Press
Pirate attack off East Africa. The German freighter “Basilik” was hijacked. An EU warship was able to intervene quickly and free the crew.
Hamburg – Pirates have hijacked a Hamburg freighter off the East African country of Somalia. The incident occurred according to the EU-Naval Operation Atalanta on Thursday evening in the Indian Ocean, about 700 kilometers (380 nautical miles) east of the Somali capital Mogadishu.
Pirates hijack Hamburg freighter off Somalia: EU warship intervenes – crew safe
A warship patrolling nearby rushed to help and freed the multipurpose freighter “Basilisk”, which sails under the Liberian flag. Marines rappelled from a helicopter onto the freighter and an inflatable boat was deployed.
The 17 crew members are safe, said Atalanta’s operations command in Rota, Spain. One crew member was injured in the attack but is in a stable condition.
Pirate attack also hits German cargo ship: Dangerous sea area is strictly monitored
The approximately 160-meter-long cargo ship belongs to the Hamburg-based Minship shipping company. According to Atalanta’s command, it was traveling north at the time of the attack.
Pirate attacks are a frequent occurrence in this sea area. A multinational EU naval mission has been patrolling there since 2008 to secure the important shipping route. In January, for example, India sent a powerful warship to rescue a freighter. Naval Operation Atlanta recommends that shipping companies register their merchant ships in the voluntary registration system “Maritime Home Security”. This offers effective monitoring and enables a rapid response to threats. With special weapons The German frigate “Hamburg” patrols the Red Sea. (moe/dpa)
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