Earlier yesterday, Thursday 22 September, a Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft from EU Naval Force overflew the pirate controlled fishing vessel FV Naham 3 and observed that the vessel had moved from its sea anchorage to a Somali beach in the Galmudug region.
Armed men have been sighted on board FV Naham 3, however, no hostages have been seen in or near the vessel.
FV Naham 3 has been in armed pirate hands since it was pirated in the Indian Ocean on 26 March 2012. She had been tethered to MV Albedo, which was pirated in November 2010, for several months. MV Albedo sank in shallow waters on Sunday 7 July and since then FV Naham 3 has been sighted sailing up and down the coast or at anchor.
Recent aerial photographs have shown pirates wielding their weapons on the upper deck of FV Naham 3.
It is understood that negotiations are on-going between a hostage support programme and the pirates to try and secure the safe release of the hostages.
The whereabouts of the hostages cannot be verified by EU Naval Force at this time.
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Press Release, August 23, 2013; Image: Navy