New Virtu Ferries catamaran denies boarding to pirates

Virtu Ferries’ new catamaran, Jean de la Valette, managed to outrun pirates while sailing past Somalia on its delivery trip from Australia to Malta.

The vessel’s 7,700-nautical- mile journey started on August 26 with several Maltese crew members on board. Now in its final stage of the voyage, it made the 3,227-mile journey from Freemantle to Male in 95 hours, despite very heavy seas, proceeding to Salalah in Oman and on to the Gulf of Aden.

The company said several precautions were taken as the vessel transited the pirate-infested waters. The departure date from Salalah was kept secret and barbed wire was placed along the ship’s sides to make boarding difficult.

Security drills were also held for the crew, including specific ones for engine room members to train them how to isolate the engine rooms in both hulls.

The Jean de la Valette managed to make the journey from Salalah to Aden at full speed, sometimes reaching 42 knots and in constant contact with warships patrolling the area.

The vessel has now entered the Mediterranean and is due to arrive in Malta tomorrow with services between Malta and Sicily starting at the end of this month.