Pirates in the Gulf of Aden made six attempts to hijack merchant ships during this week, but all the attacks were successfully repelled, maritime shipping agencies have reported.
The European Union’s Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa attributed the “marked increase in pirate activity” in the region to improved weather conditions. It said both quick action by ships’ crews and the intervention by EU and United States naval forces had thwarted the pirates.
The EU reported four attempts at piracy over a 24-hour period, and the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre said there had been a total of six incidents.
In other news releases, the U.S. Navy reported that its guided missile cruiser, the USS Vella Gulf, had intercepted and seized nine suspected pirates on Thursday and seven on Wednesday after receiving distress calls from ships.
In Thursday’s incident, the Indian Motor Vessel Premdivya reported that it had been fired upon from men in a small skiff, and suspected pirates were attempting to board.
Teams from the Vella Gulf and the guided missile destroyer USS Mahan boarded the skiff and found weapons after a helicopter dispatched from the Vella Gulf fired warning shots to force the suspected pirates to stop.
On Wednesday, the navy said, the MV Polaris, sailing under a Marshall Island flag, sent a distress call saying that seven men on a skiff had tried to force their way on board using a ladder. The Vella Gulf intercepted the skiff, found weapons and seized the suspects.
Reporting another attempt on Wednesday, the International Maritime Bureau said that “five pirates armed with RPG and assault guns in a light blue-coloured boat approached and attempted to board a bulk carrier under way.
“They fired towards the accommodation. The master increased speed, took evasive manoeuvres and crew activated fire hoses. Pirates aborted the attempt. A Russian warship has been in contact with the ship.”
The EU force said a Chinese fishing vessel, Tianyu No. 8, was freed last Sunday after being held by pirates for nearly three months. It was escorted to safety by Chinese warships. “This brings the total number of hijacked vessels down to six,” the EU said.
