The Defence Ministry said the attack on a pirate fishing vessel at dawn was launched from the Fort Victoria, on patrol near Somalia and part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, a civilian-manned fleet which provides support for the navy.
The ship, along with a US Navy vessel, intercepted the pirates’ dhow which refused to stop, despite warning shots fired from a helicopter which had taken off from the Fort Victoria.
A team of Royal Marine commandos then boarded the boat, capturing 13 pirates and seizing their weapons.
The Defence Ministry said the attack on a pirate fishing vessel at dawn was launched from the Fort Victoria, on patrol near Somalia and part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, a civilian-manned fleet which provides support for the navy.
The ship, along with a US Navy vessel, intercepted the pirates’ dhow which refused to stop, despite warning shots fired from a helicopter which had taken off from the Fort Victoria.
A team of Royal Marine commandos then boarded the boat, capturing 13 pirates and seizing their weapons.
During a search of the fishing vessel, the marines discovered lifejackets said to be from a recently hijacked cargo ship. Grenades and other explosives were also found on board.
The capture of the pirate fishing vessel was part of Nato’s Operation Ocean Shield, set up to combat the rising levels of piracy in the area.
Captain Gerry Northwood, who led the operation, said the capture would “send a clear message to other Somali pirates that we will not tolerate their attacks on international shipping”.
Earlier last week, the Fort Victoria had foiled an attempt by other Somali pirates to launch attacks on cargo ships in the Indian Ocean, the Defence Ministry added.
In an operation , the Fort Victoria and its helicopter blocked pirates’ attempts to sail a hijacked tanker, Liquid Velvet, from the Somali coast into the Gulf of Aden to use as a mothership to attack passing vessels.
Fort Victoria cut off Liquid Velvet’s progress, forcing it to return to Somalia, the Defence Ministry said.
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