Emergency Update #26

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Event Date: February 26, 2011
Event Type: Attempted Piracy
Vessel Name: MV

Freeboard: 3.9m
Injuries / Fatalities: None

Pirates Action Group: Mother ship and Two Skiffs
Pirates: 4-6 on the skiff

Event Start Location & Time: 12.52N 63.06E 0530 UTC
Vessel Course:
Event End Location & Time: 13.11N 63.06E 0800 UTC
Event Path Length (In NM): 32 Nautical Miles
Event Duration: 2.5 Hours

AdvanFort Team: 122
Team Members: 4
AdvanFort Team Leader: Jaan Vokk

Escalation of Force: Level 2, AdvanFort Team shown their weapons and demonstrated intent to use it.
Rules of Engagement No Violation Reported
Warning Shot: None

AdvanFort HQ: All applicable emergency procedures activated and notifications made to all stakeholders.

Indian Ocean: Multipurpose vessel (MV) was suspiciously approached 26 Feb 2011 at 0530 UTC while underway in position 12.52N – 63.06E, approximately 587 NM south east of Salalah, Oman. 700 NM east of Somalia. 667 miles west of India

One mother ship was sighted 9.3NM on the port side of the vessel, almost on the beam.

Mother ship speed was 7.5N and was increased to 15 knots.

Mother ship reduced speed and deployed two skiffs on the 9.2 miles. The two skiffs chased until 0715UTC then one skiff abandoned and second skiff followed ship until 0740UTC.

The skiff closed to around 2.4 NM and the armed security team on board showed off their weapons. Then pirates abandoned attack.

During attack, the pirates call MV Master on VHF 16 and threatened the vessel master and asked them to hand over the vessel and head toward a Somali port. Vessel Captain warned pirates not to get any closer as they have an armed security team on board.

The skiff stopped and was seen moving towards container ship which is next possible target.

AdvanFort Team 122 activated the emergency response plan, all of the armed security team members on board the vessel.

Use of force escalated to level 2, showing their weapons and demonstrated intent to use it. No violation of Rules of Engagement were reported. Team leader authorized team member warning shots in the air, however none were fired.

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