Italy’s Defense Minster is reporting that Italian Special Forces and the Coast Guard have regained control of a ro-ro, the Galata Seaways operated by DFDS Seaways, after reports that the crew had discovered stowaways.
As explained, they possibly attempted to commandeer the ship.
Luckily, the 22-member crew is reported to be safe while the operation to search the vessel continued.
The ship’s hijackers have been captured. Everything ended well. My congratulations to the guys from the San Marco Battalion, the policemen and the financiers, who concluded a splendid operation in collaboration. Everyone for his part. Well done!
…Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto wrote on Twitter.
Details on the situation are confused with different scenarios in the media as well as differing reports from the Italian Defense Ministry and the Turkish Transport Ministry.
As informed, the Galata Seaways (15,121 dwt) departed Yalova, Turkey on 7th June bound for Sete, France where it was scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning, June 10. The vessel, which is 732 feet in length, is registered in Turkey.
Different reports indicate that the crew of the vessel spotted between 15 and 20 stowaways on security cameras and began a lockdown on the vessel. At least four or five of the stowaways were believed to be carrying knives. Some reports said the crew was able to lock themselves into the engine room and other secure locations, while some are saying that once discovered, the stowaways threatened the crew and attempted to take control of the vessel.
The Italian Ministry said a search of the vessel is ongoing at this time.
