Military Veterans and Patriots

Tag: Isle of Wight

  • Isle of Wight Hijacking Update

    Isle of Wight Hijacking Update

    I wrote about the attempted take-over of the Liberian flagged tanker Nave Andromeda off the southern coast of England yesterday. Today, there are more details to share.

    Richard Meade, editor of the shipping intelligence website Lloyd’s List, said the seven stowaways were believed to have boarded in Nigeria. “They were discovered by the crew and while they were trying to detain them in a cabin they got violent,” 

    It is assumed the stowaways boarded the tanker via the rudder trunk while the vessel was in port at Lagos Nigeria.

    Stowaways in a rudder trunk.

    The tanker made two stops while en-route to Southampton, but did not enter port at either stop.

    The ships master raised the alarm around 1000 Sunday. Some of the crew of 22 made their way to the “citadel” in the engine room.

    Around 2000 local time, a boarding team from the Royal Navy Special Boat Service boarded the tanker. The 16 troopers were inserted by helicopter fast rope and quickly took the hijackers into custody and ensured the crew was unharmed.

    Recommended: QUIZ: Halloween Legends & Trivia

    “In response to a police request, the defence secretary and home secretary authorised Armed Forces personnel to board a ship in the English Channel to safeguard life and secure a ship that was subject to suspected hijacking,” the MoD said in a statement. “Armed forces have gained control of the ship and seven individuals have been detained. Police investigations will now continue. Initial reports confirm the crew are safe and well.”

  • Hijack Attempt Near Isle of Wight

    Hijack Attempt Near Isle of Wight

    British authorities are responding to what appears to be a hijacking attempt just off the Isle of Wight. The Nave Andromeda, a Liberian flagged, Greek owned tanker left Lagos Nigeria a little over two weeks ago and was scheduled to arrive at Southampton today. The Nave Andromeda was commissioned in 2012 and is carrying 42,000 tons of crude oil.

    A distress call was made after seven stowaways were discovered on board and they attempted to take control of the vessel.

    Hampshire Police confirmed: “We are aware and dealing with an ongoing incident on board a vessel which is situated south of the Isle of Wight.”

    Two coastguard helicopters have been scrambled to the scene and were spotted circling the ship on Sunday afternoon, and an exclusion zone was set up in the area south of Sandown.

    A Coastguard spokeswoman said: “We are currently assisting Hampshire Constabulary with an incident on board a vessel situated off the Isle of Wight. The search and rescue helicopters from Lee on Solent and Lydd are in attendance.”

    A spokeswoman for the Home Office said it is aware of the incident.

    A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed there was no military involvement in the incident.

    Bob Seely, Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight, said the incident would be treated as a “marine counter-terrorism” incident. He told reporters:

    “Despite being told not to drop anchor, the skipper has dropped anchor and the ship may be now under the control of stowaways on the ship. I suspect because of the nature of this it will be treated as marine counter-terrorism and the number of people in the UK who do that are very limited and the relevant units will be looking at options no doubt as to what we could be doing.”