Operation ATALANTA confirms the liberation of the Iranian-flagged dhow ALWASEEMI, hijacked 400 nautical miles East of Mogadishu on 24 March. The pirates left the dhow as a result of the pressure and presence exerted by ATALANTA assets, in close coordination with Somali maritime police forces.
The liberation of the dhow:
On 05 April, the dhow ALWASEEMI was liberated by ATALANTA. The Iranian-flagged fishing vessel was finally abandoned by the pirate group on the North-Western coast of Somalia, after being pressured by ATALANTA assets. Always prioritizing the safety of hostages, a smart combination of “concertina effect” conducted by ATALANTA surface and air assets, plus a close and permanent coordination with Somali maritime police forces ashore finally drove pirates to disembark and liberate the dhow.
Following the liberation, ATALANTA forces boarded the fishing boat to conduct the necessary verifications and searches to ensure the security and condition of the crew, providing food, water and medical care as well. Evidence and intelligence of the incident were gathered to be submitted in support of the legal prosecution of the perpetrators. ATALANTA continues working with the Federal Government of Somalia and Puntland Federal Government to successfully bring the piracy group members to justice.
Chronology of the incident:
On 24 March, Operation ATALANTA was informed that an Iranian-flagged dhow was hijacked by a Pirate Action Group 400 nautical miles East of Mogadishu. The modus operandi reflected a highly likely use of the hijacked fishing vessel as mothership, proceeding to high seas and attempting to pirate larger vessels.
Vessels operating in the vicinity were contacted by Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) to avoid transiting within a 200 nautical miles radius of the reported position of the hijacked dhow ALWASEEMI. In addition, MSCIO recommended to maintain enhanced vigilance, being prepared to implement Best Management Practices Maritime Security measures and report any suspicious activity immediately.
On 25 March, EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA asset closed distance, ready to take the appropriate actions to respond effectively to the piracy event.
On 27 March, 48 hours later, ATALANTA asset located the dhow 480 nautical miles Southeast of Mogadishu and verified the identity. During the following days, the warship closed distance to the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel and maintained a cover posture. Meanwhile her embarked air means were gathering relevant information to assess the situation on board.
Since 30 March, the ATALANTA assets confirmed the hijack of the dhow, which remains totally isolated and any possibility of pirating a larger vessel has been disrupted. In addition, the second EUNAVFOR ATALANTA asset successfully arrived on the scene.
Collaboration with regional and international forces in the area including Somali Police Force – Coast Guard Department, Somali Navy, Puntland Maritime Police Forces, Combined Maritime Forces, Spanish Joint Operations Command, Seychelles Armed Forces and INTERPOL has been key for continuing monitoring the incident.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA reaffirms its role as a key maritime security actor since 2008 in the Western Indian Ocean.
