EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

On Friday 13 November, during an anti piracy patrol mission in the Indian Ocean, 9 Somali fishermen were picked up by EU NAVFOR warship HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN.

The stranded mariners were found more than 200nm from shore, had no food or water and only a limited amount of fuel left. They were clearly exhausted from their experience after spending days drifting at sea and, without FRIDTJOF NANSEN’s intervention, these individuals would probably have perished.

The 9 fishermen have now been given medical checks, food and water. With sleep and rest they are all now all well although slightly shaken from their frightening experience.  Commander Senior Grade Ole Morten Sandquist stated that “these people were very luck on what is normally the mariners unluckiest day, Friday 13th.”

All the mariners were very grateful to the ships crew for rescuing them and saving their lives. After final medical checks, they were put ashore yesterday near the village of Xabo on the Horn of Africa.