Tanker operator thanks Britain for storming vessel after stowaways
turned hostile
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[October 26, 2020]
By Henry Nicholls
SOUTHAMPTON, England (Reuters) - The
operator of an oil tanker stormed in the English Channel by British
special forces thanked the authorities on Monday for their timely
response, saying help was requested after seven stowaways who boarded in
Nigeria had turned hostile.
Troops from the Special Boat Service, Britain's elite naval special
forces unit, stormed the Greek-operated Nave Andromeda near the Isle of
Wight off southern England after the master of the ship said he was
concerned about the safety of his crew.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel authorised
the armed forces to board the ship "to safeguard life and secure a ship
that was subject to suspected hijacking", the defence ministry said.
Seven stowaways were detained in the operation which involved the SBS,
the navy, coast guard and police.
"The UK authorities had been advised by the Master that stowaways had
been found on board and that he was concerned for the safety of the crew
due to the increasingly hostile behaviour of the stowaways," Navios
Tanker Management said.
"Happily no crew members were injured and all are safe and well," it
said. "Navios Tanker Management wish to thank all the UK Authorities
involved in this operation for their timely and professional response."
The defence ministry declined to confirm or deny the involvement of the
SBS - in line with British government policy of not commenting on
special forces operations.
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Liberia-flagged oil tanker Nave Andromeda is seen at Southampton
Docks, following a security incident aboard the ship the night
before off the coast of Isle of Wight, in Southampton, Britain,
October 26, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
But a source with knowledge of the matter said the SBS were
involved. SBS operations are usually classified. Former Royal Navy
warfare officer Chris Parry said the SBS had been involved.
The navy's Special Boat Service, considered a sister unit to the
Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), is one of Britain's most
secretive special forces units.
An elite maritime counter-terrorism unit, the SBS traces its history
back to World War Two and has been involved in many of the conflicts
of the past 70 years including Afghanistan and Iraq.
The SBS's closest equivalent in the United States is the SEAL Team
Six, or Task Force Blue.
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Kate Holton and Nick
Macfie)
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