Toowoomba Protects Maltese Cargo Ship
30 September 2009
HMAS Toowoomba recently spent three days providing close protection to a Maltese bulk carrier after the vessel experienced propulsion difficulties and became stranded in a high risk piracy area North of the Somali coast in the central Gulf of Aden.
Having sailed from Novorissiysk, Russia with 17,000 tonnes of grain, the 151 metre bulk carrier was on the final leg of her voyage in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) enroute to Calcutta, India when her main reduction gearbox failed.
As a result of these circumstances, the merchant vessel was placed on the Severe Risk Register by Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa (UK)).
HMAS Toowoomba was directed to take station on the bulk carrier and provide round the clock protection to ensure the vessel and her cargo was kept safe from pirate attack.
Commanding Officer of HMAS Toowoomba, CMDR Ivan Ingham said that the location of the vessel, within reach of Somali pirate camps, her characteristics and the nature of her condition meant that she was extremely vulnerable to a piracy attack.
"This particular part of the IRTC is known to be a very high risk area. This and the fact that the vessel can be easily boarded and is unable to get underway means that she presents a severe risk to herself" Commander Ingham said.
"Providing this type of presence and support to commercial shipping and assuring the freedom of navigation in this extremely important international shipping route is one of the many tasks being undertaken by HMAS Toowoomba," he said.
After protecting the vessel for 72 hours, HMAS Toowoomba handed over escort responsibilities to a European warship before taking up another security patrol in the main piracy route between Somali and the Yemen coastlines.
HMAS Toowoomba is currently deployed to the Middle East, the Gulf of Aden and the waters of the Horn of Africa as the RAN's contribution to Operation SLIPPER which includes participation in Maritime Security, Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Piracy operations.
