Canadian warship scares off suspected pirates
By
Roger Ward, THE CANADIAN PRESS
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HMCS Winnipeg passing Vancouver's Prospect Point. (Canadian Press/File)
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TORONTO - Warding off suspected pirates and coming to the aid of Somali
refugees was all in a weekend's work for the crew of the Canadian Navy's HMCS Winnipeg. On Saturday, Winnipeg dispatched its Sea King helicopter to check out several skiffs that were shadowing the commercial vessel, Pacific Opal in the Gulf of Aden.
Commander Craig Baines said the chopper's crew quickly made their presence and intent known.
"The helicopter actually has a large 'Stop' sign, written in Somali, and they were able to hang it out the cargo door next to the C-6 machine-gun," Baines said in a telephone interview. "As soon as the (suspected) pirates saw the sign, they immediately stopped what they were doing."
The Sea King stayed with the Pacific Opal until it was certain that the suspected pirates were no longer a threat, Baines said.
Piracy is rampant around the coast of Somalia, which has not had a functioning government for 18 years.
In the past year, maritime attackers have captured trawlers, small fishing boats, cruise ships and even a cargo ship laden with heavy weapons. On Sunday HMCS Winnipeg saw more action when a helicopter patrol spotted a boat overflowing with refugees trying to get from Somalia to Yemen. "There were 51 people in what looked to be a 25-foot boat," Baines said. "They had been at sea for two days and were hungry and thirsty."
Being able to perform a variety of functions for NATO in the Gulf is satisfying, the commander said.
"We see different things each day, from a possible pirate situation one day to a humanitarian assistance effort the next, it's very rewarding to the crew." Baines also had praise for the Winnipeg's lone Sea King helicopter. The Canadian Forces fleet of aged choppers is often criticized for being long past their expiry date, and prone to accidents. But Baines said their Sea King is a valuable tool in the mission. "When you add a helicopter into the mix it really expands your ability to conduct surveillance because the helicopter can go 50 miles (80 kilometres) from the ship," he said. The Winnipeg is currently participating in a NATO led counter-piracy mission known as Operation Allied Protector, part of an effort by the international community to restore safety to a major shipping lane that passes by the Horn of Africa. With a crew of approximately 240 officers and non-commissioned members, it's been at sea since February 5, and won't return to Victoria until August 21.
...seems like another "war" is in the offing.
