Sick Crewmember Evacuated From Pirated Vessel

EUNAVFOR reports that in the early morning of December 16 a sick crewmember was airlifted from the pirated MV HANNIBAL II.

The EUNAVFOR and the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) worked together to evacuate the man, after reports came in that he may be suffering from appendicitis.

The Tunisian master of the ship contacted authorities on December 16 to report that he had a crewmember with severe stomach pains and requested assistance. The master of the ship explained that he had convinced the pirates to allow the man to be transported to a navy ship for treatment.

The CMF Thai warship TNS PATTANI along with the EUNAVFOR German warship FGS HAMBURG responded to the request. A crew from the TNS PATTANI transported the sick crewmember by Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) from the MV HANNIBAL II to the TNS PATTANI. Later the crewmember was moved by helicopter to the FGS HAMBURG where he received medical attention.