On October 2, 2009, the Alakrana fishing boatwith 36 crew members on boardwas kidnapped by Somali pirates in the waters of the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 miles from the coast. For 47 days, the sailors experienced moments of extreme tension, fear and violence, while the Spanish authorities and the CNI conducted intense negotiations to obtain their release.
The captain of the ship recounted the hell they went through, being beaten and tied up several times. “They beat us and tied us up. It was hell”he said after being released. Meanwhile, in the Basque town of Bermeo, where several sailors come from, tension was palpable. “The whole city was nervous and sad,” said then-mayor Xavier Legarreta. Stores closed in solidarity with the families and uncertainty increased with no news on the status of those kidnapped.
The Spanish Navy mobilized helicopters and Canary Frigatewhile the Spanish government, led by José Luis Rodriguez Zapateromanaged the crisis. After 47 days of captivityOn November 17, Alakrana was finally liberated. Even if the exact amount of the ransom has never been revealed, the truth is that this episode marked a before and after in the fight against piracy in international waters.
Nothing else set foot on land in Seychellesthe sailors were reunited with their families, thus putting an end to one of the greatest nightmares experienced in the history of Basque fishing.
