Press Releases

Nine suspected pirates were apprehended by the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship NUMANCIA 200 miles north of the Seychelles in the India Ocean shortly after the attack on the cruise liner MSC MELODY last Sunday.

A 31,000 tonnes German owned grain carrier was hijacked in the eastern end  of the Gulf of Aden overnight. The 17 man crew are believed to be unhurt and shipping has been warned to stay clear of the area for fear of further attacks.

Yesterday the French frigate NIVOSE, attached to EU NAVFOR Op ATALANTA, handed 11 suspected pirates over to the Kenya courts that were captured from a “mother ship” that took part in an attack on the MV SAFMARINE ASIA in the Indian Ocean last Tuesday.

A Belgian owned and flagged stone carrier was hijacked probably by Somali pirates early this morning in the Somali Basin.

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.

A 35,000 tonnes Greek owned bulk carrier was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden overnight. The 22-man crew are believed to be unhurt and shipping has been warned to stay clear of the area for fear of further attacks.

An American-owned and Italian-flagged tug towing two barges, and operated by a UAE company, was hijacked while travelling westbound through the Gulf of Aden this morning.

This week has seen significant activity both by the hijackers operating off the Somalia coast in the Indian Ocean and by Op Atalanta in combating their actions.

A Danish owned and USA operated 17,000 tonne container ship was seized in the Indian Ocean early this morning approximately 400miles east of Mogadishu. The 21 man American crew are believed to be safe.

A 32,000 tonne UK-owned and Italian-operated bulk carrier was hijacked early this morning in the Gulf of Aden. Few details are known at this stage, but the mixed nationality crew are believed to be safe.