MV ROSALIA DAMATO Pirated in the Indian Ocean

 

The bulk carrier MV Rosalia D’Amato was pirated in the Indian Ocean, approximately 350 nautical miles southeast of Salalah, Oman, on April 21, according to a release by EU NAVFOR.

The Italian flagged and owned vessel was on its way to Bandar Imam Khomeini, Iran from Paranagua, Brazil when a single skiff approached the vessel. Nearby coalition warships, n communication with the ship, were reportedly told: ‘pirates onboard stay away.’

The Italian ship has a crew of 21, comprised of 6 Italians and 15 Filipinos.

The same day, EU NAVFOR reported that it had released 18 suspected pirates back to Somalia, after "requests to a number of states, who were considered to have an interest in the case, proved to be unsuccessful." The organization had been detaining the pirates since April 6th. The organization reports that the states who were contacred either decided not to prosecute of could not provide an intent to prosecute within EU NAVFOR's required time limit. 

The 18 pirates were detained after allegedly attacking the Singapore-flagged MV PACIFIC OPAL on April 5.