In the early hours of 26 September, EU NAVFOR French ship FS DE GRASSE located a whaler fitted with makeshift rigging and without a working engine, off the south-east Somali coasts.
FS DE GRASSE’s boarding team was immediately launched to approach this boat. Four persons were found on board. The boat had been drifting for several days and after investigation, the engine was found to be irreparable and the makeshift sail was an insufficient means for the boat to reach the shore safely.
The four persons from the drifting whaler were taken on board the warship. Subsequently, the ship’s helicopter, while on a scheduled reconnaissance mission, reported sighting a second whaler, which proved to be a fishing boat. These fishermen accepted to embark the four people from the broken-down whaler in order to take them to shore. As the whaler would prove to be a hazard at sea, it was destroyed.
FS DE GRASSE’s boarding team was immediately launched to approach this boat. Four persons were found on board. The boat had been drifting for several days and after investigation, the engine was found to be irreparable and the makeshift sail was an insufficient means for the boat to reach the shore safely.
The four persons from the drifting whaler were taken on board the warship. Subsequently, the ship’s helicopter, while on a scheduled reconnaissance mission, reported sighting a second whaler, which proved to be a fishing boat. These fishermen accepted to embark the four people from the broken-down whaler in order to take them to shore. As the whaler would prove to be a hazard at sea, it was destroyed.