Last week, Operation ATALANTA conducted a Friendly Approach to the vessel “AL-MERAJ 1” which was pirated in November 2023 off the coast of Somalia and freed at the beginning of December 2023.
Friendly approaches are conducted in order to achieve a deeper situational understanding in a specific area, and to obtain further knowledge of the pattern of life amongst traders and local and regional fishermen.
These interactions are carried out with the consent of the crews of the fishing vessels visited by ATALANTA forces. The main goals are the exchange of information, mutual trust, knowledge of the maritime safety situation in the area and monitor of possible illegal activities such as piracy and illegal fishing.
Operation ATALANTA regularly conducts friendly approaches to local fishing vessels in the Area of Operations. This Friendly Approach was made to the ship “AL-MERAJ 1” which was pirated back in November 2023 off the coast of Somalia and freed at the beginning of December 2023.
Piracy in the Indian Ocean
After five years without any cases of piracy, this marked a turning point. From that date until today, there have been 44 cases of piracy. At the height of piracy in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 ships were being held by pirates.
On the other hand, 6 alleged pirates were handed over by Operation ATALANTA to Seychelles authorities in May 2024. The current total number of alleged pirates transferred to competent authorities is 177.
