Pohjanmaa joins anti-piracy effort off Somalia

The Finnish Navy’s flagship, the mine-laying vessel Pohjanmaa, has been taking part in the Operation Atalanta anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden since Tuesday. The mission got off to a busy start.
      “In the first week we have noticed that the need for help is great, and we have also been given demanding tasks”, says the ship’s chief, commander Mika Raunu.
     
So far, the Finns have had no contact with any pirates, but Raunu says that there is plenty of piracy in the area.
      “Let’s say that in our own area of operations we have received requests for assistance from merchant ships, but we have not encountered any criminal activity yet”, Raunu says.
     
The task of the Pohjanmaa in its first week in the area has been to protect merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden, between Somalia and the Arab Peninsula.
      Crew on the mine vessel have been closely following events in Egypt and other countries of the northeast of Africa, because they lie very close to the area. However, the unstable situation in the countries has not affected the operations of the Pohjanmaa.
     
The ship takes orders from the command of the peacekeeping operation, and in addition, the vessel assists merchant ships when necessary.
      “Merchant ships contact us only when they feel that they are under threat. We have received a few of these requests, but I do not want to give any precise figures”, the commander says.
     
Some of the requests turn out to be false alarms.
      “There is a big risk of piracy in the area, and the merchant ships are clearly on edge and confused. Some of the pirates are using the same kinds of boats as fishermen are. It is our task to ascertain if there is something indicative of a crime on the boat”, Raunu says.
     
So is it just a matter of time before the Pohjanmaa encounters pirates?
      “It depends to a great degree on what tasks we are given. I would not say that it is just a matter of time, but it is possible”, Raunu says.
     
Researcher Charly Salonius-Pasternak of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs ponders if Finns have sufficiently understood the seriousness of the mission.
      “The international leadership of the operation has said in recent weeks that the pirates are behaving more aggressively than before. I do not know if people have understood that the nature of the mission can become more dangerous than before, and that it might be necessary to use more severe force”, she says.
     
Commander Raunu says that preparations have been made on the Pohjanmaa for any eventuality.
      “Our main task is the protection of merchant vessels, but we are prepared for all kinds of situations in fluctuating conditions.”
     
In the past week the late-edition tabloid Iltalehti wrote about concern felt by relatives of crew members on how well their loved ones would cope on the mission.
      There was also concern about problems with telephone connections.
      Raunu said in the paper that the members of the crew are getting enough rest, and that there have not been any real problems in communications.
      “The ship works magnificently, and we have excellent camaraderie. I am satisfied, and I have nothing to add to what has previously been stated”, Raunu said to Helsingin Sanomat.
     


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland to deploy mine layer Pohjanmaa on anti-piracy mission off Somalia (15.9.2010)
  Flagship of Finnish Navy to help escort food aid ships to Somalia (6.9.2010)
  Pohjanmaa sets sail for Somalia (7.1.2011)
  Minelayer Pohjanmaa nearly ready for Somalia mission (17.12.2010)
  Joint naval exercise trains Finns to hunt Somali pirates (23.9.2010)

Links:
  Operation Atalanta (Wikipedia)