| Action of 30 March 2010 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofPiracy in Somalia,Operation Ocean Shield,Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Seychelles | Somali pirates | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Simon Laurecine | Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Patrol vesselTopaz | 1armed dhow 1trawler 2skiffs | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| none | 1 armed dhow sunk 1 trawler sunk 1 skiff sunk 9 captured | ||||||
| 1 civilian wounded | |||||||
Theaction of 30 March 2010 was a naval battle involving apatrol boat of theSeychelles Coast Guard and two groups ofSomali pirate vessels. The encounter resulted in the freeing of twenty-seven hostages held by the pirates.
Topaz, aTrinkat-classpatrol vessel of theSeychelles Coast Guard,[1] was sent out on an anti-piracy patrol during late March as part of a new initiative by the Government ofSeychelles to combat the steady increase in Somali piracy.
On 30 April, Seychelles Coast Guard patrol vesselTopaz approached a captured vessel where nine Somali pirates were holding six Seychellois and 21Iranian sailors hostage, and were attempting to reach the Somali coast. A Somali translator aboardTopaz sent audio calls urging the immediate release of the hostages, but the pirates ignored these demands, and continued towards the coast of Somalia even when warning shots were fired byTopaz. Seychellois PresidentJames Michel gave the order to prevent the pirates from reaching the Somali coastline at all cost.
The pirates opened fire onTopaz withrocket-propelled grenades, whichTopaz evaded.Topaz then opened fire on thedhow's engine with 12.7 mm machine guns, firing a total of 10,000 rounds. The engine caught fire, forcing all of the pirates and hostages to jump overboard.Topaz then rescued all of the hostages and arrested the Somali pirates.[2] While en route back to the Seychelles,Topaz was approached by Somali pirates in anaval trawler and twoskiffs. The pirates opened fire onTopaz, after whichTopaz returned fire. The pirate trawler caught fire and exploded after being hit, and a skiff was also sunk by the return fire, while the last skiff managed to escape.Topaz then proceeded toMahé.[3][4]
The operation was successfully completed with no casualties to either combatant, though one Iranian seaman, a hostage of the pirates, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm.
Topaz arrived inPort Victoria on 1 April 2010, and was met by the families of hostages. The nine pirates being held aboardTopaz were disembarked and taken into custody by the Seychelles Police.[5]
| External image | |
|---|---|
 A Trinkat class patrol vessel |
