Attempted Hijacking of Indian Vessel M.T JAG LAYAK

January 17, 2010, published by EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office

On the early morning of 16 January 2010 pirates attacked the Indian vessel M/T JAG LAYAK in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

The Turkish Frigate TCG Gokova, from NATO Task Force 151, intervened and its helicopter intercepted the skiff pirate boat that had opened fire on Indian crude oil carrier M.T JAG LAYAK, in a hijacking attempt, 105 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia in the IRTC. The pirates concerned have been arrested. None of the JAG LAYKAK crew members were injured during the attack. EU NAVFOR Spanish Warship ESPS NAVARRA was in the area and, although EU NAVFOR monitored the situation closely, they did not have to intervene.

EU NAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

European Union Naval Force Somalia