A crew member reported injured
Yesterday, at 10:10am LT, the hijacked Libyan owned merchant vessel RIM reported that its crew had successfully retaken control of the ship, but that one of the crew members was seriously injured during the incident.EU NAVFOR press release said. The incident took place south east of Garacad, off Somalias northern coastline. The closest EU NAVFOR warship, the SPS VICTORIA, was immediately tasked by the Force Commander Jan Thornqvist, to meet up with MV RIM in order give medical assistance. SPS VICTORIA launched her helicopter immediately.
Confusing reports that the ship had been pirated again came prior to the helicopter reaching the scene of the incident. It was quickly established that the crew were in control of the vessel. There were however, pirates in the vicinity who were attempting to impede the EU NAVFOR operation by utilizing another hijacked vessel the MV VOC DAISY. When SPS VICTORIAs helicopter approached the MV VOC DAISY she changed her course no warning shots were fired.
It is believed that some of the pirates were killed during the incident, the ship is now under the control of the crew.
EU NAVFOR is monitoring the situation and more information will be released as it becomes available.
Source: EUNAVFOR