Montecristo: Royal marines to the rescue

They boarded the 56,000-ton bulk carrier Montecristo and disarmed the pirates without encountering any opposition. USS De Wert was the first NATO warship to reach MV Montecristo and assessed the situation while the NATO boarding team was getting ready to intervene. British Marines, armed with pistols and SA-80 automatic rifles and operating from a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, the RFA Fort Victoria, sped towards the hijacked ship in inflatable boats as a British helicopter buzzed overhead.

“It was a compliant boarding — the 11 pirates surrendered without firing a shot,” said a Ministry of Defence spokesman. “They were arrested and detained on board the ship.” The ship’s 23 crew – seven Italians, six Ukrainians and 10 Indians — were released unharmed.

Four of the Italians were privately-contracted security guards, but in line with international practise they were unarmed and had been powerless to fend off the pirates.

Montecristo:Japanese escort backed off

D’Alesio officials explain that when the Montecristo came under attack, it was being escorted by a Japanese navy vessel. The pirates pounced when the Italian ship reached the Indian Ocean and the Japanese vessel moved off. The Montecristo had sailed from Liverpool and was taking a cargo of iron to Vietnam. The vessel’s captain is Venice-born Diego Scussat. Two of the other Italians on board are the deck officer, Stefano Mariotti, and officer cadet Luca Giglioli, the son of a D’Alesio Group employee.

Following the passage of Japan’s Law on Punishment and Measures against Acts of Piracy on July 24, 2009, its Self-Defense Force started vessel-escorting operations in the Gulf of Aden not only for Japanese vessels but also for all foreign vessels.”

“The legislation enables units of Japan’s Self-Defense Force (including P-3C patrol aircraft) to protect vessels from acts of piracy, complimenting other efforts made globally to ensure safe passage for ships off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden,”
Japanese MSDF anti-piracy
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MONTECRISTO:Antonio D’Alesio bulker hijacked

Somali pirates on Monday hijacked an Antonio D’Alesio bulker, who with his brother Nello has been at the helm of the D’Alesio Group for over forty years.
9325025 MONTECRISTO 9HA2348 Bulker 180263 2005
Bulk carrier with transom stern, strengthened double bottom. Five cargo holds. Five pairs of water ballast tanks.
Builder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd – South Corea
Delivery June 2011
Pirates hijacked the Italian-flagged Montecristo, some 620 nautical miles (1,148 kilometers) from the Somali coast.

. "The Vessel was hijacked on Oct. 10 in Gulf of Aden or further to the east at about 0700, no communications after that. Crew are 23, 7 Italians, 10 Ukrainians, 6 Indians," Dalmare said in a statement posted on the firm's website.

Montecristo was on heading to Vietnam which it came under attack approximately 450 nautical miles Northwest of Socotra, Yemen.