Press Releases

In the afternoon of 1 January, the MV BLIDA was pirated approximately 150 nautical miles South East of the port of Salalah, Oman.

The Mozambican flagged Fishing Vessel VEGA 5, which was previously reported missing by her owner, is now confirmed as being pirated in the waters between Mozambique and Madagascar.

During the morning of 25 December, the Taiwanese owned fishing vessel FV Shiuh Fu No 1 reported being under pirate attack, approximately 120 nautical miles off the North-East tip of the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

At 1330Z on 28 December 2010, the MV MARIDA MARGUERITE was released from pirate control.

In the early hours of 27 December, the MV EMS RIVER was pirated approximately 175 nautical miles North East of the port of Salalah, Oman.

At midday on 20 December, the MV ORNA was pirated in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 nautical miles North East of the Seychelles.

 In the early morning of 17 December, the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) joined forces with EUNAVFOR to evacuate a crew member from the MV Hannibal II after reports were received that he had a possible appendicitis.

At a ceremony in Djibouti on board the EUNAVFOR French warship, FGS DE GRASSE, Rear Admiral (FR) Philippe Coindreau, who has been the Force Commander of EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA for the last four months, handed over to Rear Admiral Juan Rodriguez of Spain.

In the early hours of 11 December, the MV RENUAR was pirated in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1050 nautical miles east of the Somali coastal village of Eyl and a distance of 550 nautical miles from the coast of India.

On 11 December 2010, the Liberian-flagged MV ELENI P was released from pirate control.

On the afternoon of 10 December, the MV PANAMA was pirated by 2 armed skiffs with a total of 5 pirates on board.  A Rocket Propelled Grenade was used during the attack which occurred approximately 80 nautical miles east of the Tanzanian/Mozambique border.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne commended the efforts of all those involved in helping to combat piracy in Seychelles during visits made yesterday to meet representatives from EU NAVFOR and the Seychelles Coastguard.