DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 307/09
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
HMAS TOOWOOMBA DISARMS PIRATE THREAT
IN THE GULF OF ADEN
HMAS Toowoomba
has successfully thwarted a piracy attack by answering a call for
assistance and conducting a boarding of a suspect vessel, 50 miles off the coast of Yemen in
the Gulf of Aden.
Late on Sunday night Australian time (September 20), Toowoomba
responded to an
emergency radio call from the Merchant Vessel BBC Portugal, which reported sighting a boat
carrying a group of armed individuals closing at high speed.
Under the command of Commander Ivan Ingham, Toowoomba immediately responded to the
developing situation by moving to the scene at high speed to investigate and provide
assistance.
“While Toowoomba closed in, a coalition P3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft and a naval
helicopter from another coalition warship joined the scene and provided surveillance of the
suspect vessel. The helicopter crew confirmed sighting weapons and also reported that the
crew of the suspect vessel was seen disposing of several items including a ladder as the
helicopter arrived at the scene,” Commander Ingham said.
“On reaching the suspect vessel, Toowoomba
launched her boarding team to investigate,
search, disarm and seize.”
“The quick response by HMAS Toowoomba
and the coalition helicopter ensured that the
incident did not escalate into a direct attack on the merchant vessel. Further, the ship’s
presence in very close proximity to the scene ensured that the persons suspected of planning
acts of piracy were not able to resist the arrival of our boarding party and ensured that our
teams were able to conduct a thorough and effective search,” Commander Ingham said.
The search of the suspect vessel revealed a cache of weapons including a Rocket Propelled
Grenade launcher (RPG), six AK47 Assault Rifles, a G3 Assault Rifle and a large quantity of
ammunition.
Routine questioning of the persons suspected of planning acts of piracy by Toowoomba’s
boarding party confirmed that the occupants of the suspect vessel were from nearby Somalia.
The occupants denied their intention to attack the merchant vessel and denied planning piracy
activities.
“The boarding party was instructed to disarm the suspect pirates and confiscate their lethal
military weapons. Once this had been achieved, Toowoomba’s personnel confirmed the
suspect vessel had sufficient food, water and fuel to make the return journey back to
Somalia,” Commander Ingham said.
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
“With the incident averted and the threat removed, we directed them to depart from the
shipping lanes of the International Recommended Transit Corridor and sent them back to
where they came from.
“It is Australian Government policy to deter, warn, intercept and disarm those vessels and
persons suspected of engaging in acts of piracy.
“This approach provides an effective measure to reduce an immediate threat posed by these
types of groups operating in the area. This policy is also in keeping with the practice of our
coalition partners and other navies operating against piracy in the region,” Commander
Ingham said.
There were no casualties as a result of the successful operation.
“This was Toowoomba’s first anti-piracy swoop since moving down to the Gulf of Aden from
the Northern Arabian Sea two weeks ago. I was very pleased with the focus and
professionalism my personnel showed in responding to this incident. It highlights our round
the clock readiness and emphasises the importance of the tasking the RAN is currently
undertaking,” Commander Ingham said.
“The success of this operation was testimony to our training and the close and effective
liaison with have established with our coalition partners.”
HMAS Toowoomba
is now continuing with counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden
region.
Australia’s contribution to international counter-piracy efforts off the Horn of Africa includes
three embedded staff officers at the Coalition Force Maritime Component Command
Headquarters, two RAAF AP-3C maritime patrol aircraft and the Anzac Class frigate, HMAS
Toowoomba.
Media Note:
Interviews
with the Commanding Officer of HMAS Toowoomba, Ivan Ingham,
can be
arranged by contacting Defence Media. Vision will be fed to Parliament House.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
