New Zealand’s Vital Link in Catching Pirates

In a true display of ANZAC spirit, three Royal New Zealand Navy sailors on board HMAS Melbourne, have been instrumental in an operation involving the interception of nine suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia.

The three sailors played a vital role manning Melbourne’s Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIB); intercepting the skiffs and inserting an armed boarding party.

Leading Seaman Samuel Martin from Rotorua, Able Seaman Samantha Carter from Taupo and Able Seaman Leevi Eaton from Tauranga took part in the boarding on 15 October 2013, after the headquarters for Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in Bahrain received reports of attempted acts of piracy against two separate merchant vessels.

Under the direction of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, HMAS Melbourne was appointed as on-scene commander for a multi-national search operation, involving ships and aircraft from the CMF and European Union Naval Forces.

HMAS Melbourne successfully located the suspected pirate vessels and launched two jet powered RHIBs to make the final approach. Leading Seaman Martin took charge as boat coxswain in one RHIB with Able Seaman Carter as bowman, and Australian sailor, Leading Seaman Boatswain’s Mate Liam Sweeten drove the other with Able Seaman Eaton as bowman.

Leading Seaman Sweeten said the Kiwi trio performed flawlessly.

“We initially embarked the suspected pirates to HMAS Melbourne and later transferred them back to the Somali Coast,” he said.

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Press Release, November 14, 2013; Image: Navy