ESPS 'Canarias' assists and hauls a Yemeni dhow to Somalia's territorial waters

• EUNAVFOR Atalanta has among its tasks the protection of vulnerable maritime traffic

Spanish frigate 'Canarias', deployed in the European Union mission EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, has hauled to the Somali port of Bossaso the dhow HUSSAM 3, which had been experiencing thruster issues for two days.

Frigate 'Canarias' detected a dhow jelbut contact type and conducted an approach to the boat on March 24th. Upon arriving in the vicinity of the boat, it was noticed that distress signals were being made from the boat with cloths and flags calling for help.

The approach began with a FFBA (friendly from the boat approach) gathering information about the situation, collecting data on both the crew and the mechanical failure that prevented the dhow from reaching its destination. The dhow had no radio communication because there was no telephone or VHF service, so making contact with the Spanish frigate was vital for its rescue.

After reporting this incident to the Operation's Command, the vessel was hauled to the Somali port of Bossaso.

On 25 March, in the vicinity of the port, the dhow was transferred to the Somali maritime police after prior coordination and telephone authorisation, ending the assistance work of frigate 'Canarias'.

The Yemeni-flagged but Somali-owned vessel had five people on board and had left Bossaso on the night of 23 March when it suffered a mechanical breakdown that left it without steering until the arrival of the Spanish frigate.