SUNNY MARK

The MV Izumi is a multi-purpose, RoLo (roll-on lift-off) merchant vessel. After its capture by Somali pirates it was used as the first captured merchant vessel in a novel mothership role for pirate operations that expands the pirates' operational capabilities. Transporting steel and on its way from Japan to Mombasa, Kenya, the vessel was intercepted and captured by Somali pirates in Somali waters on October 10, 2010. It was brought to Xamdule (Hamdule) between Hobyo and Harardheere. The crew, all Filipino nationals although the government of the Philippines had prohibited the use of their nationals in pirate waters, was made hostage. Thereafter, with hostages as a human shield the pirates used the Izumi as a mothership in attacks on other vessels, first on the tanker MV Torm Kansas near Pemba Island, and then, on November 6, 2010, in an attack on the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship Infanta Christina and her escort object, the AMISOM-chartered merchant vessel Petra 1 heading for Mogadishu. During the night action, the warship moved between Izumi and Petra to protect its escort and used only "minimal force" to deter the pirates out of concern for the hostages. The pirate ship could leave unharmed.