EU NAVFOR HNLMS Amsterdam Disrupts Pirates

On 6 November 2010, the EU NAVFOR Dutch ship HNLMS Amsterdam successfully located and disrupted one Pirate Action Group (PAG) comprised of two skiffs with nine suspected pirates onboard.

On 5 November, two suspicious skiffs were detected, during a patrol flight by the warship’s helicopter. A number of people were observed onboard the skiffs, along with a large quantity of fuel and several ladders.

The suspected pirates were urged to stop, first by VHF radio contact, and later, by the firing of warning shots from the helicopter. The warship then sent its boarding team to stop the two skiffs but the pirates eventually fled away and went ashore.

The EU NAVFOR warship HNLMS Amsterdam monitored the PAG throughout the night. The following morning, it was able to launch its helicopter as soon as the nine pirates were seen setting out to sea. After several radio warnings and warning shots, the skiffs eventually stopped and the pirates jumped overboard. They reached the shore safely.

Both skiffs were destroyed by the warship at the scene, together with associated paraphernalia (ladders and weapons) insuring these pirates will not be able to engage in piracy for the coming period of time. This disruption hampered pirate action and avoided highly probable attacks on merchant and vulnerable vessels.