Wednesday, March 02, 2011
The Danish family was on a round-the-world journey, and were reportedly aware of the risks involved in undertaking the journey.
On a blog on which they chronicled their voyage, they reported that they had drawn up a "pirate plan" in case of attack in East Africa''s pirate-infested waters.
According to CBS News, they sent daily position reports to naval authorities. They were comforted by the sight of anti-piracy patrol planes overhead. And they thought the vastness of the sea would help protect them.
But days later, Jan Quist Johansen, his wife, Birgit Marie Johansen, and their sons, Rune and Hjalte, and daughter, Naja, ages 12 to 16, were captured by pirates in the Indian Ocean. Two adult Danish crew members were also seized in the attack on the Johansens'' 43-foot sailboat.
The Danish Government has said it is doing "everything in our power" to help the hostages.
Maritime experts, however, said the Johansens had foolishly placed themselves in grave danger off Somalia''s lawless coast despite warnings from naval forces struggling to police the area against pirates.
Somali pirates have rarely captured families and children. The Johansens are residents of Kalundborg, 75 miles west of Copenhagen. They set out on their journey in 2009.
--ANI