Four suspected pirates were apprehended and 20 hostages released
The Royal Navy has captured a pirate mothership involved in attacks on merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean. The dhow was spotted 200 miles off the coast and was surrounded by a Royal Navy and Royal Marine boarding team from RFA Fort Victoria, supported by helicopters from HMS Somerset. Captain Rod Yapp Royal Marines, the commander of the boarding team, said: “Approaching the dhow before boarding was quite tense.
Through my weapon sight I could see dark figures moving in the shadows on the bridge. We quickly boarded and secured the dhow then mustered the 24 occupants on her bow.” In the run up to being boarded, the suspect pirates were observed by Somerset’s Merlin helicopter ditching equipment and weapons overboard as well as setting one of their skiffs adrift.
Despite their desperate attempts to cover their tracks, a large cache of boarding ladders, weapons, a second attack skiff and equipment from a previously pirated ship were found onboard. Captain Yapp said: “There was a clear indication that the suspected pirates found on the dhow were well-practised and knew what they were doing. One of the weapons had recently been fired and was well maintained — as was the RPG rocket. “I think that if we hadn’t disrupted this group of suspected pirates, it is quite possible that they would have attacked another merchant vessel.” Four suspected pirates were apprehended and 20 hostages released.