Danish Forces Free Ship Captured by Pirates--first time warship intervened during hijacking

[steven johnson]

Source: Associated Press

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 5, 2010
Filed at 10:08 a.m. ET

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Danish special forces stormed a ship captured by armed Somali pirates Friday and freed the 25 crew on board, marking the first time a warship has intervened during a hijacking, naval spokesmen said.

After the vessel Ariella sent out a distress signal early Friday, the Danish warship Absalon sent a helicopter to confirm the presence of pirates, and communicated with the crew to ensure they were in a safe location, said Cmdr. John Harbour, spokesman for the European Union Naval Force.

''Once NATO were absolutely sure that the crew onboard were safe and not going to be caught up in any cross fire, the decision was made to send in the specialist teams,'' said Lt. Col. Wolfgang Schmidt, a spokesman for NATO's Lisbon-based Joint Command.

Ten Danish special forces aboard the Absalon approached the Ariella in an inflatable dinghy, he said. The forces scaled the side of the ship and freed the 25 crew, who had locked themselves in a secure room, and continued to search the vessel for the pirates.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/05/world/AP-Piracy.html?ref=news

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It looks like NATO is now becoming more aggressive in hijackings.

[Demoiselle]

1. Didn't US Navy snipers take out Somali pirates last year?

Weren't they firing from the deck of an American warship?
I'm confused.
Why is this the "first time?"

[maddezmom]

2. I was confused as well. Here is an article from 4/09

The three Somali pirates thought the American warship was doing them a favour when it offered to tow the drifting lifeboat in which they were holding captain Richard Phillips after it ran out of fuel.

The USS Bainbridge fed out a 200-foot line but as the seas grew more choppy the American sailors hauled the rope in and brought the lifeboat much closer. Sitting in the wake of the US warship's broad beam riding on the tiny craft would have been a lot less rough.

But it also brought pirates within range of three snipers perched on the Bainbridge's stern and made the Somalis more stable targets. When the order came, it took just one shot each from the three sharpshooters to end the five-day stand off and rescue Phillips after he was seized from an American-registered container ship, the Maersk Alabama.

Vice admiral William Gortney, commander of the US fifth fleet, told reporters that US navy special forces were dropped by parachute in to the sea at night close to the Bainbridge and brought on board under cover of dark after President Obama authorised the use of force to free Phillips if his life was in danger.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/13/us-navy-maersk-alabama-bainbridge

Maybe the distiction is they stormed the ship not reeled them in. :)

[Demoiselle]

3. Interesting distinction! Thanks for digging that up.

[KeepItReal]

4. Sounds like the Associated "Press" showing right wing bias again

Yes, the U.S. Navy did intervene in the Maersk Alabama pirate hijack. It was after the crew took back the ship, though. The SEALs freed the Captain.

[ingac70]

5. That hijacking was thwarted by the crew. n/t