Operation Atlanta launched

Maritime safety has been on the agenda of national and international news for months, as increasing incidents of piracy, combined with violence and hostage-taking, make headlines across the world. In January 2009, 25 crew members of the hijacked oil tanker Sirius Star were released after a £2m ransom was reported to have been paid by the ship’s owners. The vessel was held for two months after being captured 420 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia last November.