MV BELUGA NOMINATION Pirated In the Indian Ocean

EU NAVFOR reports that after four days without contact, the Antiguan and Barbudan flagged MV BELUGA NOMINATION, is now believed to have been pirated.

The ships crew reported that on the afternoon of January 22, a skiff carrying pirates attacked the vessel, approximately 390 nautical miles north of the Seychelles.

The German owned cargo vessel was en route to Port Victoria in the Seychelles at the time of the attack. The condition of the 12 member crew (Polish, Filipino, Russian, and Ukranian) is unknown at this time, as the ships owner, Dutch Neele Shipping Gmbh , has had no contact with the crew since Saturday.

The vessel’s operator says the crew took shelter in a citadel, however the pirates eventually broke their way in.

In a statement released Wednesday, EU NAVFOR reminded ship owners/operator that the “use of a citadel by crew members does not guarantee a military response. Detailed guidance on the utilization of citadels can be obtained from the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) MSC(HOA). “

EU NAVFOR also said they would continue to monitor the situation and assist in the safe rescue of the crew and vessel.
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EUNAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EUNAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EUNAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.