MV Suez prated in the Gulf of Aden  

3 August 2010

At approximately 0415 GMT, the container ship MV Suez reported that they were under attack by one white skiff (small boat) and shots had been fired at the motor vessel to force it to stop.  The ship was reportedly employing Best Management Practices, having barbed wire in place and fire hoses ready.

Two NATO warships, HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën and USS Cole, from the NATO counter piracy task force undertaking Operation OCEAN SHIELD, and a Singaporean warship the RSS Endurance from the CMF taskforce were within forty miles of MV Suez at the time of the attack.  Despite reacting immediately and having a helicopter on the scene within 10 minutes, naval forces were unable to prevent the attack as the pirates had been able to board the ship within 5 minutes.

This incident highlights that the IRTC is still an area where piracy occurs and that the presence of warships and the employment of Best Management Practices are not guarantees of immunity. 

NATO Maritime Command Northwood’s Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Hank Ort commented that, “It is imperative that vessels continue to employ anti-piracy measures, maintain an effective lookout and react robustly, in order to resist pirate attacks for long enough to allow naval forces to reach the scene and intervene before the pirates are onboard.”

MV Suez, a Panamanian-flagged ship with a crew of 24, was travelling eastbound though the Gulf of Aden towards the Suez Canal.

back to news