On April 2nd, Ital Garland, an Italian-flagged container ship came under attack from 2 pirate skiffs firing small arms and RPG some 250 n. m. off the Horn of Africa on route to Mombasa from Salalah, EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office reported.
The 53.240-dwt ltal Garland, 22 crew on board (9 Italian, 1 Ukrainian and 12 Filipino) started maneuvering when a Pirates Action Group approaching was spotted to avoid attack. There were no casualties on board and only limited damage to the ship.
The same morning another a 35654-dwt Liberian-flagged MV Westermoor ship with a crew of 21 (2 German, 2 Russian and 17 Filipino), was attacked approximately 120 n. m. off the Northern tip of Madagascar. The merchant ship was attacked with RPG and avoided continued attack through evasive action and speed. There were no casualties or significant damage to the ship.
In both attacks EU NAVFOR’s Force Commander Admiral Gumiero onboard the Italian warship ETNA ordered Maritime Patrol aircraft to search for the pirate attack groups.
Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.