Private security fights off pirate attack on Spanish trawler

Private security fights off pirate attack on Spanish trawler
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By m.p. - Nov 29, 2009 - 6:35 PM
The Ortube Berria came under fire from smalls arms and a rocket launcher in the Indian Ocean on Sunday

The Defence Ministry has confirmed that private guards on board a Spanish trawler fishing in the Indian Ocean repelled an attack by pirates early on Sunday, when the Ortube Berria was shot at from pirate skiffs when it was 230 miles south west of the Seychelles.

It’s understood the vessel came under fire from small arms and a rocket-propelled grenade shortly after 5.30 am and was chased by the skiffs for around 30 minutes before the Ortube Berria’s security guards managed to fight off the assault with returning fire. The Ministry said in a statement that none of the trawler’s crew were hurt nor was there any damage caused to the ship.

The commander of the EU’s Atlanta anti-piracy operation is understood to have then ordered the Portuguese frigate, the Álvarez Cabral, to the area where the attack took place, in place of the Spanish frigate, the Canarias, which the Ministry said was 600 miles to the north east of the site.

This latest attempted hijacking came less than two weeks after the Basque trawler, the Alakrana, and its 36-man crew were released after 47 days held in captivity by Somali pirates.

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