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Finnish minelayer Pohjanmaa

Pirates Caught by Finnish Minelayer to Be Released

Any pirates captured by the Finnish minelayer Pohjanmaa off the Somali coast are likely to be released, because no state wishes to accept them. The minelayer has already launched its first operation after arriving in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday to join an EU anti-piracy mission.

Somalialaisia miehiä veneessä merellä kädet ylhäällä. Vierellä portugalilaisia merisotilaita omassa veneessään taisteluvarustuksessa.
Image: Carlos Dias/EPA

The minelayer Pohjanmaa is taking part in the EU's Atalanta initiative, which aims to provide close-support protection for vessels at risk of hijacking. It also intends to protect the World Food Programme's operations in Somalia and to monitor fishing activities off its coast.

The Pohjanmaa Commander Mika Raunu says that the fate of any pirates to be seized is still uncertain.

“Sadly, the majority of the captured will be set free, because not a single state in Africa, Europe or North America wants to receive them. If we consider the previous years, only a few were extradited to Germany and Kenya.”

Atalanta is the EU's first maritime crisis management operation, which started in December 2008. This is the first time a Finnish Navy vessel participates in the operation.

Sources: YLE