The European Navy says it has captured Somali pirates who unsuccessfully tried to hijack a Spanish fishing vessel.
Two days ago the Spanish vessel was attacked by pirates in two attack skiffs 175 nautical miles east of Victoria, Seychelles. Her embarked security team fired warning shots after which the pirates broke of their attack.
Following the attack Luxembourg EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, operating from the Seychelles, detected a complete pirate attack group with one mother skiff and two attack skiffs.
Navy ships were directed to this position to intercept the pirates, and the Seychelles Coastguard closest to the position boarded and secured the mother skiff and one attack skiff. A total of 4 suspected pirates were detained.
The third skiff initially escaped the arrest but NRP Alvares Cabral successfully intercepted this skiff several hours later. The six suspected pirates on board were handed over to the Seychelles Coast Guard.
Meanwhile a Greek Crude Oil Tanker, the M/V Maran Centaurus, which was hijacked in the Somali Bassin, 600 nautical miles North East of the Seychelles, remains under pirate control.
Maran Centaurus has a deadweight of 300,294 tonnes and a crew of 28, among them 9 Greek, 16 Filipinos, 2 Ukrainian and 1 Romanian. The vessel was heading for New Orleans from Jiddah but had altered course West towards Harardheere or Hobyo.
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