NATO avert Torm tanker hijack attempt
A Danish tanker was approached by suspected pirates near the Oman coast, but the possible attackers left after the crew assembled in the ship’s citadel and a NATO warship headed toward the ship, NATO’s Allied Command Operations reports, Ship & Bunker reports.
The MV Torm Kristina was sailing to Muscat, Oman for a logistical port visit and was approached by two skiffs believed to be pirate boats.
The crew assembled in the citadel and sent a mayday message, which was passed on to NATO counter piracy task force commander Rear Admiral Antonio Natale, who called on the warship HDMS Iver Huitfeldt to assist the ship.
The warship arrived three hours later and found the pirates had left the ship, possibly after seeing the warship approaching.
A NATO boarding party searched the ship and, after establishing there were no pirates aboard, freed the crew from the citadel.
"Despite the winter monsoon which generates bad sea states, this incident demonstrates the pirates are still active and able to operate far away from Somalia, but we are watching them and when Best Management Practices such as citadels are in effect on merchant vessels, we are able to react quickly and deter pirate actions,” said Vice Admiral Christian Canova, deputy commander at Allied Maritime Command.
"Once again, NATO warships have proved their ability to react quickly and to use their speed and capabilities to deter and disrupt piracy and to free innocent merchant sailors.
“This incident shows that we cannot be complacent.”
The International Chamber of Commerce Commercial Crime Services found that in 2011, 968 members of ships’ crews faced armed pirates boarding their vessels, and 413 of them took refuge in citadels and were eventually rescued by naval forces.