German, UK warships on Malta visits

The German Navy frigate Karlsruhe leaves Malta today after a short visit.

The frigate is returning to Germany after deployment off Somalia where it distinguished itself for saving an Egyptian bulk carrier from Somali pirates on Christmas Day.

The frigate formed part of Operation Atalanta launched by European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR).

The bulk carrier had issued an SOS when pirates on a small boat started firing at it and ordered it to stop. The Karsruhe immediately scrabled its helicopter which fired warning shots at the pirates. That was enough to force them to withdraw.

Meanwhile, the British High Commission said HMS Blyth and HMS Ramsey, two small mine countermesures ships, will arrive in Malta today for a five-day stay.

They are one their way back home after having spent the last two and a half years conducting mine counter measure operations out of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf. This has served as a forward operating base for coalition forces in Iraq.

The presence of mine countermeasures vessels in that part of the world is considered important to deter minining of important routes used by oil tankers.

During this deployment the two ships saw five crew swaps, equal to five captains, 40 officers and 200 sailors having served on each ship.

Both ships are Sandown Class vessels, specialised mine-hunters that use high definition sonar to search under the sea surface for anti-shipping mines.

The current ships companies have spent nearly seven months away from home.

HMS Blyth and HMS Ramsey will be berthed at Pinto Wharf. They will not be open to the public during their stay.