The frigate F-86 ‘Canarias’ takes action again in an attempted kidnapping of a merchant ship

• The ‘Canarias’, under national operational control of the Operations Command, intercepts a new pirate attack in the Indian Ocean.

On the night of 23 May, during its patrol in the Indian Ocean, the frigate ‘Canarias’, integrated in the European Union's Operation Atalanta, was alerted to a new pirate attack. This time, the attack was against the Liberian-flagged merchant ship MV ‘Basilisk’, which reported its kidnapping 400 miles east of Mogadishu, Somalia. The Spanish frigate was 300 nautical miles away from the position of the incident. The only information initially received stated that, although the crew of the merchant ship was safe in the ‘citadel’ (the ship's panic room), the pirates had managed to take over the rest of the ship.

Despite the bad weather conditions, with a wave height of 3 metres, the Spanish frigate went at maximum speed to try to intercept the merchant ship, which was still reporting its position. With this information it was found that the merchant ship was adrift and without steering.

First, the frigate airdropped its SH60-F helicopter, from the 5th Aircraft Squadron, on board for the mission. Upon arrival at the incident position, the helicopter made radio warnings, followed by warning shots to deter the pirates, but none of these warnings obtained any response

After completing the first phase of warnings with the helicopter, the frigate reached the position of the merchant ship, this time monitored from above by ‘Sombra’, the drone of the eleventh aircraft squadron, which also failed to detect suspicious movements on board or in the vicinity of the merchant ship.

Finally, in order to free the kidnapped crew, the Special Naval Warfare Force team from the ‘Canarias’ boarded the merchant ship by fast-rope from the helicopter. Once on board, the team found that the pirates had abandoned the merchant ship and freed the crew, who were still locked in the citadel.

After checking the health of the crew members, the frigate ‘Canarias’ ensured the resumption of the transit of the ‘Basilisk’ to its port of destination.

Participation in Operation Atalanta is part of Spain's firm commitment to the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy, in terms of providing a comprehensive European Union response to the phenomenon of piracy, while contributing to international stability and security. For the ‘Canarias’ this is its fifth Atalanta operation and it will remain integrated in EUNAVFOR until next June. In 2009, the ‘Canarias’ participated in the rescue of the Basque tuna boat ‘Alakrana’, also within the framework of the Atalanta operation.

The frigate ‘Canarias’ belongs to the 41st Escort Squadron, and is the most modern of the six frigates of the Santa María class. These frigates are based in Rota (Cádiz) and, despite their age, are still fully operational and maintain a continuous presence in Operation Atalanta. They are planned to be gradually replaced by the future F-110 frigates, currently under construction.