EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

This morning at 09:00hrs local time a small Dutch cargo vessel of 2500 tons was hijacked probably by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden while sailing westbound in the transit corridor. The vessel, with eight crew onboard and a cargo of coke, has now altered course towards Somalia. The crew is believed to be unhurt.

In another pirate incident late yesterday morning, an attack was fended off by a Greek vessel. The Greek vessel being attacked took evasive steering action and consequently hit the approaching skiff, which then capsized. The seven pirates were later recovered by the Spanish Atalanta unit ESPS MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA and detained onboard. No casualties or damage were sustained during this incident, which also took place in the Gulf of Aden.