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Africa Horn | |
Somali Pirates Mistake French Naval Ship for Merchant... Again | |
2010-04-21 | |
FS SOMME had been engaged in a support mission for the EU NAVFOR anti piracy operation Atalanta, replenishing her supplies, when she was attacked during the night of 19th April 2010. The pirates, mistaking the SOMMEs silhouette for that of a merchant vessel, opened fire on the French ship. FS SOMME responded with warning shots, causing the two pirate skiffs to flee. During their flight the two pirate skiffs were separated. Whilst chasing one of the skiffs, FS SOMME detected another boat which turned out to be the pirate mother ship, the vessel which controls and resupplies the pirate skiffs. The mother ship was captured less than half an hour later with two pirates on board, and her fuel and pirate paraphanalia (weapons and grappling lines) were seized. The mother ship was destroyed and sank. FS SOMME then gave chase to the skiff which was apprehended with a further 4 pirates on board. The skiff and the six pirates to now being held on board FS SOMME. Note: FS SOMME was also attacked by pirates on 7 October 2009. The ships company then intercepted 5 pirates and their skiff. EU NAVFOR Somalia -- Operation ATALANTAs main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the 'World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of 'African Union Mission for Somalia AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EUNAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia. | |
Posted by:tu3031 |