A pirate skiff with seven suspected pirates on board has been captured by the EU Naval Force vessel the San Giusto.
The San Giusto was carrying out routine patrols to apprehend suspected pirates as part of the counter piracy Operation Atalanta. According to reports from EU Navy officials, crew members on board the San Giusto spotted the skiff which was carrying fuel drums and a ladder. The skiff was situated approximately 180 miles east of Socotra. Once the vessel was spotted, an EU helicopter was dispatched to investigate further. Once it was confirmed that the skiff was most likely a pirate vessel, a small team of heavily armed Navy officers apprehended the suspects and seized the vessel.
Following the successful apprehension of the alleged pirates, Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Potts, commended the officers on their swift action that allowed the pirated to be caught before they were able to launch an attack on any vessels in the area. This was the first sighting of pirates in the Somali Basin region for more than three months. It is thought that pirate activity has slowed down due to monsoon activity in the area.
Potts stated that the EU Navy were on high alert as the monsoon season draws to a close this month, and have anticipated pirate activity in the upcoming months. Potts has warned pirates that they will be apprehended if they attempt to attack a vessel in the region and that EU officials will not become complacent about the issue of piracy.
However, it is clear that the infamous Somali pirates still intend to resume activity and all anti-piracy agencies should remain vigilant.
Once evidence had been collected from the skiff, it was destroyed to prevent pirates from using the vessel to attack ships in the future.
Operation Atalanta is a military operation by the European Union Naval Force as part of a larger attempt by the EU to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. The operation serves to protect aid vessels bound for Somalia, such as the World Food Programme shipments, as well as vulnerable shipments on a case by case basis. The operation has recently been expanded to also include Somali internal water bodies and is working in collaboration with anti-piracy efforts being instituted by Somalia’s government.
Earlier this year, EU Navy Forces raided pirate bases on the Somalian mainland and destroyed a number of pirate vessels.
