Turkish Ship Hijacked by Somali Pirates
Turkish freighter “M/V Yasa Neslihan” was captured by armed Somali pirates, at the Gulf of Aden, Monday. The ship’s 20 crew members are also being held. Ankara demanded NATO’s help in order to free the vessel and the crew. Fehmi Ulgener, legal advisor to the Yasa Company, said that they were contacted by the pirates who demanded ransom. The amount was not specified to the press. The pirates “allowed” the company two months to make a decision.
Apparently, this is not the first time that the Turkish government has dealt with this issue because a Turkish warship launched operations in the area last month to protect ships from pirates. “Piracy is rife and well organised in the area where Somalia’s northeastern tip juts into the Indian Ocean, preying on a key maritime route leading to the Suez Canal.The pirates operate high-powered speedboats and are heavily armed, sometimes holding ships for weeks until they are released for large ransoms paid by governments or owners.”
Aylin Ece Cicek
