Constant vigilance

Anticipating that the pirates will not take a break over the holiday period, neither will the EU NAVFOR units patrolling around the Horn of Africa and in the Somali Basin.

Whilst back at home in Europe the families of the deployed EU NAVFOR personnel celebrate this very special season of the year, the crews of all ships and aircraft of the entire EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA Task Force off the coast of Somalia maintain their guard at sea and continue with their duty of securing the safe transport of food to the people of Somalia. With this decision, the Naval Force underlines the commitment of the European Union to ensure the safe arrival of humanitarian aid, so desperately needed by thousands of suffering Somali people. In addition to the escorting of merchant vessels chartered by the World Food

Boarding of a skiff

Programme, EU Naval Forces also continue to counter the threats imposed by Somali pirates on the international shipping community in a combined effort with other multinational Naval Forces in Indian Ocean. Currently, out of the 27 Nations contributing to the Operation, Sailors and soldiers from 13 different nations will be active at sea in Operation ATALANTA, maintaining the force at the highest readiness level.

EU NAVFOR conducts counter-piracy in the Indian Ocean and is responsible for the protection of World Food Program ships carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Somalia and the logistic support vessels of the African Union troops conducting Peace Support Operations in Somalia. Additionally, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

]]> http://www.eunavfor.eu/2011/12/eunavfor-maintaining-guard-at-sea-over-christmas/feed/ 0 http://www.eunavfor.eu/2011/12/merchant-ship-crews-held-hostage-in-somalia/ http://www.eunavfor.eu/2011/12/merchant-ship-crews-held-hostage-in-somalia/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:13:13 +0000 EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office http://www.eunavfor.eu/?p=9695

The Shiuh Fu No.1 fishing boat, pirated Christmas Day 2010; the whereabouts of the crew of 13 Chinese, 12 Vietnamese and 1 Taiwanese mariners is unknown

While the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia has received significant coverage over the past 4 years, with the exception a number of high-profile individuals, the fate of the merchant crews which make up the majority of those held hostage, is not often considered or reported.

This humanitarian tragedy is especially pertinent over Christmas, a time when families normally gather to celebrate.

There are currently 199 men and one woman held hostage in Somalia following the pirating of their ships in the Indian Ocean and all are being held against their will to be used by criminal gangs as part of a ransom business. Since the start of the EU NAVFOR counter-piracy mission in December 2008, a total of 2317 merchant seamen have been held hostage for an average of nearly 5 months. The longest period in captivity is 19 months for the 24 crew members of the M/V ICEBERG 1, who are still being held.

The PRANTALAY 12 fishing boat, pirated 18 April 2010 and beached on 14 July 2011. 5 of the crew died in captivity, 1 is missing and 4 remain in Somalia following the release of the remainder.

It is estimated that at least 60 merchant seamen have died as a result of their captivity in the hands of the pirates and many more have suffered torture and abuse. 49 of the 200 hostages are held without the collateral of a ship, following the ship sinking or being abandoned which means that their future is less clear as their value is seen as less than that of a ship. Additionally, a recent tactic of the criminal gangs has been to agree to the ransom payment for the return of ship and crew and then hold-back some of the crew when the ship is released to use to negotiate for the release of convicted Somali pirates from the home country of the detained crew members. Currently 4 South Korean and 7 Indian crew members from the M/V GEMINI and the ASPHALT VENTURE are held following the release of the ships.

Today, there are 3 ships abandoned and derelict on the beach, creating a source of potential pollution, whilst their crews, totalling 54 men, remain in captivity.

Piracy in the Indian Ocean affects us all, adding a significant cost to every barrel of oil and every 40ft container which passes through the area. The navies of the world have between 20-30 warships in the region and for the people of Somalia, piracy means that even essential food-aid provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) has to be escorted to prevent the delivery ships being captured.

In the longer term the underlying causes of the piracy crisis need to be resolved within Somalia but at present, the situation for the 200 hostages remains uncertain.

E.Colombo threatened with AK47

The TRIBAL KAT was attacked by Somali suspect criminals off the coast of Yemen while passing through the Gulf of Aden. Christian Colombo was killed during the attack, his body thrown overboard and his wife taken against her will by the suspect criminals. She was being moved by skiff towards Somalia when by a combination of good fortune, considering the vast area to be searched, and close cooperation between the counter-piracy forces in the region, a complex and dangerous rescue operation succeeded in recovering Mrs. Colombo uninjured.

The SY TRIBAL KAT was only the most recent of about 10 yachts attacked and their crews captured by Somali suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean in the past three years.

Nearly every recorded attack on a yacht has led to the crew being taken hostage and moved to Somalia where they were kept on land, their yachts being discarded. SY ROCKALL was completely stripped of everything onboard including the engine.
On land, the level of risk and hardship on the hostages is increased. They are removed from their familiar environment and exposed to a rough country with a harsh, hot climate. Often, hostages are held in the most basic conditions, i.e. no electricity, no sanitary installations, rationed basic food and water. Pirates have frequently moved hostages at short notice to avoid detection, increasing the stress and strain for the hostages.

The ordeal hostages have to endure can include every form of abuse. Physical and psychological mistreatment can include physical violence and mock executions. In some cases, crews and families have been separated for extended periods of time exposing hostages to the stress of uncertainty on the fate of their partner or child. When hostages were separated, pirates have simulated killing one or more of the hostages with machine gun fire out of sight of the remainder to increase the pressure for a ransom to be paid; the hostages are assumed to be very rich and the ransom demands can be for millions of dollars.

On average, maritime hostages have been held for over 7 months. However, for Paul and Rachel Chandler from the SY LYNN RIVAL, their captivity lasted 388 days in the Somali bush. They were eventually released after payment of a ransom however others are not so fortunate; French yacht-owner, husband and father, Florent Lemacon, was killed in April 2009 during the liberation of the SY TANIT. In February 2011, pirates shot and killed four Americans aboard the SY QUEST off the coast of Somalia when U.S. naval forces were trying to negotiate their release.

The presence of warships from EUNAVFOR, NATO and the Coalition Maritime Force, in addition to other naval forces, in the Gulf of Aden has significantly reduced the success of piracy attacks in this area. However, there remains a serious and increasing threat from piracy from the southern Red Sea, through the Bab el-Mandeb to the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia and into the Indian Ocean. This area is the same size as Western Europe and there are only between 12 and 18 warships in the area, with far higher priority tasking than protection of yachts and their crews, so if attacked, the chance of release is remote.

The risks to yachts from pirates are significant – they operate from one or more small skiffs, able to reach up to 25 knots. Increasingly, pirates use small arms fire and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) to stop and board vessels. Attacks have taken place mostly during the day, but pirates have also attacked at night. Pirates are likely to be aggressive, highly agitated, and possibly under the influence of drugs, (including khat, an amphetamine like stimulant).

Yachts cannot out-run the pirates and are unable to prevent boarding. Merchant ships, which have higher freeboards and can adopt the self-protection measures recommended in the fourth edition of “Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy” (BMP) improve their chances but even these only delay a determined pirate.

There is only one sure way of avoiding your yacht and crew being captured – freight the yacht across the high-risk area.

Otherwise you could be playing Russian Roulette with your crew and family.

EU NAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE and skiffs

Early this morning, in the southern Indian Ocean, between the Seychelles and Mombasa a pirate group of 1 mother ship and 2 skiffs was intercepted by EU NAVFOR.

The pirates were operating in an area where an earlier attack had taken place and the Force Commander of Operation ATALANTA, RAdm Giovanni GUMIERO, tasked the French EU NAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE to intercept and disrupt the pirate attack group, which had previously been repelled by the Vessel Protection Detachment embarked onboard a French vessel.

On the early morning of the 5th of March, EUNAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE launched her helicopter and detected the skiffs some  350 nautical miles east of the Somali coast. The EU NAVFOR French Boarding Team, while approaching the skiffs, observed objects being thrown overboard. On arrival at the scene they found 11 suspected pirates and pirate paraphernalia in the skiffs including a rocket launcher, grappling hooks and several fuel barrels. The mother ship and one skiff have been destroyed and the suspected pirates taken into custody.

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.

Win Far 161

M/V WIN FAR 161 that has been anchored off the Somali coast in the vicinity of Harardheere for almost 10 months has finally been released. The pirates vacated the vessel on the evening of 11 Feb and the master has taken command once more.

The Taiwanese fishing vessel WIN FAR 161 was hijacked on 6th April 2009 from the Somali Basin, approximately 160Nm north of the Seychelles. The vessel had been operating outside the EU NAVFOR Area of Operation (AOR) and as such its movements were not registered with the MSCHOA. It is understood from the owner that all 28 crew members are well and were released with food, fuel and water.  The ship is now heading out to sea and is being monitored by EU NAVFOR.

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

Pakistani fisherman arrives on board ITS ETNA

In early December a Pakistani fishing vessel was hijacked by pirates not far from the territorial waters of Oman and, during the attack, one of the fishermen was shot in the leg just below the knee.

As a consequence, the crew was kept as hostages, including the wounded Pakistani fisherman, who was left for about a month without any treatment of the wound or stabilisation of his leg. The captured fishing vessel was later used by the pirates as a mother-ship from where they launched piratical attacks in the area using smaller skiffs they had loaded on board. After one such successful attack, the pirates abandoned the fishing vessel and the crew were rescued by the EU NAVFOR Warship FS SURCOUF that was patrolling in the area.

The wounded fisherman received immediate first aid medical treatment and was then transferred to EU NAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA who has a Role 2 Medical facility and surgical team onboard. Onboard ETNA he was examined and received some extended wound-treatment including initial surgery. ETNA subsequently transferred their patient to the French Military Hospital “Bouffard” in Djibouti, where some final surgical treatment was carried out.

After nearly a month in the care of EU NAVFOR and the French Military Hospital, the man was cleared fit to fly home. Before leaving he expressed his sincere gratitude for all the assistance that he received onboard EU NAVFOR ships SURCOUF and ETNA and also at the Military Hospital. He arrived in Pakistan on 26th January.

EUNAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

Picture Gallery:

MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA escorted by FS SURCOUF

On the 20th of January, EUNAVFOR Warship FS SURCOUF  successfully completed the escort of AMISOM chartered cargo vessel ALPHA KIRAWIRA, Sierra Leone flagged, from MOGADISHU to MOMBASA.

FS SURCOUF met MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA at sea on the 17th of January, off the coast of Mogadishu. The MV on leaving the port sailed south along the coast under the close protection of the EUNAVFOR ship. The three day journey passed without incident but SURCOUF crewmembers remained vigilant and ready to face any possible threat during the transit.

EUNAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

Picture Gallery:

On December 5th an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, stationed at the Seychelles, located a suspected Pirate Attack Group with one mother skiff and two attack skiffs. EU NAVFOR French warship FS Floreal was tasked to close the group and the Seychellois Coast Guard also responded to the request by sending their patrol vessel Topaz.

At first light, EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft relocated the suspected Pirated Attack Group and directed both vessels to that position. On arrival of the Coast Guard vessel, the helicopter of FS Floreal assisted the Topaz crew with the intercept and securing the area. Eleven suspected pirates were arrested by the Seychellois Coast Guard and all pirate related paraphernalia was seized; two attack skiffs were destroyed.

FS Floreal and the Maritime Patrol Aircraft take part in the EUNAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA. The main tasks of Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

Because the ship was well prepared in accordance with the ’Best Management Practices’ with barbed wires and other Self Protection Measures, the pirates failed to board the vessel. Automatic weapons were fired, luckily no casualties were reported.
 
On indication of the attack EU NAVFOR Netherlands warship Evertsen just leaving the port of Salalah, was tasked to search and neutralize the pirate attack group. Canadian warship HMCS Fredericton of NATO, also in the area on counter piracy patrol, responded also and closed to participate in the search for the Pirate Attack Group.

In the evening Evertsen localized a dhow with two skiffs in the area of the earlier attack and fitting the given description. Evertsens boarding team secured the dhow and the two skiffs.  In total there were thirteen pirates and two of the original crew on board. Ladders, grappling hooks, and nine automatic weapons, 1 RPG with three grenades and cases with amunition were found. The suspected pirates have been detained.

HNLMS Evertsen takes part in the EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA. The main tasks of Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

EU NAVFOR Greek warship HS Adrias was tasked to intercept and neutralize the suspected pirate groups. On the morning of the 18th November the Adrias boarding team sighted two attack skiffs and one ‘motherskiff’. They intercepted and boarded the group containing 10 men and all pirate related paraphernalia, including excess skiffs, were seized.

Following this event, and with support of an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Adrias continued the intercept of the other suspect group. Two skiffs and a mother ship were intercepted with a total of five suspected pirates. This group was also neutralized; this action continues towards disrupting piracy in this vast sea area where pirates had been known to operate and hijack ships before.

HS Adrias and the Maritime Patrol Aircraft take part in the EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA.
The main tasks of Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.