The crew of a Dutch Royal Navy frigate off the Somali coast is facing the prospect of a bleak Christmas this year. Instead of going home to enjoy the festive season with their families, they are stuck with 13 Somali prisoners on board with no country willing to take them.

The pirates were arrested on 2 December. The ship’s four-month tour of duty ended on Sunday, when the HNLMS Evertsen handed leadership of Mission Atalanta to the Italian Navy. As long as the prisoners are still on board, the ship is unable to return home.

In a debate on Tuesday, Defence Minister Eimert van Middelkoop said he regretted the situation and pointed out that it was an extra burden on the crew, who will no longer be able to get home for Christmas.

Kenyan treaty
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen wants the European Union to arrange for Somali pirates picked up by European naval vessels to stand trial somewhere in the world. There is a treaty with Kenya to prosecute pirates, but Nairobi has not yet agreed to take the 13 prisoners. The minister called it a “dissatisfactory state of affairs”.

Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party and the conservative VVD said the situation on board the Evertsen is the other way around and that the pirates are effectively “holding the ship hostage”. The Dutch parliament wants a swift solution.

Minister Verhagen says the EU is already being helpful and has contacted Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt to find a solution, as Sweden currently holds the presidency of the European Council.

Pirate tribunal
The Netherlands wants a special tribunal or a regional tribunal to be set up for pirates. However, the minister says there is not yet enough international political support for the idea. Although countries do agree that it is not acceptable for pirates to get away with holding crews hostage and demanding huge ransoms. Meanwhile the minister thinks the judicial capacity in the region needs to be expanded.

On Tuesday, the Dutch Lower House voted in favour of extending Dutch participation in the mission for another six months.

Mission Atalanta is a European Union mission which began in early August to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and protect UN food transports. So far, 77 attacks have been thwarted, 39 pirates arrested and 264 people have been saved from drowning. In addition, European ships have escorted 12 food convoys by the World Food Program and 15 by AMISOM (African Union peace mission).

The Gulf of Aden is the busiest route between Europe and Asia, with 20,000 to 30,000 ships passing every year. Somali pirates have been known to operate up to 750 kilometres from the coast. There have been no ships taken hostage since July. As a result Somali pirates have started operating in the Indian Ocean, which is 1,500 kilometres from Somalia. The Indian Ocean is more difficult to police, but is also less busy.

Photo: HNLMS Evertsen sailor takes leave from his girlfriend - ANP/Rick Nederstigt