The French frigate NIVOSE attached to Operation Atalanta captured 11 suspected pirates together with their mother ship and two skiffs in a EU NAVFOR focused operation carried out in the Indian Ocean yesterday afternoon.
The arrest took place after the 21,000 tonne Liberia flagged MV SAFMARINE ASIA came under sustained small arms and Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack from two skiffs that were operating in close company with a mother ship.
The warship scrabbled its helicopter in reaction to a distress call from the stricken container ship and quickly arrived on the scene to deter the hijacking and shadow the mother vessel until the warship arrived.
The pirates are currently being detained on board the NIVOSE which was deployed to the area as a result of the recent attacks that have taken place in the Somali Basin. A range of firearms and equipment were found on board the suspect vessels that will be used as evidence in any subsequent trial.
The NIVOSE is now en route to Mombasa with the vessels in tow. The MV SAFMARINE ASIA is proceeding safely to its onward destination.