Last modified Wed., February 18, 2009 - 05:24 PM
Originally created Thursday, February 19, 2009

'Turkeys' Catch 2, Save 1

Suspected Pirates Apprehended In Gulf Of Aden

By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service

GULF OF ADEN (Feb. 12, 2009) Visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team members from the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) close in on rigid-hulled inflatable boats to apprehend suspected pirates. Nine suspected pirates were apprehended and brought aboard Vella Gulf. This is the second group of suspected pirates apprehended in a 24-hour period by Vella Gulf; there are currently 16 suspected pirates apprehended. Vella Gulf is the flagship for Combined Task Force 151, a multi-national task force conducting counterpiracy operations to detect and deter piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky/Released)

American forces operating in the Gulf of Aden have foiled another instance of piracy and captured nine suspects, Defense Department officials said Feb. 12.

The Navy's USS Vella Gulf, with embarked HSL-42 Detachment One "Jive Turkeys," added to its haul of pirates after foiling an attack on the Marshall Islands-registered motor vessel Polaris on Feb. 11, when the crew of the guided-missile cruiser captured seven pirates.

Polaris sent a distress call to all ships in the area reporting that a small skiff containing seven suspected pirates had attempted a forcible boarding of their vessel using a ladder. Polaris crewmembers removed the ladder before pirates could come aboard.

Vella Gulf closed immediately with the M/V Polaris and intercepted a skiff matching the description given by the motor vessel. The skiff contained individuals fitting the physical descriptions given by Polaris crewmembers.

A Vella Gulf visit, board, search and seizure team conducted a consensual boarding and found several weapons. M/V Polaris rendezvoused with Vella Gulf and provided positive visual identification of the suspected pirates. The suspected pirates were brought on board Vella Gulf, where they were processed and are being held until they transfer to a temporary holding facility on board the supply ship USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1).

These event mark the first and second time CTF-151 has apprehended suspected pirates.

Vella Gulf is the flagship of Task Force 151, which has been operating in the region since Jan. 8.

For the second capture, Vella Gulf received a distress call from the motor vessel Premdivya, an Indian-flagged vessel transiting the region, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

The radio message said the ship was under attack by individuals in a small skiff who were attempting to board the vessel. Vella Gulf launched a helicopter attached to Mayport-based HSL-42 Detachment One to the scene.

"When the helicopter arrived, it signaled the skiff to stop immediately," Whitman said. "The skiff did not stop, and so the helicopter fired a warning shot."

The suspects, who are assumed to be Somali, continued to flee. The helicopter crew fired a second warning shot, and the skiff stopped.

"Vella Gulf and a second destroyer - USS Mahan - closed immediately and intercepted the skiff," Whitman said. "They searched it and seized weapons, including a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher."

The boarding parties took the pirates aboard Vella Gulf. They will remain aboard the ship until they are transferred to the supply ship USNS Lewis and Clark. U.S. officials are collecting the necessary evidence and will make a decision regarding further transfers, Whitman said. The United States signed a memorandum with the government of Kenya to prosecute pirates.

"We've not yet had the chance to work out all the details of the implementation," Whitman said.

The spokesman stressed that these men are not prisoners of war and are suspected pirates conducting criminal activity.

"One of the ways we want to stem this type of activity is to ensure there is a cost to being pirates," he said. "We have proceeded with countries in the region to identify ways to bring them to justice."

Anti-piracy American forces in the region are operating under a United Nations Security Council resolution. Countries and organizations around the world are contributing to this effort.