Seven people were detained after British special forces stormed the Liberian registered tanker, Nave Andromeda, that was suspected of having been hijacked off the Isle of Wight.
The BBC reports that sixteen members of the Special Boat Service (SBS) ended a 10-hour standoff which started when stowaways on board the tanker reportedly made violent threats against the crew.
The boarding by the SBS commandoes took place at around 19.30 on Friday after the ship issued a mayday call earlier in the day. Sky News reports that the operation involved two Royal Navy Merlin helicopters, along with two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters. The commandos regained control of the tanker within around seven minutes of boarding the ship. The seven stowaways were captured without harm.
The stowaways, believed to be Nigerians seeking UK asylum, were handed over to Hampshire Police on Sunday night. The tanker’s 22 crew members were found safe having locked themselves into the ship’s citadel, a safe room containing supplies and communications equipment. The ship later docked in Southampton.
Seven people detained after special forces end suspected hijacking on tanker off Isle of Wight
Thanks to David Rye and Alaric Bond for contributing to this post.
Yes, UK asylum in a UK Prison!
Hope they enjoy it, the dumb idiots!
Not a huge vessel full of crude oil as initially reported, quite small these days and empty. Why? she had just come from Nigeria! and why Southampton, to load crude??? Also stopped briefly at Las Palmas Why?
Years ago when I was towing a vessel from Rumania to Norway we discovered stowaways on board the tow. On arrival in Norway the stowaways were deported back home, my company had to pay. Is this still the law?
The stowaways have been given police bail. I doubt they will turn up in court ever. In my opinion they should have been put on a plain back to Nigeria pronto and made to pay for their tickets.
Another example of, “Oh let them go” So they have achieved what they wanted and the UK taxpayer picks up the bill for the intervention. Glad I don´t pay UK tax anymore