On 11 February 2009 "Vella Gulf" responded to a distress call from the tanker "Polaris" in the Gulf of Aden. "Polaris" reported that pirates in a single skiff were attempting to board the tanker with ladders, though "Polaris"s crew was able to thwart their efforts. Upon arriving in the area, "Vella Gulf" intercepted a skiff with seven men aboard. The crew aboard "Polaris" identified them as the attackers, and they were taken aboard "Vella Gulf", transferred to the supply ship for processing, and sent to Kenya for trial.