From Garoweonline.com
Somalia: MV Syria Star Hijacked in Gulf of Aden
By
Aug 5, 2010 - 2:31:26 PM
During the afternoon of 5 Aug 2010, the MV SYRIA STAR reported that she was under attack from pirates who had climbed onboard and fired shots at the crew. Helicopters were immediately dispatched to the vessel and tried to establish communications with the SYRIA STAR, which had stopped in the water. They found an abandoned skiff nearby, containing fuel and ammunition. When warships arrived on the scene shortly after, the SYRIA STAR had reversed course and was heading South East back towards the Horn of Africa under the control of the pirates, who refused to respond to radio contact.
The SYRIA STAR was sailing west in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden with a cargo of sugar. The SYRIA STAR, deadweight 18, 838 tonnes, is flagged to St Vincent and the Grenadines and has a predominantly Syrian crew, with 22 Syrians and 2 Egyptians.
EU NAVFOR Somalia
EU NAVFOR Somalia - Operation ATALANTA's main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the 'World Food Program' (WFP) and vessels of 'African Union Mission in Somalia' (AMISOM), and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.
For any further questions, do not hesitate to get in contact with us.
Best regards,
European Union Naval Force Somalia
Operation Atalanta Public Affairs Office
Tel: +44 (0) 1923 9 58611
Mob: +44 (0) 7762 7 84746
Fax: +44 (0) 1923 9 58608
For official comments on the above please contact EU NAVFOR Spokesperson:
Lt. Col Per Klingvall
Tel: +44 (0) 1923 958693 Mob: +44 (0) 7540 417378
Internet: http://www.eunavfor.eu
E-Mail: media@eunavfor.eu
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