The Netherlands will commit a submarine to the battle against piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean near Somalia, Dutch Defense Minister Eimert Van Middelkoop told reporters Monday.
Answering a request from NATO, the submarine will use sophisticated eavesdropping equipment to gather information about pirate activities to supplement intelligence gathered by helicopters and planes patrolling the area.
“There is a need for sophisticated intelligence capacity. It will make the difference in the fighting of piracy.” Van Middelkoop told Dutch media aboard of Hr.MS. Johan de Witt just off the coast of Somalia.
The submarine mission will operate from the end of September through to the end of November. NATO will continue its anti-piracy mission until at least the end of 2012, and the European Union’s mission runs out in December.
Somali pirates have been attacking ships in an ever-growing region stretching from the coast of Somalia now out to deep in the Indian Ocean. They presently hold 16 hijacked vessels ransom.
Although many pirates have been arrested over the past few years, last week marked the first time a European court has made a conviction. On June 17, a Dutch court sentenced five Somali pirates to five years each in prison.
Answering a request from NATO, the submarine will use sophisticated eavesdropping equipment to gather information about pirate activities to supplement intelligence gathered by helicopters and planes patrolling the area.
“There is a need for sophisticated intelligence capacity. It will make the difference in the fighting of piracy.” Van Middelkoop told Dutch media aboard of Hr.MS. Johan de Witt just off the coast of Somalia.
The submarine mission will operate from the end of September through to the end of November. NATO will continue its anti-piracy mission until at least the end of 2012, and the European Union’s mission runs out in December.
Somali pirates have been attacking ships in an ever-growing region stretching from the coast of Somalia now out to deep in the Indian Ocean. They presently hold 16 hijacked vessels ransom.
Although many pirates have been arrested over the past few years, last week marked the first time a European court has made a conviction. On June 17, a Dutch court sentenced five Somali pirates to five years each in prison.
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