The European Union Naval Force confirmed the capture of the Saudi
tanker, which operated outside the route patrolled by Western warships. EU
officials said the 5,136-ton Saudi ship had been empty during the piracy.
"The ship was heading to Jedda and has a crew of 14," the EU force said.
The master of the ship is Greek and the nationality of the rest of the crew
has not been confirmed. They are all believed to be well. The ship was
outside the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor and was not
registered on MSCHOA. The vessel is now in the vicinity of Garacad, a well
know pirate stronghold."
In 2009, Saudi Arabia joined a Western-led anti-piracy task force that
has been operating in the Arabian Sea and Red Sea. The Royal Saudi Navy has
reported foiling at least one piracy attempt in the Gulf of Aden.
So far, Somali pirates have been holding six ships and 132 sailors. The
pirates have requested millions of dollars in ransom for the release of the
vessels.
Officials said Somali pirates have expanded operations over the last
year. They said the pirates were expected to intensify attacks on merchant
shipping over the next three months as the seas turn calm.
Hours after the reported capture of the Saudi warship, the Western task
force disrupted another Somali piracy attempt. NATO said a Danish Navy
warship attacked and sank a Somali pirate command vessel in the Indian
Ocean. The Western alliance said the pirate vessel had been coordinating
attacks on merchant ships.
"This was a very well executed operation," Cmdr. Christian Rune,
commander of NATO's anti-piracy mission, said.
