Marina Pina
Updated Friday, March 15, 2024-12:34
Missions A Spanish warship comes to the aid of a Bulgarian cargo ship, victim of a possible pirate attack in Somalia
The
Canarias
frigate closely follows a cargo ship attacked by pirates in the Horn of Africa.
The ship, of the Spanish Navy, is deployed in the Indian Ocean as part of
Operation Atalanta
to combat piracy.
After several years of decline in pirate attacks, in recent months tension has
increased
in the Horn of Africa and has resulted in a greater presence of pirates in the area.
As reported by Eunavfor Atalanta on March 14, a merchant ship
Abdullah
, flying the flag of Bangladesh, was a victim of piracy.
According to reports, it is a merchant ship with the capacity to transport 58,000 tons of grain that covered the route from
Mozambique to Dubai.
According to the information provided, the Canarias Frigate has been in charge of making contact with this ship while the authorities of Operation Atalanta communicated with their counterparts in Bangladesh and Somalia and with their partners in maritime security, to coordinate the actions to follow. .
On board the
Abdullah
there are
23
crew members who have been taken hostage.
Although they are fine, surveillance of their movements continues.
The ship is currently sailing off the coast of Somalia and the frigate Canarias is being used to try to ensure maritime security in that area of the Indian Ocean.
This frigate will be deployed in Atalanta until next June.
This is their fifth participation in this operation, and in 2018 they already participated in the rescue of the
Alakrana
.
Last December, another Spanish frigate, in this case the Victoria, had to track another Bulgarian ship also held by pirates.