DFA: Attack on ship with 29 Pinoy seafarers foiled

Somali pirates tried but failed to seize a Norwegian-flagged ship with 29 Filipino seafarers, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday. The DFA said the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) foiled the attack on the chemical tanker MT Bow Saga early morning of August 3. "None of the crew was injured. The ship only suffered superficial damages and was able to continue its journey after the attack," the DFA said on its website. It cited a letter from manning agency ODFJELL Philippines Inc. to the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, stating that the incident occurred while the tanker was heading westward in the International Recommended Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden. Pirates launched an attack using a skiff with seven people and fired shots. "The vessel adopted security measures and conducted various counter-actions, including evasive maneuvering and water deployment to prevent boarding," the DFA said. The ship's captain sent out a distress call and an EU NAVFOR unit close by responded. "The EU NAVFOR ordered the closest warship, Spanish frigate SPS Victoria, to react to the incident. The frigate's helicopter was already airborne and was able to intervene 10 minutes after the call," the DFA said. While the pirates stopped the attack and tried to flee, the SPS Victoria gave chase and had the skiff stop after firing warning shots. The skiff was then searched by a boarding team from the frigate and weapons were found.—JMA/JV, GMANews.TV