Armed Pirates Thwarted off Somalia
Boarding team on board MV Costina (Photo: EU NAVFOR)
A bullet hole on deck MV Costina (Photo: EU NAVFOR)
Boarding team on board MV Costina (Photo: EU NAVFOR)
Boarding team on board MV Costina (Photo: EU NAVFOR)
Boarding team supporting crew member with first aid on board MV Costina (Photo: EU NAVFOR)
A helicopter prepares to start from the deck of ESPS Galicia (Photo: EU NAVFOR)
A European Union counter-piracy patrol helped thwart a piracy attack close to Somalia’s east coast on April 22.
Late on Saturday evening, EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, received a SOS distress call from the master of Sierra Leone flagged merchant tanker vessel MT Costina to say that his vessel was being attacked by a number of armed pirates in a fast-moving skiff.
ESPS Galicia, which was 14 nautical miles away, then launched a SH-3D Sea King helicopter and sailed full speed toward MT Costina.
As soon as the pirates became aware that the EU NAVFOR warship was fast approaching, they broke off their attack and fled.
Upon arrival at the scene, ESPS Galicia’s helicopter conducted a full aerial search. After confirming that the skiff was no longer in the sea area, ESPS Galicia’s special operations team went on board MT Costina to reassure the master and his crew.
An inspection of MT Costina’s upper deck confirmed that the ship’s structure had a number of bullet holes from the pirate attack, but it was assessed that MT Costina could continue to her next port of call.
EU NAVFOR Spokesperson, Commander Jacqui Sherriff, said, “This attack again highlights the need for vigilance and adherence to the self-protection measures as laid down in Best Management Practices (BMP)4. It is crucial that Somali pirates are denied opportunities to attack vessels.”
