Merchant Vessel Pirated in the Somali Basin

On the morning of 24 October, the MV York, a Singapore-flagged tanker, was confirmed pirated in the Somali Basin. The MV York had recently left Mombasa on route to the Seychelles. The vessel was attacked on 23 October by two skiffs, approximately 50 nautical miles East from Mombasa.

The Turkish warship Gaziantep, operating under the Combined Maritime Forces (Task Force 151) launched her helicopter to investigate. The helicopter was able to observe pirates with weapons on board the vessel.

Initially the MV York was drifting but then began moving at 10 knots. In a separate but seemingly linked incident the fishing vessel Golden Wave, pirated on 9 October 2010, was seen in the vicinity of the MV York.

The MV York, deadweight 5,076 tons, has a crew of 17, of which one is German (Master), two are Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos.

Including the MV York, Somali pirates are currently holding 19 vessels with 428 hostages.