The French military vessel prevented a Somali pirate attack on the Croatian tanker Donat in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, announced the Élysée Palace, adding that an attack on a Panamanian cargo ship was also thwarted, and 19 Somalis were arrested.
The office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy stated that the French Navy frigate Jean de Vienne carried out a "decisive action" against two new pirate attacks. Somali pirates attempted to hijack the Croatian tanker Donat and the Panamanian cargo ship Vulturnus, and nineteen pirates were arrested during the operation, confirmed the French Ministry of Defense in Paris.
"Nineteen Somali pirates who attempted to seize two cargo ships have been arrested. The pirates were armed with weapons, ammunition, and other equipment. They will be handed over to Somali authorities," stated the office of the French President. According to the Ministry of Defense, assault rifles, two rocket launchers, two rockets, and more than 1,000 liters of fuel were seized.
The French frigate had previously prevented a similar attack in the Gulf of Aden on another cargo ship three days ago.
The French frigate had previously prevented a similar attack in the Gulf of Aden on another Panamanian cargo ship three days ago. The office stated that Sarkozy congratulated the crew of the frigate Jean de Vienne.
"He also expressed satisfaction with the first tangible success recorded in the fight against piracy and wished for strengthened international cooperation to eradicate this scourge in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast," the statement added.
The tanker Donat has a capacity of 166,000 tons, is 281 meters long, and has a crew of 26 members. Donat sails under the Croatian flag and is owned by the Zadar Tankers Shipping Company. (Hina)
