This morning 4 May, a Super Auk 12 helicopter from the Japanese Task Force reported a suspicious skiff with seven persons on board just outside the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) approximately 50 miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen.
The Japanese Task Force was escorting a Convoy through the IRTC when it detected a suspicious skiff and informed the EU NAVFOR Greek warship HS ELLI of its position. HS ELLI closed the skiff which, despite warning shots from ELLI, refused to stop. The skiff conducted evading manoeuvres and tried to flee so ELLI used her main gun which had the effect of stopping the skiff and the persons on board surrendered. During the chase, the skiff’s crew were seen to throw material over board. Personnel from ELLI have now boarded the skiff and after a final investigation, the skiff was released.
This unprecedented cooperation between coalition forces strengthens the anti piracy forces ability to combat piracy.
EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and to protect vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.
The Japanese Task Force was escorting a Convoy through the IRTC when it detected a suspicious skiff and informed the EU NAVFOR Greek warship HS ELLI of its position. HS ELLI closed the skiff which, despite warning shots from ELLI, refused to stop. The skiff conducted evading manoeuvres and tried to flee so ELLI used her main gun which had the effect of stopping the skiff and the persons on board surrendered. During the chase, the skiff’s crew were seen to throw material over board. Personnel from ELLI have now boarded the skiff and after a final investigation, the skiff was released.
This unprecedented cooperation between coalition forces strengthens the anti piracy forces ability to combat piracy.
EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and to protect vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.