At 0758 UTC on May 28th 2009 inside the Gulf of Aden, a reported pirate attack occurred against a Norwegian owned bulk carrier sailing under Liberian flag.
The ship put out a call on its VHF radio. It is believed that a nearby Indian warship that was escorting Indian national merchant vessels at the time provided assistance.
The EU NAVFOR Atalanta warship next to the position was tasked by the Force Headquarters to also investigate and respond if necessary. She found a skiff afloat nearby that had no functioning engine and which was carrying eight people.
Of the eight people found to be onboard the skiff, two were found dead. Four had injuries which were not life-threatening. The remaining two people onboard were found to be unhurt.
Under the terms of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea there is a general obligation for masters of all vessels to proceed to the assistance of those in distress. On the basis that there was no continuity of evidence that this skiff was connected with the previous piracy incident and in accordance with this convention, the Atalanta warship provided assistance to the skiff, has taken all of these people onboard and is making for the nearest available medical centre to bring the injured to medical treatment as rapidly as possible.
The ship put out a call on its VHF radio. It is believed that a nearby Indian warship that was escorting Indian national merchant vessels at the time provided assistance.
The EU NAVFOR Atalanta warship next to the position was tasked by the Force Headquarters to also investigate and respond if necessary. She found a skiff afloat nearby that had no functioning engine and which was carrying eight people.
Of the eight people found to be onboard the skiff, two were found dead. Four had injuries which were not life-threatening. The remaining two people onboard were found to be unhurt.
Under the terms of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea there is a general obligation for masters of all vessels to proceed to the assistance of those in distress. On the basis that there was no continuity of evidence that this skiff was connected with the previous piracy incident and in accordance with this convention, the Atalanta warship provided assistance to the skiff, has taken all of these people onboard and is making for the nearest available medical centre to bring the injured to medical treatment as rapidly as possible.