During the early morning of October 2nd 2009 the Spanish Fishing Vessel ALAKRANA was hijacked in the Indean Ocean by pirates at some 360 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia.
On first indication of an attack an EU NAVFOR patrol aircraft, based in the Seychelles was tasked to investigate the situation. The aircraft confirmed the hijack of the fishing vessel and did not detect any other vessel in the vicinity, indicating the pirates operated from the skiff with an extensive load of fuel now towed behind the ALAKRANA.
After the latest monsoon this is the first successful hijack since the beginning of august.
European Naval Force - Operation Atalanta
EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta acts in accordance with United Nations Security Councils resolutions. The military operation was launched 8 December and has been extended by the European Council until December 2010. The EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta will pursue the following objectives:
- The protection of World Food Programme (WFP) vessels delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia.
- The protection of vulnerable vessels sailing in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast.
- Employ the necessary measures, including the use of force, to deter, prevent and intervene in order to bring to an end acts of piracy and armed robbery which may be committed in the areas where they are present.
The EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta consists of units from Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. Contributions from third countries such as Norway are participating as well. Also, a number of Cypriot, Irish, Maltese and Finnish military personnel supplement the team at the Northwood Operation Headquarters.
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