The CTF-151 staff, embarked on RFA Fort Victoria (A387), coordinated the maritime interdiction supported by HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05) and ROKS Wang Geon (DDH-978) from CTF-151, European Union flagship HNLMS Johan de Witt (L801), and a Seychelles-based maritime patrol aircraft from Luxembourg.
The task force had been searching for the pirates since they attacked and exchanged gunfire with the super tanker Island Splendor on Friday. Three days later a Spanish fishing vessel was also attacked by what was suspected to be the same pirate group.
The pirate skiffs were quickly traced and Melbourne’s Seahawk helicopter was used to guide the warship to their precise location, some 500 nautical miles from the Somali coast.
Melbourne’s armed and highly trained boarding team made the final approach to board and search the skiffs. They successfully apprehended nine pirates and later destroyed two skiffs and associated pirate equipment.
“This is an excellent result. My multinational counter piracy forces swiftly located and dealt with this Somali pirate group, sending a clear message that piracy no longer pays,” Commodore Jeremy Blunden, Royal Navy, Commander of CTF-151, said.
“Nevertheless, the maritime community should continue to be vigilant of the threat and follow Best Maritime Practice in order to reduce the likelihood of a successful pirate attack,” said Blunden.
“It is clear that there are still pirates out there determined to generate income from taking merchant ships hostage. Mariners have been served a timely reminder of the perils of transiting the Somali coastline,” Cmdr. Brian Schlegel, Royal Australian Navy, commanding officer of Melbourne, said.
CMF is a multinational naval partnership of 29 nations, which promotes security, stability and prosperity across approximately 2.5 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.