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Visit by ship in Somali pirate incident

A Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship in Douglas Bay today (Friday) was involved in a failed attempt last year to rescue a British couple captured by Somali pirates.

The Wave Knight was in the Indian Ocean when Paul and Rachel Chandler were seized in October, as they were sailing around the world on their yacht 'Lynn Rival'.

The Wave Knight, which has a crew of 75 merchant seamen and 25 Royal Navy sailors, witnessed the kidnapping but, despite having a helicopter on board, decided not to act for fear of endangering the couple's lives.

The decision led to widespread criticism of the navy.

The Chandlers are still being held by the pirates and have had numerous threats made against their lives.

The British government has refused to pay ransom demands amounting to millions of pounds

The Wave Knight is on a rest stop in Douglas until Saturday evening.


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