Brussels, 25/08/2009 (Agence Europe) - Joint action involving EUNAVFOR Atalanta (the EU-led anti-piracy naval force off the Somali coast) and Japan led to the disarming of a suspect vessel which could have threatened merchant ships operating nearby, in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday 22 August. Seven people were on board. For the first time, the operation involved Norwegian frigate HMNOS Fridtjof Nansen, which joined the Atalanta force on 13 August, and the current EU operation flag ship, the Dutch frigate HNLMS Eversten. The alert was given by a Japanese Orion P3C aeroplane on Saturday morning. Patrolling the operation zone, it spotted a suspicious vessel 80 nautical miles (roughly 148 kilometres) east of Aden (Yemen) and five nautical miles (more or less 10 kilometres) from merchant ships. Seven people, a ladder and a large quantity of fuel were noted on board. As the closest to the small vessel, the Norwegian frigate acted immediately, sending out two rigid hull inflated boats (RHIBs) prepared to board. The Dutch frigate Eversten dispatched a helicopter to monitor the situation until the Norwegians arrived. As the suspect vessel tried to flee, the helicopter fired warning shots. The boarding teams then climbed aboard. They found and seized ladders, weapons and RPGs. However, since there was no proof of piracy, the seven men on board were released and the vessel returned to them. (A.By./transl.rt)