Third disruption in three days for new EUNAVFOR French Flag Ship DE GRASSE
Yesterday in the Gulf of Aden, on the evening of 19 August, EU NAVFOR Flag Ship FS DE GRASSE disrupted a suspected pirate skiff, making it the third disruption in three days by the Force Command Ship.
A dhow and a skiff were located by a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft while on patrol over the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).
EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE at the time was sailing approximately 50 nautical miles from the suspect skiff and proceeded at full speed to the position given by the Japanese aircraft. FS DE GRASSE subsequently launched her Lynx helicopter and boarding party to intercept the skiff.
Six suspected pirates were found on board the skiff and all paraphernalia of possibly incriminating evidence had been thrown overboard. On completion of a search of the skiff, the suspect pirates were embarked on FS DE GRASSE where subsequent investigations took place. The suspected pirates on board FS DE GRASSE were released and have been able to sail back to Somalia.
Source: EUNAVFOR