ALLEGED HIJACK INCIDENT INVOLVING THE MALTESE FLAGGED MERCHANT VESSEL RUEN

The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Joint Operations Centre in Rota (Spain) received yesterday an alert regarding the alleged hijack of the Maltese-flagged merchant vessel RUEN, approximately 500Nm east of Socotra Island, in the North West Indian Ocean.

The situation is being closely monitored and assessed together with ATALANTA’s maritime security partners, Combined Maritime Forces in primis. The ESPS Frigate Victoria, the EUNAVFOR unit at sea, has been directed to rapidly close to the RUEN, in order to gather more information and evaluate further actions, in coordination with partners.

EUNAVFOR remains vigilant to this and other recent piracy-related events in the Area of Operations, the North West Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, encouraging registration with Maritime Security Centre- Horn of Africa’s Voluntary Registration Scheme to ensure the most effective monitoring and response by ATALANTA forces and their partners in countering maritime security threats.

EUROPEAN UNION NAVAL FORCE