EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

Two vessels, MV Delmas Nacala and FV Reiman beat off sustained pirate attacks on the evening of 31 March, the attacks being conducted by two separate Pirate Action Groups (PAG). Both vessels are registered with MSCHOA and were reporting to UKMTO.

The attack on the MV Delmas, Antigua and Bermuda flagged and deadweight of 22525 tonnes, occurred in the early evening of 31 March approximately 600 nautical miles east of the Seychelles. Two attack skiffs were identified by the ship which took evasive zigzag action and increased speed. The pirate skiffs pursued the Delmas and commenced firing with small arms and Rocket Propelled Grenades. Despite the pirate’s persistence in their attempting to attach attack ladders to the ship, Delman resisted with appropriate counter manoeuvres and increased speed. It is understood that all the crew are safe and well.

Almost simultaneously that evening, approximately 600 nautical miles to the North West of the Delmas attack, a separate Pirate Action Group attacked the FV Reiman.  Reiman, a Taiwan flagged vessel, with Indonesioan and Taiwanese crew, identified a mother skiff which began an assault using small arms fire. The Reiman also used speed and manoeuvre tactics to evade and beat off this attack. It is understood that the crew are safe and well although one individual has an injury to his leg.

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.