MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean vessel manages to out run Somali pirates

Container vessel <i>Norasia Valparaiso</i>

A Chilean cargo vessel managed to outrun an attack with rifles from pirates in the north east of Africa, according to Arturo Claro Fernandez, vice-president of Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores, CSAV, one of Chile's main maritime transport companies.

Claro Fernandez broke the news during the closing day last Friday of the Exponaval 2008 fair in Valparaiso. The incident apparently happened that same week. The group of kidnappers closed on one of the "Norasia" units with several small fast boats but the quick reaction from the crew speeding the vessel impeded the highjackers from boarding her. The incident involved heavy rifle shooting from the pirates but fortunately nobody was injured. Claro Fernandez made the announcement during a speech at the fair analyzing the current sea trade business. "Pirates tried to highjack us the Norasia off Somalia, but it was an attempt with rifles and the vessel managed to escape". "The situation was very complicated, but the captain was fast in reacting and had the vessel on full steam, thus aborting the kidnapping", said Claro Fernandez. He said CSAV vessels usually steam along the Pacific rim and through the Suez canal to Europe, "mostly with containers", but this is not the first time "our vessels have suffered theft or kidnap attempts. Similar actions have occurred along the Brazilian coast". The Chilean entrepreneur said high seas piracy has become "a well organized business with mother ships and a sophisticated communications system". The northeast coast of Africa off Somalia has become the hottest spot where even a giant oil tanker and a vessel transporting tanks and war material were recently kidnapped. At Exponaval 2008 is was also revealed that the Chilean Navy tall ship "Esmeralda", with its annual promotion of cadets had also been targeted by the pirates along the African coast. However when the corsairs realized it was a naval vessel and possibly armed they desisted of their planned attack. As on next week the European Union is increasing patrolling along the Somali coastline with an increased number of frigates.