The Royal Australian Navy Frigates, HMA Ships Sydney and Ballarat, last night came to the aid of the merchant vessel MV Dubai Princess, after she raised distress signals in the Gulf of Aden. The MV Dubai Princess claimed it was under attack from pirates, who were reported to be firing rocket propelled grenades and attempting to board the vessel by force.
The incident occurred in international waters at around 6pm Australian time, approximately 170km south of Yemen. Sydney and Ballarat responded to the distress signal while transiting though the Gulf of Aden as part of their Northern Trident 2009 deployment around the world.
As the situation developed, another merchant vessel, MV MSC Stella, was also harassed by small vessels in the same vicinity.
The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said the measured response by the two passing Australian ships provided security to the merchant vessels and stabilised the situation.
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Pictured is the suspected pirate skiff.
(Date taken: 17 May 2009)
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Suspected pirate skiff shadowed by HMAS SYDNEY.
(Date taken: 17 May 2009)
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Pictured is Merchant Ship Dubai Princess applying anti-piracy measures.
(Date taken: 17 May 2009)
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Pictured is Merchant Ship Dubai Princess applying anti-piracy measures while the skiff approaches.
(Date taken: 17 May 2009)
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Suspected pirate skiff, is shadowed by HMAS SYDNEY.
(Date taken: 17 May 2009)
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Pictured is Merchant Ship Dubai Princess applying anti-piracy measures.
(Date taken: 17 May 2009)
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Suspected Piracy incident, HMAS Ballarat approaches Merchant Ship MSC Stellar.
(Date taken: 17 May 2009)
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Pictured is Merchant Ship Dubai Princess applying anti-piracy measures.
(Date taken: 17 May 2009)
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HMAS Ballarat approaches HMAS Success at the commencement of a replenishment at sea (RAS), during which HMAS Ballarat took on stores and ammunition from the supply ship via jackstay.
(Date taken: 23 June 2005)
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HMAS Ballarat at sea during Exercise Kakadu.
(Date taken: 01 August 2005)
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HMAS Sydney of the coast of New South Wales for the first Ocean Protector Exercise of 2006. The Ocean Protector exercise is a joint operation between the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
(Date taken: 02 February 2006)
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HMAS Sydney of the coast of New South Wales for the first Ocean Protector Exercise of 2006. The Ocean Protector exercise is a joint operation between the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
(Date taken: 02 February 2006)
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HMAS BALLARAT patrolling in the Middle East.
(Date taken: 21 June 2006)
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HMAS BALLARAT patrolling in the Middle East.
(Date taken: 21 June 2006)
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HMAS BALLARAT Slowly cruises through the sea as the ship continues it patrol of the waters around the Khawr al Amaya Oil Terminal "KAAOT".
(Date taken: 25 June 2006)
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HMAS BALLARAT.
(Date taken: 10 March 2007)
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HMAS BALLARAT.
(Date taken: 10 March 2007)
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HMAS BALLARAT.
(Date taken: 10 March 2007)
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HMAS BALLARAT.
(Date taken: 10 March 2007)
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HMAS BALLARAT (F155) foreground), and HMNZS Te Kaha (F77) Anzac Class Frigate conducting Officer of the Watch Maneuvers in Hawke Bay, New Zealand.
(Date taken: 19 August 2008)
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HMAS Ballarat conducting 'replenishment at sea' approaches with HMAS Anzac during Fleet Concentration Period 2009.
(Date taken: 19 February 2009)
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HMAS Ballarat conducting 'replenishment at sea' approaches with HMAS Anzac during Fleet Concentration Period 2009.
(Date taken: 19 February 2009)
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Photo Exercise from the embarked Tiger 82 N24S-70B-2 Sea Hawk of HMAS SYDNEY off the coast of Horn Island, part of the Torres Strait Islands group at the tip of the Cape york peninsula, Australia's northernmost point.
(Date taken: 28 April 2009)
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Photo Exercise from the embarked Tiger 82 N24S-70B-2 Sea Hawk of HMAS SYDNEY off the coast of Horn Island, part of the Torres Strait Islands group at the tip of the Cape york peninsula, Australia's northernmost point.
(Date taken: 28 April 2009)
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Photo Exercise from the embarked Tiger 82 N24S-70B-2 Sea Hawk of HMAS SYDNEY off the coast of Horn Island, part of the Torres Strait Islands group at the tip of the Cape york peninsula, Australia's northernmost point.
(Date taken: 28 April 2009)
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HMAS BALLARAT prepares for a boarding party exercise with HMAS SYDNEY.
(Date taken: 30 April 2009)
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HMAS BALLARAT in the Northern Australian Exercise Area, prepares for a boarding party exercise with HMAS SYDNEY.
(Date taken: 30 April 2009)
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HMAS SYDNEY at sea off Jervis Bay. Vertical Launch System fitted.
(Date taken: Unknown)
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HMAS SYDNEY at sea off Jervis Bay. Vertical Launch System fitted.
(Date taken: Unknown)
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HMAS SYDNEY at sea off Jervis Bay. Vertical Launch System fitted.
(Date taken: Unknown)
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HMAS SYDNEY.
(Date taken: Unknown)
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HMAS Sydney.
(Date taken: Unknown)
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HMAS Sydney.
(Date taken: Unknown)
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HMAS Ballarat (Royal Australian Navy Frigate) arrives in Sydney for the first time. The Frigate is the sixth Anzac to be built for the Australian Navy.
(Date taken: Unknown)
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