ITALY's Defence Minister said commandos have regained control of a Turkish-flagged 34,840-gross ton ro-ro ship Galata Seaways after stowaway migrants allegedly commandeered the ship.
The 22-member crew is reported to be safe while the operation to search the vessel continued.
'The ship's hijackers have been captured. Everything ended well. My congratulations to the guys from the San Marco Battalion, the policemen and the financiers, who concluded a splendid operation. Everyone for his part. Well done!' said italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in a tweet.
Different reports indicate that the crew of the vessel spotted between 15 and 20 stowaways on security cameras and began a lockdown on the vessel. At least four or five of the stowaways were believed to be carrying knives.
Some reports said the crew was able to lock themselves into the engine room and other secure locations, while some are saying that once discovered, the stowaways threatened the crew and attempted to take control of the vessel.
Reports indicate the Guardia di Finanza patrol boat Sanna and Coast Guard vessel Bruno Gregoretti intercepted the ro-ro on the outskirts of Naples. Italian forces boarded the vessel from helicopters and were searching the ship.
SeaNews Turkey
The 22-member crew is reported to be safe while the operation to search the vessel continued.
'The ship's hijackers have been captured. Everything ended well. My congratulations to the guys from the San Marco Battalion, the policemen and the financiers, who concluded a splendid operation. Everyone for his part. Well done!' said italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in a tweet.
Different reports indicate that the crew of the vessel spotted between 15 and 20 stowaways on security cameras and began a lockdown on the vessel. At least four or five of the stowaways were believed to be carrying knives.
Some reports said the crew was able to lock themselves into the engine room and other secure locations, while some are saying that once discovered, the stowaways threatened the crew and attempted to take control of the vessel.
Reports indicate the Guardia di Finanza patrol boat Sanna and Coast Guard vessel Bruno Gregoretti intercepted the ro-ro on the outskirts of Naples. Italian forces boarded the vessel from helicopters and were searching the ship.
SeaNews Turkey
