My 47-day ordeal at the hands of Somali pirates, by British captain held for ransom

Captain Colin Darch spoke out for the first time since being released. He said he feared for his crew's life during the 48-day ordeal

3rd April 2008

The British captain of a ship captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia has spoken of being held to ransom for more than six weeks.

Captain Colin Darch was only freed after the boat's owners agreed to meet the demands of the pirates.

The 70-year-old skipper, from Appledore, North Devon, said that, once the ransom was agreed, there were still problems with the pirates getting their hands on the money because they had no passports or bank accounts.

"It was like a syndicate of factory workers who had won the lottery but couldn't find the ticket," he added.

The ordeal began on February 1 this year, 70 nautical miles off the north eastern coast of Somalia when the 35-metre Danish tug Svitzer Korsakov was hijacked.

Captain Darch, who had an Irish engineer and four Russian crew, said a boat with five armed men raced towards them. Although they managed to fend it off, a second boat also approached.

He said: "When we saw the second boat coming, we knew the game was up as we could not manoeuvre enough.

"Someone then shouted that they were on board. They were firing guns. We then closed control and shut down the ship.

"We were told if we behaved no one would get hurt. If we did something wrong, we would be shot."

Around 20 pirates (ringed in red) invaded the 35-metre Danish tug Svitzer Korsakov, 70 nautical miles off the north eastern coast of Somalia

Around 20 pirates turned up, including one who spoke English, then demanded money.

Captain Darch was in daily touch with the boat's owners Svitzer in Copenhagen but said: "We had reached stalemate and the pirates were getting impatient.

"An American warship was in close attendance but dare not attack in case we got hit.

"We decided to try and help by blacking out the ship and hiding in a stern compartment behind watertight doors, in the hope the American crew would get the message and attack.

"We retreated to a ballast tank partly full of water and spent 18 hours in there - but the attack didn't happen. After 19 hours we gave ourselves up.

"They didn't punish us but they kept a much closer eye on us and we had to spend all day in the wheel house.

Captain Darch examines bullet shells from a Kalashnikov AK-47, the machine gun the pirates used. The shells were left onboard after the hijacking

"From then on we were accompanied everywhere, even to the toilet, and were not allowed on deck. We were kept like that for 47 days.

"It was obvious the shop and our lives were balanced against a promise of money.

"They looted our cabins - phones, cameras, laptops and our clothes. They didn't bother so much with mine as they were too old fashioned, but they told us we were all Muslim brothers and must share."

They survived on Somali tea for breakfast and dinner and two goats were brought on board for food.

Captain Darch said he feared for his crew's lives when negotiations stalled. "They were unsophisticated hoodlums,' he added.

The pirates looted the boat's cabins looking for phones, cameras, laptops and clothes. They later told their hostages that they stole as a means to stay alive

"They couldn't drive the ship away, there is huge skill involved in controlling it." On March 18, the pirates left the ship and the crew was free to "steam away out of bandit territory".

The Svitzer owners paid tribute to the 'courage, leadership and strength' shown by the master and crew, but refused to discuss their dialogue with the hijackers.

Captain Darch, who was a North Sea pilot for 20 years and captain of the Lundy Island ferry Oldenburg, said he has not been put off by his ordeal.

"I will continue but not in pirate areas. It keeps me young. I enjoy it too much and I can't resist the call of the open sea," he added.

His wife Barbara said: "It is something I never want to go through again. I had a huge sense of relief when Colin finally phoned and said 'I'm free'."

Source: Daily Mail

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