EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

EU NAVFOR can report that earlier this morning, 4 March, the 2,100 tonnes Spanish Fishing Vessel Albacan was attacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean.

The Albacan, owned by Albacora, and registered in Cadiz, was fishing half way between the Seychelles and the Kenyan coast (Mombasa) when it was approached by two pirate skiffs. The skiffs had pirates onboard with weapons clearly visible and Albacan took evasive action. After a short while one of the skiffs made a close approach and fired a rocket propelled grenade that exploded on the deck of the fishing vessel. The explosion caused a small fire that has now been extinguished. All crewmembers are unharmed.

The Albacan is carrying Vessel Protection Detachment (private security armed guards) who fired shots over the heads of the pirate skiff and they were able to repel the attack and the pirates have now left the scene. An EU NAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft from the Seychelles is airborne and is now monitoring the situation. All Fishing Vessels in the area have been advised to keep a good lookout for this pirate group.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.