Somali pirates attack and board UK-flagged ship in failed hijack attempt

[News_Editor]

Somali pirates attack and board UK-flagged ship in failed hijack attempt

2011-01-04 22:29:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANAMA, BAHRAIN (BNO NEWS) -- Somali pirates on Monday attacked and boarded a UK-flagged tanker in the North Arabian Sea, but failed to take control of it, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Navy said the incident happened at approximately 1.45 p.m. Bahrain time when Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) were notified of a distress call from the merchant vessel CPO China, which is a UK-flagged tanker. The distress call indicated that the vessel was being attacked by pirates while underway in the North Arabian Sea.

The ship reported taking fire from several skiffs and, despite evasive manoeuvring, was boarded by the suspected pirates. The U.S. Navy said the ship's master mustered his 20 man crew in the ship's citadel, a secure compartment from where they could retain control of the ship.

Australian frigate HMAS Melbourne, currently serving with CMF's counter-piracy mission, Combined Task Force 151, was the nearest warship to CPO China and was immediately ordered to assist.

When the HMAS Melbourne's helicopter arrived at the location of the CPO China, the warship was able to establish communications with the vessel. "Having been unable to take control of the merchant vessel, and with Melbourne on the scene, the pirates left the ship," the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

The Master of the CPO China reported that all the crew members were safe and, on Tuesday morning, a security team from HMAS Melbourne boarded the ship to make sure it was secure.

"Somali pirates operate across a vast expanse of sea. They use large mother ships to travel great distance from the Somali coast, from where they can launch fast skiffs to attack international shipping," a CMF spokesperson said. "We are pleased that HMAS Melbourne was close enough to intervene in this instance. However, coalition warships may not always be in the vicinity of a pirate attack. That is why we emphasize that seafarers have the power to greatly reduce their chances of being pirated if they take simple precautions."

The spokesperson urged mariners transiting these waters to follow guidance laid out in the Best Management Practice volume 3 and added that they should regularly check Navigation Area Warnings and liaise closely with Maritime Trade authorities. Other CMF warships have also been involved in disrupting pirate activities in recent days.

On Sunday, the U.S. Navy cruiser USS Lake Champlain was ordered to investigate a suspicious vessel that had been spotted in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel displayed the hallmarks associated with the kind of 'skiff' commonly used by pirates.

As Lake Champlain launched her helicopter to investigate, the suspicious vessel increased its speed and was seen to be throwing items overboard, according to the U.S. Navy. The vessel initially refused verbal commands to stop, but ultimately heeded directions after warning shots were fired.

Personnel from Lake Champlain then boarded the skiff and confiscated excess fuel and a motor. The vessel was then released.

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