On 2 January, 2010 the Pakistan flagged fishing vessel named SHAHBAIG with a crew of 29, all from Pakistan, was released approximately 900 nautical miles north of the Seychelles. The vessel was hijacked in the Indian Ocean, 320 nautical miles east of Socotra, on 5 December.
The SHAHBAIG which had been operating as a mother ship was involved in the hijacking of the MV ASIAN GLORY. After the hijacking, the SHAHBAIG was abandoned and subsequently intercepted by EU NAVFOR warship FS SURCOUF.
The SHABAIG was boarded by crew from FS SURCOUF and found all crew members to be in good health except for one member whose leg was broken. The SHABAIG crew was provided with full medical attention, water, food and fuel to continue their journey to Pakistan. The Pakistani authorities were informed. The injured crew member, whose injuries are not life threatening, has received medical attention onboard the EU NAVFOR ship FS SURCOUF and will remain onboard until he can be transferred to a hospital.
The main tasks of EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy wherever possible.
The SHAHBAIG which had been operating as a mother ship was involved in the hijacking of the MV ASIAN GLORY. After the hijacking, the SHAHBAIG was abandoned and subsequently intercepted by EU NAVFOR warship FS SURCOUF.
The SHABAIG was boarded by crew from FS SURCOUF and found all crew members to be in good health except for one member whose leg was broken. The SHABAIG crew was provided with full medical attention, water, food and fuel to continue their journey to Pakistan. The Pakistani authorities were informed. The injured crew member, whose injuries are not life threatening, has received medical attention onboard the EU NAVFOR ship FS SURCOUF and will remain onboard until he can be transferred to a hospital.
The main tasks of EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy wherever possible.