Reported as
Iran saves ship from Somali pirates:
An Iranian naval vessel patrolling the volatile waters of the Gulf of Aden has managed to save a container ship from the clutches of Somali pirates.
The 'Atlantic' containership was ambushed by more than 20 pirate boats while it was carrying a heavy load of minerals from Singapore to the Suez Canal.
As the pirates were attempting to board the containership, they were immediately confronted by an Iranian naval vessel, which was patrolling the area nearby.
The pirates, after engaging in a pitched battle with the Iranian naval vessel, fled to the shores of Oman, read a statement released by the Iranian navy on Sunday,
"20 pirate boats", right... That'll be a first. Probably one whaler and a number (no more than 4-6 skiffs). If there was such an 'armada' then both TF-151 and EUNAVFOR/MPA would've gotting in to it.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested to know what kind of Iranian ship was involved.
Cheers.
Marcase,
ReplyDeleteNo, I've heard of 15 or 20 boat swarms of 'pirates' approaching merchant vessels and cruise ships. Usually, this has been later re-interpreted as having been a cluster of fishing boats. Yet, there was a similar report of the Iranian Navy having such an encounter several weeks ago. I think it was via PressTV that they reported getting into a gunfight with a fleet of '20 pirate boats'. This sort of thing may have happened several times, but perhaps only once or twice was it real. Or, at least as real as you can believe what is stated in the state-controlled Iranian press.
D.E., indeed, many ships often approach merchants near certain chokepoints in the Gulf of Oman, with most of them acting as scouts and posing as fishing boats as you said. But it's new if *all* of those boats are involved in a (semi-)coordinated attack.
ReplyDeleteThis story is obviously bogus. It has clear mistakes of fact and lacks details one would expect to see, such as the warship's name.
ReplyDeleteFACTS
1) Container ships are never used to carry "minerals."
2) The Somali pirates never use 20 boats - 3 or 4 is the max.
3) Pirates run - they never fight.
4) The shores of Oman! - Yeah right - ISTR that Iran reportedly has some troops ashore in Oman - are they trying to justify it?
No news agency other than Iranian ones is reporting about this, so far. We can make out of that what we can, may, wish...
ReplyDeleteIranian Navy rescues ship from pirate attack
Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN - The Iranian Navy has thwarted an attempt by Somali pirates to hijack a foreign cargo ship.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=218730
Fars News Agency: Somali Pirates' Attack Repelled by Iranian Navy
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Navy's fleet of warships dispatched to the Gulf of Aden repelled attempted hijack of a foreign vessel by the Somali pirates, the Iranian Navy announced on Sunday.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8902121537