Pirate Attack Foiled By EU Naval Forces

A pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden was foiled this week by European Union Naval Forces.

A group of Somali pirates briefly took 14 sailors hostage aboard a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The Marine Link reports that the cargo vessel, known as a dhow, is frequently targeted by pirates and is used as a “mother ship” once it is taken over. Thanks to the EU Naval Force warship HSwMS Carlskrona and NATO warship HNLMS van Speijk that didn’t happen.

The pirate attack was stopped and the crew was unharmed.

The master of the cargo vessel sent out a distress single early on Thursday morning saying that the ship was under attack by pirates. The EU ship, the NATO ship, and a Swedish helicopter quickly came to the scene to force the pirates off the ship.

Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, said: “What is important is that fourteen Indian sailors are now safe and able to return to their families, after what must have been a terrifying ordeal. This latest attack once again shows that the threat from piracy is real. We must all remain vigilant.”

According to ABC, Somali pirates have not successfully hijacked a ship since May of 2012. There have been four pirate attacks this year but none of them have been successful.

Here’s a video about the EU’s fight against Somali pirates.