Hijacked sailors freed from pirate ship by Royal Navy

Sailors have been freed from a hijacked ship in the Indian Ocean thanks to a Royal Navy boarding team.

Distress signals from the Montecristo bulk carrier were picked up by support ship RFA Fort Victoria.

The floating warehouse – which can provide Royal Navy warship with food, spare parts, ammunition and other supplies – is currently engaged in NATO counter-piracy operations east of Suez.

In conjunction with an American frigate, she responded to the calls for help and made for the Montecristo’s position.

When the two ships arrived, the pirates surrendered. A team from Fort Victoria then boarded the Italian-registered vessel.

“Late this morning the RFA Fort Victoria, currently on NATO counter piracy operations east of Suez, responded to calls to assist a pirated Italian merchant ship, the MV Montecristo, along with an American Navy frigate,”

a Royal Navy spokesman said.

“Due to the presence of the warships, 11 suspected pirates on board the pirated vessel surrendered without force. A Royal Naval boarding team carried out a compliant boarding of the vessel and the suspected pirates are being detained.”