ship was originally an Iranian fishing vessel, and the 18 rescued hostages have turned out to be its crew. They returned to their ship on Saturday, after requesting to be allowed to sail home.

Danish report here.

Apparently the pirates are being referred for possible prosecution.