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11 October 2011
Last updated at 10:46 ET
British and US naval forces have rescued an Italian ship hijacked by Somali pirates.
The 56,000-ton bulk carrier Montecristo was hijacked 620 miles off Somalia on Monday by pirates in a small boat, according to the owners.
Italy's foreign ministry said that 11 pirates had been detained and the 23-man crew had been released.
The UK's Ministry of Defence said the Royal Navy had boarded the ship and had met no resistance.
Members of the crew - from Italy, India and Ukraine - are said to be doing well.
Italy's foreign ministry expressed "great satisfaction" with the operation to save the D'Alessio Group-owned cargo ship.
The UK's MoD said the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Fort Victoria and a US frigate were sent to help the seized vessel.
An MoD spokesperson said: "We can confirm that late this morning the RFA Fort Victoria, currently on Nato counter piracy operations east of Suez, responded to calls to assist a pirated Italian merchant ship, the MV Montecristo, along with an American navy frigate.
"Due to the presence of the warships, 11 suspected pirates on board the pirated vessel surrendered without force."
Somali pirates are known to capture vessels in the Indian Ocean in the hope of obtaining a ransom for the safe return of crew members.
They are also believed to have captured Judith Tebbutt, a 56-year-old woman from Hertfordshire, in September. Her husband David was shot in front of her at a remote beach resort on the north Kenyan coast.
And in 2010, Paul and Rachel Chandler from Tunbridge Wells, were released after being held captive for more than a year.
Somalia has been racked by fighting between various militias for two decades, so weapons are widely available and there are many armed groups who could be responsible.
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The 56,000-ton bulk carrier Montecristo was hijacked 620 miles off Somalia on Monday by pirates in a small boat, according to the owners.
Italy's foreign ministry said that 11 pirates had been detained and the 23-man crew had been released.
The UK's Ministry of Defence said the Royal Navy had boarded the ship and had met no resistance.
Members of the crew - from Italy, India and Ukraine - are said to be doing well.
Italy's foreign ministry expressed "great satisfaction" with the operation to save the D'Alessio Group-owned cargo ship.
The UK's MoD said the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Fort Victoria and a US frigate were sent to help the seized vessel.
An MoD spokesperson said: "We can confirm that late this morning the RFA Fort Victoria, currently on Nato counter piracy operations east of Suez, responded to calls to assist a pirated Italian merchant ship, the MV Montecristo, along with an American navy frigate.
"Due to the presence of the warships, 11 suspected pirates on board the pirated vessel surrendered without force."
Somali pirates are known to capture vessels in the Indian Ocean in the hope of obtaining a ransom for the safe return of crew members.
They are also believed to have captured Judith Tebbutt, a 56-year-old woman from Hertfordshire, in September. Her husband David was shot in front of her at a remote beach resort on the north Kenyan coast.
And in 2010, Paul and Rachel Chandler from Tunbridge Wells, were released after being held captive for more than a year.
Somalia has been racked by fighting between various militias for two decades, so weapons are widely available and there are many armed groups who could be responsible.
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