EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

The UK Flagged M/V ASIAN GLORY, hijacked on 1 January in the Somali Basin, is understood to have put to sea from its anchorage in Heredeere late yesterday and conducted logistical pirate transfers further south, off the Somali coast.

EU NAVFOR can confirm that ASIAN GLORY has returned to its anchorage and remains under the control of pirates. Contact with the owner confirms these details and show recent claims of ransom payments and the ships release to be untrue. The owner also confirms that all the crew remain well.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EUNAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.