SINGAPORE-LED CTF 151 INTERCEPTS PIRATE ATTACK

An attack on a merchant vessel in the Somali Basin on 31 Mar was thwarted when 11 suspected Somali pirates were intercepted by the flagship of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151).

Working together with other maritime organisations, the Singapore-led task force swung into action when the MV Evita, a Sierra Leone flagged tanker, was attacked by three suspected pirate boats - comprising one mother skiff and two smaller skiffs - about 500 km north-west of Seychelles.

Although the pirates attempted to force the tanker to a stop by firing rifles and aiming rocket-propelled grenades, the MV Evita conducted evasive measures by increasing its speed and firing warning flares at the pirates.

After Captain (CAPT) Norberto Grubat, the Master of MV Evita, informed the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) and the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) about the attack, coalition forces in the vicinity were immediately alerted and promptly responded to the distress call.

A Swedish Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPRA) from the European Union Naval Force Somalia was the first to arrive on the scene, and managed to ascertain the safety of the MV Evita and establish more details about the attack. After locating the suspected pirate skiffs in the area, the MPRA relayed their coordinates to the CTF 151 flagship, the USS Farragut, which then quickly dispatched an SH-60B Seahawk helicopter to monitor the suspected pirates while a boarding team intercepted the skiffs.

The suspected pirates were earlier spotted throwing various items such as ladders overboard when they saw the coalition forces approaching - a common practice used to prevent the seizure of incriminating tools that can be used as evidence in court.

Fuel drums and grappling hooks were also found on board the mother skiff by the boarding team from the USS Farragut. After disarming the suspected pirates and ensuring that they had no means to conduct any further attacks, all 11 were released on the two smaller skiffs while the mother skiff was destroyed and sunk.

Close cooperation and swift responses from all parties - from MV Evita to the IMB and UKMTO, as well as coalition forces like the USS Farragut and the EU NAVFOR Swedish MPRA - were vital in the success of the disruption operation, noted CTF 151 commander, Rear-Admiral (RADM) Bernard Miranda from the Republic of Singapore Navy.

He said: "The pirates have been getting bolder recently and have been attacking ships further away from the Somali shores. This makes it even more important for all stakeholders to play their role and work closely together to deal with the piracy problem. What we witnessed today is a good example of how this can be achieved."

Expressing his gratitude to the coalition forces and the maritime organisations for the help rendered, CAPT Grubat said: "I would definitely give you a call for help in future emergencies. Thank you very much for your help."

A multinational task force formed last year to curb the rising levels of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin, CTF 151 recently came under the command of RADM Miranda and his team from the Singapore Armed Forces, in January this year.

The task force oversees an area of about 1.1 million square miles, and operates as part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which conducts integrated and coordinated operations to maintain and promote maritime security in the region.

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