The Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Sazanami came to the aid of a Canadian-registered freighter Saturday that was being approached by a suspected pirate vessel off Somalia, the Defense Ministry said.

It is the third time an MSDF destroyer engaged in antipiracy patrols in the area warded off suspicious vessels approaching a ship not falling under the maritime police-action provision of the Self-Defense Forces Law under which the MSDF flotilla is operating.

The Sazanami received a radio call from the Canadian ship and then sent its helicopter to ward off the approaching vessel, the ministry said.