Italian Special Forces Rescue Cargo Ship from Pirates off the Coast of Italy

Jakarta –

Ministry of Defence Italia said Italian special forces managed to save a cargo ship sailing from Türkiye to France. The crew of the ship was threatened by pirates off the coast of Italy.

Reported by AFP, Saturday (10/6/2023), Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the marines descended on the ship from helicopters after a number of “stufflowers” used knives to threaten the crew.

The ministry told AFP that the attackers appeared to be migrants, although their nationality was unknown.

That ship is the Galata Seaways, a roll-on roll-off cargo ship designed to carry vehicles. The ship sailed under the Turkish flag with a crew of 22.

The ship departed Topcular in Turkey on June 7 and headed for Sete in southern France.

Meanwhile, the Repubblica daily reported about 15 stowaways had boarded the ship in Turkey, hoping to reach Europe. However, they were found by the crew of the ship.

“Migrants tried to take some of the crew hostage on the bridge,” the ANSA news agency said.

The drama unfolds as the ship — about 200 meters long and 20 meters wide — sails through the waters Italianear the island of Ischia.

The ship’s captain managed to radio for help. He sent an urgent request to Ankara, which notified the Italian authorities.

Repubblica reported that after special forces stormed the ship, some stowaways were arrested but others “barricaded themselves in the holds”.

“The ship is very big and it is not difficult to hide,” minister Crosetto said in a television show.

“When they heard the helicopter, (some stowaways) ran away, then probably tried to escape by sea in the dark,” he said.

“However, the ship is under siege. We will see in the next few hours who the pirates are and what they intend to do,” he said.

“(The Italian marines) had to take control of the ship, and they did it in a very short time,” he said, adding that the crew was safe.

Coast guard ships and the financial police were also involved in the operation. The cargo ship was escorted to Naples and anchored outside the harbour, where there were heavy police.

(lir/lir)