The Danish coaster SAMKA was hijacked when it sailed in Ålbæk Bight north of Frederikshavn. The ships crew has been taken ashore and are held as prisoners by local terrorists who also deal with illegal activities such as piracy and production and sale of drugs.

Luckily this scenario is only an element in the Danish Navy’s exercise DANEX 08. The participants of the exercise have been given the task to locate where the hostages are held and to free both them and the ship.

The task has been given to the Danish Navy’s Danish Frogman Corps which for this task is supported by the Danish Home Guards SSR – Special Support and Recce Company. The night between Monday and Tuesday patrols went ashore at different locations in Vendsyssel and made their way towards the assumed location of the hostages under the cover of darkness. Here several days of surveillance lie ahead before a possible release operation can be initiated.