Saturday, January 8, 2011
Update & Recent Activity
New tactics give pirates an edge Two years after international forces dispatched a flotilla of warships to counter piracy around the Horn of Africa, attacks on merchant ships are rising again. Pirates have shifted tactics so they can prey on merchant ships farther out at sea and evade an international flotilla that was dispatched to the Horn of Africa region to protect heavily used shipping lanes, according to the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain. USA Today, 01/07/2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Recent Hijackings - 2010
Somali pirates hijack fourth vessel in a week The British-flagged Asian Glory was seized off Somalia late Friday, the naval force said. The nationality of the pirates was unclear, because the hijacking happened outside of the force's operations area, it said. It has 25 crew members, eight Bulgarian, 10 Ukrainian, five Indian, two Romanian.
Also Friday, Somali pirates seized the Singaporean-flagged chemical tanker M/V Pramoni, also in the Gulf of Aden, the naval force said. The 20,000-ton chemical tanker was carrying a crew of 24 and was heading to Kandla, India, when attacked, the naval force said. The crew consists of 17 Indonesians, five Chinese, one Nigerian and one Vietnamese, the naval force said. The ship's master reported all the crew were well after the hijacking, the naval force said. CNN, 1/2/2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Task Forces
Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151)
Combined Maritime Forces
Wikipedia
US Naval Forces Central Command
NATO Task Force
NATO-OTAN
SNMCMG1
Operation Allied Protector
European Union Task Force Operation Atalanta
EU Naval Force Somalia
Wikipedia
Maritime Security Centre
EU Consilium
and countries like Russia, China, South Korea and others operating independently.
Combined Maritime Forces
Wikipedia
US Naval Forces Central Command
NATO Task Force
NATO-OTAN
SNMCMG1
Operation Allied Protector
European Union Task Force Operation Atalanta
EU Naval Force Somalia
Wikipedia
Maritime Security Centre
EU Consilium
and countries like Russia, China, South Korea and others operating independently.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Current Articles & News v.9
Here are links to current articles and new releases regarding the crisis of international hijacking by pirates (terrorists).
IMB Piracy Map 2009
Lloyd's List Piracy & Security
Somali Pirates Attack Kuwaiti Oil Tanker The spokesman for the European Union's anti-piracy force says Somali pirates have attacked a Kuwaiti-flagged oil tanker but failed to seize it. Cmdr. John Harbour says the pirates attacked the 105,000-ton MV Album about 800 nautical miles east of the northern coast of Somalia. Harbour says Wednesday's unsuccessful attack lasted for about 30 minutes and caused no damage to the ship. NYTimes, 12/30/2009
Somali Pirates Capture Two Cargo Ships Pirates based in Somalia captured two ships so far this week and released a third for $4 million in ransom. Pirates seized on Monday the UK-flag chemical tanker St James Park with a crew of 26 from nine different countries. The ship was en route to Thailand from Spain. On Wednesday, pirates captured the Greek-owned cargo ship Navios Apollon off the coast of Sychelles on its way to India. The pirates attacked the ship and its crew of 19 on a pair of speedboats, according to a report in the Chinese newspaper Xinhua. The ship is carrying fertilizer from Florida. Only hours before the second capture, another band of pirates had released the Singapore-flag vessel Kota Wajar and its 21 crewmembers after receiving approximately $4 million in ransom. Journal of Commerce, 12/30/2009
Examining Impact Of Pirate Attacks, There have been some changes in the area of operation and the modus operandi of the pirates, but, actually, the number of attacks has increased. Last year, there were 111 attacks in the waters off of Somalia. This year, we are on the last days of the year, but we've recorded 210 attacks in the same waters. Last year, 40 ships were seized. This year, 44 have been seized so far. There's been an unprecedented multilateral deployment of navies at any given moment in the last 12 months. There have been somewhere in the order of three dozen naval warships from three combined task forces: The Combined Task Force 151, which is U.S.-led, the NATO Task Force, the European Union Task Force Operation Atalanta, as well as a number of countries like Russia, China, South Korea and others operating independently. And they've had some good effect. But, unfortunately, the Gulf of Aden is a limited body of water and the pirates simply move to the Somali basin, the Western Indian Ocean. Here we're talking about two million nautical miles. And so they're striking an area that's just simply way too large to be patrolled and it's going to increase in the coming months. NPR, 12/28/2009
FACTBOX-Ships held by Somali pirates Reuters-India, 12/27/2009 Here is a list of ships under the control of Somali pirates:
* WIN FAR 161: Taiwanese tuna boat, seized on April 6, 2009.
* AL KHALIQ - Seized on Oct. 22, 2009. The Panamanian-registered ship carried 26 crew, 24 of them Indian. It is owned and operated by SNP Shipping of Mumbai. The 38,305 dwt bulk carrier was seized west of the Seychelles.
* THAI UNION 3 - Seized on Oct. 29, 2009. Pirates on two skiffs boarded the tuna fishing boat with 23 Russians, two Filipinos and two Ghanaians on board.
* FILITSA: Seized on Nov. 10, 2009. The 23,709 dwt cargo ship had three Greek officers a Filipino crew. The Marshall Islands-flagged ship had been heading from Kuwait to Durban, South Africa, when it was attacked 500 miles northeast of the
Seychelles.
* THERESA VIII: Seized on Nov. 16, 2009. The chemical tanker was hijacked in the south Somali Basin, northwest of the Seychelles. The 22,294 dwt tanker had a crew of 28 North Koreans. The captain of the tanker died from gunshot wounds sustained during the hijack, a Somali pirate said.
* MARAN CENTAURUS: Seized Nov 29, 2009: The tanker was sailing from Kuwait to the Gulf of Mexico when it was seized near the Seychelles. The tanker had nine Greeks, two Ukrainians, one Romanian and 16 Filipinos on board and was carrying around two million barrels of crude oil.
* SHAHBAIG: Seized Dec. 6, 2009: Pirates seized the Pakistani-flagged fishing vessel, with a crew of 29 on board, thought to be Pakistani, 320 miles east of Socotra.
* MV NESEYA, Indian, dhow, seized 12/18/2009
* AL-MAHMOUDIA2, Yemen, freighter, Seized 12/18/2009
* ST. JAMES PARK, UK, chemical tanker, Seized 12/28/2009
* NAVIOS APOLLON, (19 crew members) Greece-owned by Navios Maritime Partners, the sister company of Navios Maritime Holdings, fertilizer cargo, Seized 12/30/2009
Ships and Vessels recently released:
* KOTA WAJAR: Seized on Oct. 15, 2009. The 24,637-tonne container ship, seized 300 miles north of Seychelles, was heading for Mombasa from Singapore and had 21 crew on board, released 12/30/2009
* DE XIN HAI: Siezed in mid-October, released 12/28/2009, seized 11/5/2009
* DELVINA, Greece, (21 crew members), released 12/18/2009, seized 11/5/2009.
* MT ARIANA, Greece, (24 crew members) released 12/10/2009, seized 5/2/2009.
* CHARELLE, released 12/3/2009
Status of Vessels Held off the Somali Coast, Ecoterra Somali Marine & Coastal Monitor, Buzzle, 5/18/2009
Status of Vessels held in Somalia: Copyright: Ecoterra Intl.
(IO = Indian Ocean / GoA = Gulf of Aden)
9+ months:
T/B YENEGOA OCEAN: Taken back from a brief move to Alula and held at Xawo (GoA). The Nigerian government has now stepped in to help in solving the case of this tugboat with 10 desperate Nigerian crew members. After many months, during which already humanitarian assistance had to be provided, the owner - Nigerian ESL Integrated Services - had then provided for some support but not achieved the release.
7+ montha:
MV JAIKUR-I: All international crew-members were evacuated and are back home. The general cargo ship itself is still detained due to a dispute with the owners over damaged cargo - case closed for us.
5+ months:
T/B MASINDRA 7: The Malaysian-owned tugboat with Indonesian owned barge ADM 1 is presently held 30 nm off Hafun. The 11 Indonesian crew are in very bad condition, while the mastermind of the piracy case went to Yemen, where he is wanted and hunted by the Yemeni authorities. An attempt by the owner to solve the case from Yemen apparently failed so far. After the Malaysian warship Indera Sekti had a go at the earlier stand-off site at the Gulf of Aden coast the vessel went to the Indian Ocean side. Several shoot-outs between the now two pirate groups holding the vessel. 2nd engineer got hit in the crossfire but is ok now, given the circumstances. Malaysian government apparently still not keen yet to supervise the continuously failing negotiations by the owner. The freeing of this vessel should now receive much higher priorities.
2.5+ months:
S/Y SERENITY: The catamaran sailing for Madagascar from the Seychelles with three Seychellois crew aboard is held around 12 nm off Garacad (IO). Negotiations have been complicated so far.
1.5+ months:
MS INDIAN OCEAN EXPLORER: The former oceanographic research vessel with 7 Seychellois crew, held off Handule near Harardheere. Some crew-members are back on board. Interfering brokers pushed the ransom demands higher.
6+ weeks:
MV HANSA STAVANGER: A German commando operation to free the five Germans (incl. captain), three Russians, two Ukrainians, two Filipinos and 12 Tuvaluans was terminated due to the dangers for the crew. Vessel is moored near Harardheere and some crew is still held on land. Negotiations ongoing.
5+ weeks:
FV WIN FAR 161: The Taiwanese tuna boat with 30 crew is held 8 nm off Garacad. The fate of 17 Filipinos, six Indonesians, five Chinese and two Taiwanese.is neglegted by the owner of the vessel.
FV MOMTAZ 1: Egyptian fishing vessel is still detained for illegal fishing at Gacaan (GoA) with 18 Egyptian crew. Egyptian government sees no possibility to bail the vessel and crew out, because the directive of the Egyptian government not to operate in Somali waters was not observed.
FV SAMARA AHMED: Egyptian fishing vessel is still detained for illegal fishing at Gacaan (GoA) with 16 Egyptian crew. Egyptian government sees no possibility to bail the vessel and crew out, because the directive of the Egyptian government not to operate in Somali waters was not observed.
T/B BUCCANEER: The Italian tugboat with two huge barges of presently and formerly unknown content - owned by Micoperi Marine Contractors - was carrying 10 Italians, five Romanians and a Croatian, and was seized towing two barges while traveling westbound through the Gulf of Aden. Governmental mediation and intervention failed so far. Italian warship Maestrale is standby at a distance of about 45 nm.
4+ weeks:
MV IRENE E.M.: The St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged Greek-owned bulk carrier with 22 Filipino crew is held near Harardheere (IO). Negotiations ongoing.
MV POMPEI: The Belgian dredger and its 10 crew with two Belgian, four Croatian, one Dutch and three Filipino crew on board is held between Garcad and Harardheere. Negotiations ongoing.
3+ weeks:
MV PATRIOT: The German owned, but Maltese-flagged bulk-carrier with 17 crew of which 15 are Filipino is held near Eyl (IO). Negotiations ongoing.
2+ weeks:
MV ARIANA: The British owner-managed and Greek operated, but Antigua and Barbuda-flagged freighter with 24-men crew (all of Ukrainian nationality) is held near Harardheere (IO). Negotiations started.
11+ days:
MV VICTORIA: The German owned, but Antigua and Barbuda- flagged cargo vessel was sea-jacked by eight pirates on May 5, 2009 in the Gulf of Aden. The 11 Romania crew with one woman are all-right, given the circumstances. Negotiations started.
9+ days:
MV MARATHON: Seized on May 7, 2009. The small coke fuel carrier, with 8 all-Ukrainian crew is owned by the Netherlands but Netherlands-Antilles flagged. The Dutch frigate De Zeven Provinciën as well as a Spanish warship have the vessel boxed in at 29 nm off Laasmacaan on the Gulf of Aden coast. Situation on board extremely tense.
Still missing:
Since 28th April 2009: Akio Yonago's 36-foot sailboat, the S/Y EMU II and another yacht it was sailing together with from the Seychelles.
Wanted:
Crew (6 Syrians and 6 Indians) of MT AGIA BARBARA Wanted for Murder: The crew still at large ! Vessel was observed in Dubai after it fled from Mogadishu and vessel position later indicated that it was loading again at the Al Basra Oil Terminal, Iraq
IMB Piracy Map 2009Lloyd's List Piracy & Security
Somali Pirates Attack Kuwaiti Oil Tanker The spokesman for the European Union's anti-piracy force says Somali pirates have attacked a Kuwaiti-flagged oil tanker but failed to seize it. Cmdr. John Harbour says the pirates attacked the 105,000-ton MV Album about 800 nautical miles east of the northern coast of Somalia. Harbour says Wednesday's unsuccessful attack lasted for about 30 minutes and caused no damage to the ship. NYTimes, 12/30/2009
Somali Pirates Capture Two Cargo Ships Pirates based in Somalia captured two ships so far this week and released a third for $4 million in ransom. Pirates seized on Monday the UK-flag chemical tanker St James Park with a crew of 26 from nine different countries. The ship was en route to Thailand from Spain. On Wednesday, pirates captured the Greek-owned cargo ship Navios Apollon off the coast of Sychelles on its way to India. The pirates attacked the ship and its crew of 19 on a pair of speedboats, according to a report in the Chinese newspaper Xinhua. The ship is carrying fertilizer from Florida. Only hours before the second capture, another band of pirates had released the Singapore-flag vessel Kota Wajar and its 21 crewmembers after receiving approximately $4 million in ransom. Journal of Commerce, 12/30/2009
Examining Impact Of Pirate Attacks, There have been some changes in the area of operation and the modus operandi of the pirates, but, actually, the number of attacks has increased. Last year, there were 111 attacks in the waters off of Somalia. This year, we are on the last days of the year, but we've recorded 210 attacks in the same waters. Last year, 40 ships were seized. This year, 44 have been seized so far. There's been an unprecedented multilateral deployment of navies at any given moment in the last 12 months. There have been somewhere in the order of three dozen naval warships from three combined task forces: The Combined Task Force 151, which is U.S.-led, the NATO Task Force, the European Union Task Force Operation Atalanta, as well as a number of countries like Russia, China, South Korea and others operating independently. And they've had some good effect. But, unfortunately, the Gulf of Aden is a limited body of water and the pirates simply move to the Somali basin, the Western Indian Ocean. Here we're talking about two million nautical miles. And so they're striking an area that's just simply way too large to be patrolled and it's going to increase in the coming months. NPR, 12/28/2009
FACTBOX-Ships held by Somali pirates Reuters-India, 12/27/2009 Here is a list of ships under the control of Somali pirates:
* WIN FAR 161: Taiwanese tuna boat, seized on April 6, 2009.
* AL KHALIQ - Seized on Oct. 22, 2009. The Panamanian-registered ship carried 26 crew, 24 of them Indian. It is owned and operated by SNP Shipping of Mumbai. The 38,305 dwt bulk carrier was seized west of the Seychelles.
* THAI UNION 3 - Seized on Oct. 29, 2009. Pirates on two skiffs boarded the tuna fishing boat with 23 Russians, two Filipinos and two Ghanaians on board.
* FILITSA: Seized on Nov. 10, 2009. The 23,709 dwt cargo ship had three Greek officers a Filipino crew. The Marshall Islands-flagged ship had been heading from Kuwait to Durban, South Africa, when it was attacked 500 miles northeast of theSeychelles.
* THERESA VIII: Seized on Nov. 16, 2009. The chemical tanker was hijacked in the south Somali Basin, northwest of the Seychelles. The 22,294 dwt tanker had a crew of 28 North Koreans. The captain of the tanker died from gunshot wounds sustained during the hijack, a Somali pirate said.
* MARAN CENTAURUS: Seized Nov 29, 2009: The tanker was sailing from Kuwait to the Gulf of Mexico when it was seized near the Seychelles. The tanker had nine Greeks, two Ukrainians, one Romanian and 16 Filipinos on board and was carrying around two million barrels of crude oil.* SHAHBAIG: Seized Dec. 6, 2009: Pirates seized the Pakistani-flagged fishing vessel, with a crew of 29 on board, thought to be Pakistani, 320 miles east of Socotra.
* MV NESEYA, Indian, dhow, seized 12/18/2009
* AL-MAHMOUDIA2, Yemen, freighter, Seized 12/18/2009
* ST. JAMES PARK, UK, chemical tanker, Seized 12/28/2009
* NAVIOS APOLLON, (19 crew members) Greece-owned by Navios Maritime Partners, the sister company of Navios Maritime Holdings, fertilizer cargo, Seized 12/30/2009 Ships and Vessels recently released:
* KOTA WAJAR: Seized on Oct. 15, 2009. The 24,637-tonne container ship, seized 300 miles north of Seychelles, was heading for Mombasa from Singapore and had 21 crew on board, released 12/30/2009
* DE XIN HAI: Siezed in mid-October, released 12/28/2009, seized 11/5/2009
* DELVINA, Greece, (21 crew members), released 12/18/2009, seized 11/5/2009.
* MT ARIANA, Greece, (24 crew members) released 12/10/2009, seized 5/2/2009.
* CHARELLE, released 12/3/2009
Status of Vessels Held off the Somali Coast, Ecoterra Somali Marine & Coastal Monitor, Buzzle, 5/18/2009Status of Vessels held in Somalia: Copyright: Ecoterra Intl.
(IO = Indian Ocean / GoA = Gulf of Aden)
9+ months:
T/B YENEGOA OCEAN: Taken back from a brief move to Alula and held at Xawo (GoA). The Nigerian government has now stepped in to help in solving the case of this tugboat with 10 desperate Nigerian crew members. After many months, during which already humanitarian assistance had to be provided, the owner - Nigerian ESL Integrated Services - had then provided for some support but not achieved the release.
7+ montha:
MV JAIKUR-I: All international crew-members were evacuated and are back home. The general cargo ship itself is still detained due to a dispute with the owners over damaged cargo - case closed for us.
5+ months:
T/B MASINDRA 7: The Malaysian-owned tugboat with Indonesian owned barge ADM 1 is presently held 30 nm off Hafun. The 11 Indonesian crew are in very bad condition, while the mastermind of the piracy case went to Yemen, where he is wanted and hunted by the Yemeni authorities. An attempt by the owner to solve the case from Yemen apparently failed so far. After the Malaysian warship Indera Sekti had a go at the earlier stand-off site at the Gulf of Aden coast the vessel went to the Indian Ocean side. Several shoot-outs between the now two pirate groups holding the vessel. 2nd engineer got hit in the crossfire but is ok now, given the circumstances. Malaysian government apparently still not keen yet to supervise the continuously failing negotiations by the owner. The freeing of this vessel should now receive much higher priorities.
2.5+ months:
S/Y SERENITY: The catamaran sailing for Madagascar from the Seychelles with three Seychellois crew aboard is held around 12 nm off Garacad (IO). Negotiations have been complicated so far.
1.5+ months:
MS INDIAN OCEAN EXPLORER: The former oceanographic research vessel with 7 Seychellois crew, held off Handule near Harardheere. Some crew-members are back on board. Interfering brokers pushed the ransom demands higher.
6+ weeks:
MV HANSA STAVANGER: A German commando operation to free the five Germans (incl. captain), three Russians, two Ukrainians, two Filipinos and 12 Tuvaluans was terminated due to the dangers for the crew. Vessel is moored near Harardheere and some crew is still held on land. Negotiations ongoing.
5+ weeks:
FV WIN FAR 161: The Taiwanese tuna boat with 30 crew is held 8 nm off Garacad. The fate of 17 Filipinos, six Indonesians, five Chinese and two Taiwanese.is neglegted by the owner of the vessel.
FV MOMTAZ 1: Egyptian fishing vessel is still detained for illegal fishing at Gacaan (GoA) with 18 Egyptian crew. Egyptian government sees no possibility to bail the vessel and crew out, because the directive of the Egyptian government not to operate in Somali waters was not observed.
FV SAMARA AHMED: Egyptian fishing vessel is still detained for illegal fishing at Gacaan (GoA) with 16 Egyptian crew. Egyptian government sees no possibility to bail the vessel and crew out, because the directive of the Egyptian government not to operate in Somali waters was not observed.
T/B BUCCANEER: The Italian tugboat with two huge barges of presently and formerly unknown content - owned by Micoperi Marine Contractors - was carrying 10 Italians, five Romanians and a Croatian, and was seized towing two barges while traveling westbound through the Gulf of Aden. Governmental mediation and intervention failed so far. Italian warship Maestrale is standby at a distance of about 45 nm.
4+ weeks:
MV IRENE E.M.: The St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged Greek-owned bulk carrier with 22 Filipino crew is held near Harardheere (IO). Negotiations ongoing.
MV POMPEI: The Belgian dredger and its 10 crew with two Belgian, four Croatian, one Dutch and three Filipino crew on board is held between Garcad and Harardheere. Negotiations ongoing.
3+ weeks:
MV PATRIOT: The German owned, but Maltese-flagged bulk-carrier with 17 crew of which 15 are Filipino is held near Eyl (IO). Negotiations ongoing.
2+ weeks:
MV ARIANA: The British owner-managed and Greek operated, but Antigua and Barbuda-flagged freighter with 24-men crew (all of Ukrainian nationality) is held near Harardheere (IO). Negotiations started.
11+ days:
MV VICTORIA: The German owned, but Antigua and Barbuda- flagged cargo vessel was sea-jacked by eight pirates on May 5, 2009 in the Gulf of Aden. The 11 Romania crew with one woman are all-right, given the circumstances. Negotiations started.
9+ days:
MV MARATHON: Seized on May 7, 2009. The small coke fuel carrier, with 8 all-Ukrainian crew is owned by the Netherlands but Netherlands-Antilles flagged. The Dutch frigate De Zeven Provinciën as well as a Spanish warship have the vessel boxed in at 29 nm off Laasmacaan on the Gulf of Aden coast. Situation on board extremely tense.
Still missing:
Since 28th April 2009: Akio Yonago's 36-foot sailboat, the S/Y EMU II and another yacht it was sailing together with from the Seychelles.
Wanted:
Crew (6 Syrians and 6 Indians) of MT AGIA BARBARA Wanted for Murder: The crew still at large ! Vessel was observed in Dubai after it fled from Mogadishu and vessel position later indicated that it was loading again at the Al Basra Oil Terminal, Iraq
Monday, April 13, 2009
United States and Somalian Hijacking Crisis
Here is a collection of articles that chronicle the United States' entry into the Somalian pirate & hijacking crisis. This begins with the rescue of Maersk Alabama's Captain Richard Phillips on Sunday, April 12, 2009.
Navies to guard undersea cable from Somali pirates Foreign navies have agreed to protect a vessel installing an undersea high-speed Internet cable from pirates off the coast of Somalia, a Kenyan minister said on Thursday. (Reuters, 04/16/2009)
Clinton Calls for Crackdown on Somali Pirate Bases (Update1) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for authorities in Somalia to act against land bases that pirates use to attack ships and said the U.S. will seek ways to track and freeze assets of the brigands. Clinton said she has assigned a team of U.S. diplomats to press the Somali government and leaders of Puntland, a semi- autonomous region in Somalia, to take action against the land bases. (Bloomberg, 04/15/2009)
French raid pirate ship, US seeks to freeze assets The U.S. and its allies battled Somalia's pirates on two fronts Wednesday, with French forces seizing a bandit mother ship and Washington seeking to keep the marauders from their spoils. Another U.S. freighter headed to port with armed sailors aboard after pirates damaged it with gunshots and grenades. (Associated Press/Yahoo News, 04/15/2009)
Somali pirates in brazen challenge to Obama and allies as they hijack FOUR more ships... and open fire on a fifth Somali pirates have brazenly hijacked four more ships in the Gulf of Aden over the last 24 hours and opened fire on a fifth. The pirates captured two trawlers yesterday, a cargo ship named the M.V. Irene overnight, and a second cargo ship named the M.V. Seahorse today. This afternoon a NATO official said a band of pirates had opened fire on a fifth cargo ship - but it managed to escape. (UK MailOnline, 04/14/2009)
U.S. Military Considers Attacks on Somali Pirates’ Land Bases The U.S. military is considering attacks on pirate bases on land and aid for the Somali people to help stem ship hijackings off Africa’s east coast, defense officials said. The military also is drawing up proposals to aid the fledgling Somalia government to train security forces and develop its own coast guard (Bloomberg 04/13/2009)
Navies to guard undersea cable from Somali pirates Foreign navies have agreed to protect a vessel installing an undersea high-speed Internet cable from pirates off the coast of Somalia, a Kenyan minister said on Thursday. (Reuters, 04/16/2009)
Clinton Calls for Crackdown on Somali Pirate Bases (Update1) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for authorities in Somalia to act against land bases that pirates use to attack ships and said the U.S. will seek ways to track and freeze assets of the brigands. Clinton said she has assigned a team of U.S. diplomats to press the Somali government and leaders of Puntland, a semi- autonomous region in Somalia, to take action against the land bases. (Bloomberg, 04/15/2009)
French raid pirate ship, US seeks to freeze assets The U.S. and its allies battled Somalia's pirates on two fronts Wednesday, with French forces seizing a bandit mother ship and Washington seeking to keep the marauders from their spoils. Another U.S. freighter headed to port with armed sailors aboard after pirates damaged it with gunshots and grenades. (Associated Press/Yahoo News, 04/15/2009)
Somali pirates in brazen challenge to Obama and allies as they hijack FOUR more ships... and open fire on a fifth Somali pirates have brazenly hijacked four more ships in the Gulf of Aden over the last 24 hours and opened fire on a fifth. The pirates captured two trawlers yesterday, a cargo ship named the M.V. Irene overnight, and a second cargo ship named the M.V. Seahorse today. This afternoon a NATO official said a band of pirates had opened fire on a fifth cargo ship - but it managed to escape. (UK MailOnline, 04/14/2009)
U.S. Military Considers Attacks on Somali Pirates’ Land Bases The U.S. military is considering attacks on pirate bases on land and aid for the Somali people to help stem ship hijackings off Africa’s east coast, defense officials said. The military also is drawing up proposals to aid the fledgling Somalia government to train security forces and develop its own coast guard (Bloomberg 04/13/2009)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
April 10, 2009 Update on Hijacked vessels
Below are some of the vessels believed to be held by pirates:
NAMES UNKNOWN Seized April 11, 2009, two Egyptian boats, carrying a crew of 24
BUCCANEER, seized April 11, 2009, Italian tugboat, owned by Micoperi Marine Contractors, carrying 10 Italians, 5 Romanians and a Croatian, in the Gulf of Aden.
MAERSK ALABAMA: Siezed April 8, 2009, the 17,000 tonne a Danish-owned, U.S-operated container vessel was hijacked in the Indian Ocean 400 miles off the Somali capital Mogadishu.
MALASPINA CASTLE siezed April 6, 2009, the 32,000-tonne vessel, which flies a Panamanian flag, British owned, wirth crew of 24, including 16 Bulgarians, was taken on Monday morning in the Gulf of Aden.
TANIT Yacht, French sailing boat seized: April 4, 2009, some 640 kilometers (400 miles) off the coast of Ras Hafun, northeast Somalia.
HANSA STAVANGER, German 20,000 ton container vessel, seized off the southern Somalia coast, between Kenya and Seychelles, including a 24 man crew, including 5 Germans.
MV. WIN TAR 161: seized near Seychelles, 3o crew members (the ship's skipper and first engineer are Taiwan nationals, 5 crew members are Chinese, 17 are Filipinos, and 6 are Indonesian),700 ton, Taiwanese deep sea long-line fishing vessel.
SHEHENSHA-E-MADINA, owned by Yasim Salim Sambhina of Salaya: Siezed in Red Sea on March 30, 2009, with 18-member crew
INDIAN OCEAN EXPLORER: Seized March 2009: The 35-metre long boat was built in Hamburg as an oceanographic research vessel. It accommodates around 12 passengers. The yacht Serenity with three people on board was seized in late February or early March.
BOW ASIR: Seized on March 26, 2009. The Norwegian 23,000-tonne, Bahamas-registered chemical tanker was carrying caustic soda. It was operated by Salhus Shipping and carried 27 crew consists of a Norwegian captain, 19 Filipinos, five Poles, one Russian and one Lithuanian.
NIPAYIYA: Seized on March 25, 2009. The 9,000 ton Greek-owned and Panamana-registered MT Nipayia, was seized by pirates 450 miles from Somalia's south coast, including a Russian captain and 18-Philippine crew.
SALDANHA: Seized on Feb. 22, 2009. The Maltese-flagged cargo ship, sailing to Slovenia, has 22 crew and was loaded with coal. TITAN: Seized on March 19, 2009. The 43,000 dwt Saint-Vincent-flagged cargo vessel with 24 crew was sailing from the Black Sea to Korea when it was attacked by pirates.
LONGCHAMP: Seized on Jan. 29, 2009. The liquefied petroleum gas tanker, built in 1990, has 13 crew on board, 12 Filipinos and one Indonesian. The tanker has a capacity of 3,415 tonnes.
NAME UNKNOWN: Seized on Dec. 16. A yacht with two on board, an Indonesian tugboat used by French oil company Total. Pirates also hijacked the Chinese fishing vessel Zhenhua-4 with 30 Chinese crew aboard but it was freed the next day.
STOLT STRENGTH: Seized Nov. 10. The chemical tanker had 23 Filipino crew aboard. It was carrying 23,818 tonnes of oil products.
NAMES UKNOWN: Seized on Dec. 10. Pirates hijacked two Yemeni fishing vessels with a total of 22 crew in coastal waters in the Gulf of Aden. Five crew reportedly escaped.
CHEMSTAR VENUS: Seized Nov. 15. The tanker was travelling from Dumai, Indonesia, to Ukraine. It had 18 Filipino and five South Korean crew.
NAMES UNKNOWN Seized April 11, 2009, two Egyptian boats, carrying a crew of 24
BUCCANEER, seized April 11, 2009, Italian tugboat, owned by Micoperi Marine Contractors, carrying 10 Italians, 5 Romanians and a Croatian, in the Gulf of Aden. 
MAERSK ALABAMA: Siezed April 8, 2009, the 17,000 tonne a Danish-owned, U.S-operated container vessel was hijacked in the Indian Ocean 400 miles off the Somali capital Mogadishu.
MALASPINA CASTLE siezed April 6, 2009, the 32,000-tonne vessel, which flies a Panamanian flag, British owned, wirth crew of 24, including 16 Bulgarians, was taken on Monday morning in the Gulf of Aden.
TANIT Yacht, French sailing boat seized: April 4, 2009, some 640 kilometers (400 miles) off the coast of Ras Hafun, northeast Somalia.
HANSA STAVANGER, German 20,000 ton container vessel, seized off the southern Somalia coast, between Kenya and Seychelles, including a 24 man crew, including 5 Germans. MV. WIN TAR 161: seized near Seychelles, 3o crew members (the ship's skipper and first engineer are Taiwan nationals, 5 crew members are Chinese, 17 are Filipinos, and 6 are Indonesian),700 ton, Taiwanese deep sea long-line fishing vessel.
SHEHENSHA-E-MADINA, owned by Yasim Salim Sambhina of Salaya: Siezed in Red Sea on March 30, 2009, with 18-member crew
INDIAN OCEAN EXPLORER: Seized March 2009: The 35-metre long boat was built in Hamburg as an oceanographic research vessel. It accommodates around 12 passengers. The yacht Serenity with three people on board was seized in late February or early March. 
BOW ASIR: Seized on March 26, 2009. The Norwegian 23,000-tonne, Bahamas-registered chemical tanker was carrying caustic soda. It was operated by Salhus Shipping and carried 27 crew consists of a Norwegian captain, 19 Filipinos, five Poles, one Russian and one Lithuanian. 
NIPAYIYA: Seized on March 25, 2009. The 9,000 ton Greek-owned and Panamana-registered MT Nipayia, was seized by pirates 450 miles from Somalia's south coast, including a Russian captain and 18-Philippine crew.
SALDANHA: Seized on Feb. 22, 2009. The Maltese-flagged cargo ship, sailing to Slovenia, has 22 crew and was loaded with coal. TITAN: Seized on March 19, 2009. The 43,000 dwt Saint-Vincent-flagged cargo vessel with 24 crew was sailing from the Black Sea to Korea when it was attacked by pirates.
LONGCHAMP: Seized on Jan. 29, 2009. The liquefied petroleum gas tanker, built in 1990, has 13 crew on board, 12 Filipinos and one Indonesian. The tanker has a capacity of 3,415 tonnes.NAME UNKNOWN: Seized on Dec. 16. A yacht with two on board, an Indonesian tugboat used by French oil company Total. Pirates also hijacked the Chinese fishing vessel Zhenhua-4 with 30 Chinese crew aboard but it was freed the next day.
STOLT STRENGTH: Seized Nov. 10. The chemical tanker had 23 Filipino crew aboard. It was carrying 23,818 tonnes of oil products.
NAMES UKNOWN: Seized on Dec. 10. Pirates hijacked two Yemeni fishing vessels with a total of 22 crew in coastal waters in the Gulf of Aden. Five crew reportedly escaped.
CHEMSTAR VENUS: Seized Nov. 15. The tanker was travelling from Dumai, Indonesia, to Ukraine. It had 18 Filipino and five South Korean crew.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Somalia Piracy Update (NATO)
The following slides are from NATO's Shipping Centre website. [click on slide image for larger view]
January 21, 2009
January 21, 2009
Current Articles & News v.8
Here are links to current articles and new releases regarding the crisis of international hijacking by pirates (terrorists).
10 ships, 179 crew held by Somali pirates The International Maritime Bureau says 166 crew on nine hijacked ships are still being held off the coast of Somalia, not including the German tanker seized Thursday, the MV Longchamp and its 13-man crew.
The other ships include:
(1) Ukrainian cargo ship MV Faina, seized in September. The pirates had originally asked for $20 million for the ship, which is laden with 33 tanks and other heavy weapons. (2) Turkish tanker Karagol, seized in November carrying 4,500 tons of chemicals and 14 Turkish personnel. (3) Chinese fishing vessel Tianyu No. 8, seized in mid-November. (4) Bulk carrier African Sanderling and its 21 Filipino crewmen, seized in October. (5) Egyptian cargo ship Blue Star with 28 crew, seized in January.
(AP International, 01/29/2009)
Kenya agrees to prosecute U.S.-held pirates: Pentagon Kenya has agreed to prosecute Somali pirates captured by the U.S. Navy, allowing U.S. forces to begin taking piracy suspects into custody on the high seas, the Pentagon said on Thursday. U.S. and Kenyan officials signed a bilateral agreement on January 16 that calls for suspects to be tried in Kenyan courts, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. The pact removes a major obstacle that prevented the U.S. Navy from capturing pirates. (Reuters, 01/29/2009)
Somali pirates hijack German gas tanker, 13 crew Somali pirates hijacked a German tanker loaded with liquefied petroleum gas Thursday off the Horn of Africa. The ship's 13-man crew was reported safe, even though gunshots were heard over the ship's radio. The MV Longchamp is the third ship captured by pirates this month in the Gulf of Aden. (Yahoo News, 01/29/2009)
Sailor tells of the moment pirates captured the Sirius Star A Scottish sailor who was held hostage for two months on the oil tanker, the Sirius Star, has spoken for the first time about the "beautiful morning" at sea that was ruined by heavily armed pirates. (Telegraph UK, 01/29/2009)
Monday, January 12, 2009
NATO's Somalia Piracy Update
The following slides are from NATO's Shipping Centre website. [click on slide image for larger view]
January 12, 2009
January 7, 2009
December 11, 2008
November 21, 2008
November 18, 2008
October 15, 2008
January 12, 2009
January 7, 2009
December 11, 2008
November 21, 2008
November 18, 2008
October 15, 2008
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
7 Essays of Africa Piracy Annals
Here are seven very comprehensive sequential essays, written by Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis, filled with good data, representing an academic perspective of the hijacking and terrorism off the coast of Somalia."Around the Year Change 2008–2009 in Somalia/Horn of Africa Piracy Annals." (American Chronicle, 01/05-06/2009)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Monday, January 5, 2009
GeoEye IKONOS High-Resolution Satellite Sensor
Somali Pirates Hijacked Tanker, M/V Sirius Star, Located by GeoEye IKONOS High-Resolution Satellite Sensor GeoEye IKONOS Satellite collects high-resolution (<1m) image on November 20th, 2008 of the hijacked supertanker Sirius Star owned by ARAMCO of Saudi Arabia. The vessel is located 5 miles off the Somalia coast at WGS-84 ECEF Latitude 4.595? North and Longitude 48.085? East. The IKONOS Satellite Image was acquired from 423 miles in space while the IKONOS satellite was moving from north to south over the East coast of Africa at 17,000 mph. (4 miles per second).
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Current Articles & News v.7
Here are links to current articles and new releases regarding the crisis of international hijacking by pirates (terrorists).
54 Filipino seamen still in Somali pirates' hands Fifty-four Filipino seamen remain in the hands of their ransom-seeking Somali captors after 36 of their colleagues were freed over the weekend, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. The remaining sailors are crew members of the four ships that are still in the custody of the pirates in Somalia, namely: the MTAfrican Sanderling (hijacked on Oct. 15), MT Stolt Strength (hijacked on Nov. 11), Tianyu No. 8 (hijacked on Nov. 14), and the MV Chemstar Venus (hijacked on Nov. 16). (ChinaView, 01/12/2009)
Saudi tanker (Sirius Star) 'freed off Somalia' A Saudi supertanker that was captured by Somali pirates in November carrying two million barrels of oil has been released, reports quoting pirates say. A negotiator for the pirates told the BBC a $3m (£1.95m) ransom was paid. A small plane was seen apparently dropping the ransom by parachute onto the tanker. Coalition naval forces in Bahrain said it appeared that the pirates on the Sirius Star had received a ransom payment in a container parachuted from a plane. Reuters later reported that five of the pirates making off with the ransom money had drowned after their boat was hit by high seas. (BBC, 01/09/2009)
Hostages freed from pirates off Somalia, Nigeria Pirates freed 20 hostages aboard a Turkish freighter commandeered off the Somali coast, as nine captives on a French boat were released off southern Nigeria, the boat owners said Wednesday. The Yasa Holding Co. said pirates freed the Yasa Neslihan freighter Tuesday after paying a ransom. The Turkish ship was seized Oct. 29 in the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean near Somalia. (AP, 01/07/2009)
54 Filipino seamen still in Somali pirates' hands Fifty-four Filipino seamen remain in the hands of their ransom-seeking Somali captors after 36 of their colleagues were freed over the weekend, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. The remaining sailors are crew members of the four ships that are still in the custody of the pirates in Somalia, namely: the MTAfrican Sanderling (hijacked on Oct. 15), MT Stolt Strength (hijacked on Nov. 11), Tianyu No. 8 (hijacked on Nov. 14), and the MV Chemstar Venus (hijacked on Nov. 16). (ChinaView, 01/12/2009)
Saudi tanker (Sirius Star) 'freed off Somalia' A Saudi supertanker that was captured by Somali pirates in November carrying two million barrels of oil has been released, reports quoting pirates say. A negotiator for the pirates told the BBC a $3m (£1.95m) ransom was paid. A small plane was seen apparently dropping the ransom by parachute onto the tanker. Coalition naval forces in Bahrain said it appeared that the pirates on the Sirius Star had received a ransom payment in a container parachuted from a plane. Reuters later reported that five of the pirates making off with the ransom money had drowned after their boat was hit by high seas. (BBC, 01/09/2009)
Hostages freed from pirates off Somalia, Nigeria Pirates freed 20 hostages aboard a Turkish freighter commandeered off the Somali coast, as nine captives on a French boat were released off southern Nigeria, the boat owners said Wednesday. The Yasa Holding Co. said pirates freed the Yasa Neslihan freighter Tuesday after paying a ransom. The Turkish ship was seized Oct. 29 in the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean near Somalia. (AP, 01/07/2009)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
UNO Satellite photpgraphs
Here are links to UNOSAT photographs (and maps) of hijacked vessels off the coast of Somalia.
Hijacked vessels off the coast of Eyl, Somalia
MV YASA NESLIHAN (Turkey) 7.9389N, 49.9119E;
MV STOLT STRENGTH (Norway) 7.9285N, 49.9211E; and
MV AFRICA SANDERLING (south Korea) 7.9225N, 49.8993E.
[satellite photograph dated 11/20/2008]
Hijacked vessels off the coast of Garacad Village, Mudug, Somalia
Vessel ID 204 7.01838N, 49.45335E;
Vessel ID 203 6.98027N, 49.44596E
Vessel ID 202 6.96077N, 49.40137E
Vessel ID 201 6.85492N, 49.37231E
[satellite photograph taken 9/14/2008]
Reported Incidents of Somali Pirate Attacks and Hijackings in Gulf of Aden (26 August - 21 November 2008)
Hijacked vessels off the coast of Eyl, Somalia
MV YASA NESLIHAN (Turkey) 7.9389N, 49.9119E;
MV STOLT STRENGTH (Norway) 7.9285N, 49.9211E; and
MV AFRICA SANDERLING (south Korea) 7.9225N, 49.8993E.
[satellite photograph dated 11/20/2008]
Hijacked vessels off the coast of Garacad Village, Mudug, Somalia
Vessel ID 204 7.01838N, 49.45335E;
Vessel ID 203 6.98027N, 49.44596E
Vessel ID 202 6.96077N, 49.40137E
Vessel ID 201 6.85492N, 49.37231E
[satellite photograph taken 9/14/2008]
Reported Incidents of Somali Pirate Attacks and Hijackings in Gulf of Aden (26 August - 21 November 2008)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Current Articles & News v.6
Here are links to current articles and new releases regarding the crisis of international hijacking by pirates (terrorists).
French warship foils two new attacks by Somali pirates Patrolling off the Somali coast, the French warship "Jean de Vienne" captured 19 Somali pirates when they tried to seize a Croatian freighter and a Panamanian cargo ship. They will be transferred to Somali authorities, said the French president's office in a statement. Just three days ago, an operation conducted by another French warship saved a Panamanian ship attacked by Somali pirates and captured eight people. (Xinhua, 01/05/2009)
Captive relives 202-day nightmare on sea Jiang Lichun ducks whenever he hears a sharp sound even remotely resembling a gunshot. His instinct was born out of fear after he saw Somali pirates shoot one of his fellow sailors. Equally harrowing an experience for him were the 202 days he spent in Somali pirates' captivity. The fear in Jiang is still palpating: "I will never go back to sea," says the Liaoning province native. (China Daily, 1/5/2009)
Crew fight off pirates with water jets off Somalia The pirates in three speedboats and armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades twice tried to board the Greek-flagged Kriti Episkopi but were scared off when the crew turned fire hoses on them and EU aircraft scrambled from a nearby EU naval flotilla to help, company and Greek government officials said. (AP, 01/02/2008)
Somali pirates seize Egyptian ship; Tanker saved Somali pirates seized an Egyptian cargo ship and its 28 crewmembers on Thursday while a Malaysian military helicopter saved an Indian tanker from being hijacked in the new year's first attacks by pirates in the dangerous Gulf of Aden. Fifteen armed pirates snatched the Egyptian vessel, called Blue Star, after the ship exited the Red Sea and entered the gulf, carrying a cargo of 6,000 tons of fertilizer, according to Egyptian Deputy Foreign minister, Ahmed Rizq.The pirates then steered the ship toward the coast of Somalia, Rizq said. (AP, 01/01/2009)
Navy sets sail for waters off Somalia Chinese navy soldiers wave to the fleet as the naval ships depart from Sanya of South China's Hainan Province to Somalia on December 25, 2008.Two destroyers and a supply ship left a port in the southernmost island province of Hainan for Somalia at 1:50 p.m. Friday. They will cruise for about 10 days to arrive in the Gulf of Aden, joining the multinational patrol in one of the world's busiest sea lanes where surging piracy endangers international shipping. (ChinaDaily, 12/26/2008)
German navy foils Somali pirates Six Somali pirates were captured by sailors of the frigate Karlsruhe in the Gulf of Aden. The Karlsruhe sent a helicopter to protect the Egyptian cargo ship Wadi al-Arab from the pirates, who shot and injured a member of its crew as they tried to board the vessel. A German navy spokesperson based in Djibouti told the BBC's Greg Morsbach the Somali attackers were disarmed by German sailors and their weapons confiscated. (BBC 12/25/2008)
French warship foils two new attacks by Somali pirates Patrolling off the Somali coast, the French warship "Jean de Vienne" captured 19 Somali pirates when they tried to seize a Croatian freighter and a Panamanian cargo ship. They will be transferred to Somali authorities, said the French president's office in a statement. Just three days ago, an operation conducted by another French warship saved a Panamanian ship attacked by Somali pirates and captured eight people. (Xinhua, 01/05/2009)Captive relives 202-day nightmare on sea Jiang Lichun ducks whenever he hears a sharp sound even remotely resembling a gunshot. His instinct was born out of fear after he saw Somali pirates shoot one of his fellow sailors. Equally harrowing an experience for him were the 202 days he spent in Somali pirates' captivity. The fear in Jiang is still palpating: "I will never go back to sea," says the Liaoning province native. (China Daily, 1/5/2009)
Crew fight off pirates with water jets off Somalia The pirates in three speedboats and armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades twice tried to board the Greek-flagged Kriti Episkopi but were scared off when the crew turned fire hoses on them and EU aircraft scrambled from a nearby EU naval flotilla to help, company and Greek government officials said. (AP, 01/02/2008)
Somali pirates seize Egyptian ship; Tanker saved Somali pirates seized an Egyptian cargo ship and its 28 crewmembers on Thursday while a Malaysian military helicopter saved an Indian tanker from being hijacked in the new year's first attacks by pirates in the dangerous Gulf of Aden. Fifteen armed pirates snatched the Egyptian vessel, called Blue Star, after the ship exited the Red Sea and entered the gulf, carrying a cargo of 6,000 tons of fertilizer, according to Egyptian Deputy Foreign minister, Ahmed Rizq.The pirates then steered the ship toward the coast of Somalia, Rizq said. (AP, 01/01/2009)
Navy sets sail for waters off Somalia Chinese navy soldiers wave to the fleet as the naval ships depart from Sanya of South China's Hainan Province to Somalia on December 25, 2008.Two destroyers and a supply ship left a port in the southernmost island province of Hainan for Somalia at 1:50 p.m. Friday. They will cruise for about 10 days to arrive in the Gulf of Aden, joining the multinational patrol in one of the world's busiest sea lanes where surging piracy endangers international shipping. (ChinaDaily, 12/26/2008)
German navy foils Somali pirates Six Somali pirates were captured by sailors of the frigate Karlsruhe in the Gulf of Aden. The Karlsruhe sent a helicopter to protect the Egyptian cargo ship Wadi al-Arab from the pirates, who shot and injured a member of its crew as they tried to board the vessel. A German navy spokesperson based in Djibouti told the BBC's Greg Morsbach the Somali attackers were disarmed by German sailors and their weapons confiscated. (BBC 12/25/2008)
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Essays by David Axe
The following are links to blogs, articles and essays written by David Axe on the Somalian pirate and vessel hijacking situation. David Axe is a freelance writer, photographer and videographer based in Washington, DC. He works for Defense Tech Int'l, The Washington Times, C-SPAN, Military.com and others. He blogs at www.defensetech.org and www.warisboring.com.Kenya Strikes Legal Blow against Piracy Kenya won a quiet but significant victory over Somali pirates that have waged a devastating campaign against its maritime economy when a judge at the Mombasa federal court formally charged eight Somali pirates with felonies under Kenyan law on Dec. 11. The eight men were captured by the British Royal Navy in November while trying to hijack a Danish merchant ship near the Yemeni coast. (World Politics Review, 12/24/2008)
Chinese Seafarers Kick Pirate Ass The Chinese Navy has decided to send warships to help combat piracy off the Somali coast. Chinese fishing vessels and freighters have been hard hit by this year’s spike in piracy. In the meantime, one Chinese ship crew took the war on piracy into their own hands, using water hoses and Molotov cocktails to fight back pirates who had boarded their Shanghai-bound vessel.(War in Boring, 12/23/2008)
Axe vs. Pirates: Everyday Kenyans Suffering Effects of Somali Piracy When the giant cruise ships pull into Mombasa’s harbor and disgorge hundreds of Western tourists, souvenir vendors are there on the pier to greet them. The vendors’ curios — carvings of animals and wooden utensils — sell for $10 or more in a city where many workers earn just a few dollars per day. John Ngundo, 55, is a veteran of the curio trade in Mombasa. Lately, he said, business has declined. He blames his problems on the increase in piracy off the Somali coast. “We don’t get tourism coming into the port because people are afraid,” he said on Saturday morning as a few elderly Italians trickled past from the cruise ship Costa Europa. (War is Boring 12/21/2008)
Don’t Go to Somalia Last year I went to Somalia. All the journalists I talked to before leaving said it was a bad idea, and I would die. I didn’t die. That was then. This is now. Somalia has gotten so much worse in just the past year that now I’m the one telling other journalists not to go. But don’t take it from me. Consider this useful aid prepared by Rob Crilly of The Times:(War is Boring, 12/19/2008)
Axe vs. Pirates: The Kenya Connection Mombasa, southern Kenya’s sweltering port town is, in many ways, the center of gravity of the piracy war. While pirates themselves are based mostly in northern Somalia, hundreds of miles from here, the repercussions of piracy, and many of the higher-order command functions on both sides, play out in Mombasa. Many of the ships most threatened by pirates, fishing boats and coastal freighters, are home-ported in Mombasa. And as this is the major port in East Africa, many large vessels coming from or to Europe via the Suez Canal, braving pirate waters en route, call here. When a ship is released from pirates’ captivity after ransom is paid, it comes here first. In Mombasa is extensive infrastructure (ship’s agents, mariners’ unions, courts) to handle the aftermath of an act of piracy. (War is Boring, 12/18/2008)
Kenyan Navy Fires Rhetorical Broadside against Pirates The top Kenyan army officer staged a dramatic press conference in this port town on Monday, intending to strike fear in the hearts of Somali pirates that have waged an escalating war on shipping in African waters. "Any attempt to commit any act of piracy within Kenya will be resisted very strongly," Gen. Jeremiah Kianga, chief of the General Staff, told reporters at a Kenyan Air Force forward operating base adjacent to the Mombasa airport. "We want to send the message to would-be pirates that they risk being sunk."(World Politics Review, 12/17/2008)
Axe vs. Pirates: The Panic Button The ships that make the two-day run from Mombasa, Kenya, to Somalia carrying vital humanitarian supplies are frequent targets of pirate attacks, and have been for more than a decade. How have ship’s crew adapted? Same way the pirates have adapted over the years: with simple technology and no-nonsense tactics. (War is Boring, 12/16/2008)
Axe vs. Pirates: Scared onto Land by Pirate Close-Call Five years ago, Mwale escaped Mombasa’s maritime economy. He had been a fisherman, plying the waters as far north as the Somali borderland in search of tuna and other big fish. But with piracy taking root in lawless Somalia, fishing and sea trade were becoming riskier and less profitable by the day for the small operators. One of the final straws for Mwale was a close call, in 2002, with a band of 14 pirates that sneaked up on the 11-man refrigerator ship where Mwale was the chief engineer. (War is Boring, 12/15/2008)
Somali-Americans Joining Insurgency? Are Somali immigrants, living in the U.S., being drawn into their native country’s brutal Islamic insurgency? Minnesota TV network WCCO says some are. Three teenage boys, ages 17, 18 and 19 disappeared from their homes on Nov. 4 and “traveled together to Mogadishu,” WCCO reports. “[F]amily members fear the teens were brainwashed to return to Somalia to fight.” (War is Boring, 12/11/2008)
Axe vs. Pirates: Welcome to Mombasa It’s a centuries-old island port blessed with several deep-water channels. Mombasa, in southern Kenya, is the country’s second largest city with a population of 700,000 — and the economic engine not only for Kenya, but for many of the less-developed countries in the region. And it’s the furthest outpost in the war against piracy. Somalia, and that country’s thousands of high-tech pirates, lie just a few hundred miles north of Mombasa. The Kenyan port is the last stop for many ships that run the Somali gauntlet from south to north, aiming for the Red Sea and Europe. Ships coming north to south, having successfully evaded pirates, lay over in Mombasa to resupply or drop off cargo. And even ships that don’t make it at first, those that are seized by pirates wielding AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades, eventually come to Mombasa after their owners pay million-dollar ransoms. (War is Boring, 12/10/2008)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
List of Hijacked Vessels still being held 12.17.2008
Below are some of the ships believed to be held:
FAINA: Seized September 24. The ship was carrying 33 T-72 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition destined for Kenya's Mombasa port. Pirates have demanded $20 million in ransom.
AFRICAN SANDERLING: Seized October 15. The Panama-flagged, Japanese-operated, and Korea-owned bulk carrier has 21 Filipino crew aboard.
STOLT STRENGTH: Seized November 10. The chemical tanker had 23 Filipino crew aboard. It was carrying 23,818 tonnes of oil products.
THE KARAGOL: Seized November 12. The Turkish ship with 14 crew was hijacked off Yemen. It was transporting more than 4,000 tonnes of chemicals to the port of Mumbai.
TIANYU 8: Seized November 13/14. The Chinese fishing boat was reported seized off Kenya. The crew included 15 Chinese, one Taiwanese, one Japanese, three Filipinos and four Vietnamese.
CHEMSTAR VENUS: Seized November 15. The tanker was traveling from Dumai, Indonesia to the Ukraine. It had 18 Filipino and five South Korean crew.
SIRIUS STAR: Seized November 15. The Saudi supertanker, the biggest ship ever hijacked, it was carrying as much as 2 million barrels of oil. Captured off east Africa, it had 25 crew from Croatia, Britain, the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
THE DELIGHT: Seized November 18. The Hong Kong-flagged ship with 25 crew aboard was loaded with 36,000 tonnes of wheat bound for Iran. It was captured off the coast of Yemen.
BISCAGLIA: Seized on November 28. The Biscaglia, a Liberian-flagged chemical tanker, had 30 crew on board, 25 Indians, three Britons and two Bangladeshis. NAMES UKNOWN: Seized on December 10. Pirates hijacked two Yemeni fishing vessels with a total of 22 crew members on board in coastal waters in the Gulf of Aden. Five crew reportedly escaped.
NAMES UNKNOWN: Seized on December 16. A yacht with two on board, an Indonesian tugboat used by French oil company Total and a 100-meter (330-ft) cargo ship belonging to an Istanbul-based shipping company were hijacked. Pirates had also hijacked the Chinese fishing vessel Zhenhua-4 with 30 Chinese crew aboard but it was freed the next day.
Sources: Reuters/International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Center/Lloyds List/Inquirer.net (12/17/2008)
FAINA: Seized September 24. The ship was carrying 33 T-72 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition destined for Kenya's Mombasa port. Pirates have demanded $20 million in ransom.
AFRICAN SANDERLING: Seized October 15. The Panama-flagged, Japanese-operated, and Korea-owned bulk carrier has 21 Filipino crew aboard.
STOLT STRENGTH: Seized November 10. The chemical tanker had 23 Filipino crew aboard. It was carrying 23,818 tonnes of oil products.
THE KARAGOL: Seized November 12. The Turkish ship with 14 crew was hijacked off Yemen. It was transporting more than 4,000 tonnes of chemicals to the port of Mumbai.
TIANYU 8: Seized November 13/14. The Chinese fishing boat was reported seized off Kenya. The crew included 15 Chinese, one Taiwanese, one Japanese, three Filipinos and four Vietnamese.
CHEMSTAR VENUS: Seized November 15. The tanker was traveling from Dumai, Indonesia to the Ukraine. It had 18 Filipino and five South Korean crew.
SIRIUS STAR: Seized November 15. The Saudi supertanker, the biggest ship ever hijacked, it was carrying as much as 2 million barrels of oil. Captured off east Africa, it had 25 crew from Croatia, Britain, the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
THE DELIGHT: Seized November 18. The Hong Kong-flagged ship with 25 crew aboard was loaded with 36,000 tonnes of wheat bound for Iran. It was captured off the coast of Yemen.
BISCAGLIA: Seized on November 28. The Biscaglia, a Liberian-flagged chemical tanker, had 30 crew on board, 25 Indians, three Britons and two Bangladeshis. NAMES UKNOWN: Seized on December 10. Pirates hijacked two Yemeni fishing vessels with a total of 22 crew members on board in coastal waters in the Gulf of Aden. Five crew reportedly escaped.
NAMES UNKNOWN: Seized on December 16. A yacht with two on board, an Indonesian tugboat used by French oil company Total and a 100-meter (330-ft) cargo ship belonging to an Istanbul-based shipping company were hijacked. Pirates had also hijacked the Chinese fishing vessel Zhenhua-4 with 30 Chinese crew aboard but it was freed the next day.
Sources: Reuters/International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Center/Lloyds List/Inquirer.net (12/17/2008)
Friday, December 12, 2008
Current Articles & News v.5
Here are links to current articles and new releases regarding the crisis of international hijacking by pirates (terrorists).
SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES STATES TO USE LAND-BASED OPERATIONS IN SOMALIA,AS PART OF FIGHT AGAINST PIRACY OFF COAST, UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING 1851 (2008) The Security Council today decided that(SC9541), for the next year, States and regional organizations cooperating in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off Somalia’s coast -- for which prior notification had been provided by Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government to the Secretary-General -- could undertake all necessary measures “appropriate in Somalia”, to interdict those using Somali territory to plan, facilitate or undertake such acts. (United Nations, 12/16/2008)
Somali pirates hijack two ships Pirates hijacked an Indonesian tugboat used by French oil company Total off Yemen Tuesday and a Turkish cargo ship (330' MV Bosphorus Prodigy, owned by ISKO Marine Co., Istanbul, Turkey) was also reported captured, the latest in a string of attacks blamed on Somali gunmen. (Swiss Info, 12/16/2008)
On the Lawless Seas, It's Not Easy Putting Somali Pirates in the Dock Many countries helping to patrol the waters connecting the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, reflect a dilemma that is turning one of the world's most vital shipping corridors into one of its most dangerous. Though piracy is a globally recognized crime, few governments are willing to navigate the legal and logistical barriers that impede convicting seaborn bandits. (Wall Street Journal, 12/12/2008)
Somalia backs U.S. plan to hunt pirates Somalia's government has welcomed a call by the United States for countries to have U.N. authority to hunt down Somali pirates on land as well as pursue them off the coast of the Horn of Africa nation. "The government cordially welcomes the United Nations to fight pirates inland and (on) the Indian Ocean," said Hussein Mohamed Mohamud, spokesman for Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf. (Reuters, 12/12/2008)
Dar deny claims on pirates operating from its waters A statement issued yesterday by the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) said that all reported incidents were more than 360 nautical miles from the coast of Tanzania, which is beyond Tanzania Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). “TPDF would like to assure the public that all our borders are safe and security has been tightened,” said the statement. (Daily News, 12/11/2008)
Somali pirates attack ship in Dar waters Armed Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Regency, a Dutch-operated container ship off the coast of Tanzania on Saturday but failed to hijack the vessel. AP reported yesterday that the pirates attacked the vessel about 520 miles east of Dar es Salaam. (The Citizen-Tanzania, 12/07/2008)
SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDES STATES, REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS MAY USE ‘ALL NECESSARY MEANS’ TO FIGHT PIRACY OFF SOMALIA COAST FOR 12-MONTH PERIOD The Security Council today (SC9514) strengthened international efforts to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia by expanding the mandate of States and regional organizations working with Somali officials towards that aim. Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1846 (2008), and acting under the Charter’s Chapter VII, the Council decided that during the next 12 months States and regional organizations cooperating with the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) may enter Somalia’s territorial waters and use “all necessary means” -- such as deploying naval vessels and military aircraft, as well as seizing and disposing of boats, vessels, arms and related equipment used for piracy -- to fight piracy and armed robbery at sea off the Somali coast, in accordance with relevant international law. States and regional organizations cooperating with Somali authorities were also requested to provide the Council and the Secretary-General with a progress report on their actions within nine months.(United Nations, 12/2/2008)
SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES STATES TO USE LAND-BASED OPERATIONS IN SOMALIA,AS PART OF FIGHT AGAINST PIRACY OFF COAST, UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING 1851 (2008) The Security Council today decided that(SC9541), for the next year, States and regional organizations cooperating in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off Somalia’s coast -- for which prior notification had been provided by Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government to the Secretary-General -- could undertake all necessary measures “appropriate in Somalia”, to interdict those using Somali territory to plan, facilitate or undertake such acts. (United Nations, 12/16/2008)
Somali pirates hijack two ships Pirates hijacked an Indonesian tugboat used by French oil company Total off Yemen Tuesday and a Turkish cargo ship (330' MV Bosphorus Prodigy, owned by ISKO Marine Co., Istanbul, Turkey) was also reported captured, the latest in a string of attacks blamed on Somali gunmen. (Swiss Info, 12/16/2008)
On the Lawless Seas, It's Not Easy Putting Somali Pirates in the Dock Many countries helping to patrol the waters connecting the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, reflect a dilemma that is turning one of the world's most vital shipping corridors into one of its most dangerous. Though piracy is a globally recognized crime, few governments are willing to navigate the legal and logistical barriers that impede convicting seaborn bandits. (Wall Street Journal, 12/12/2008)
Somalia backs U.S. plan to hunt pirates Somalia's government has welcomed a call by the United States for countries to have U.N. authority to hunt down Somali pirates on land as well as pursue them off the coast of the Horn of Africa nation. "The government cordially welcomes the United Nations to fight pirates inland and (on) the Indian Ocean," said Hussein Mohamed Mohamud, spokesman for Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf. (Reuters, 12/12/2008)
Dar deny claims on pirates operating from its waters A statement issued yesterday by the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) said that all reported incidents were more than 360 nautical miles from the coast of Tanzania, which is beyond Tanzania Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). “TPDF would like to assure the public that all our borders are safe and security has been tightened,” said the statement. (Daily News, 12/11/2008)
Somali pirates attack ship in Dar waters Armed Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Regency, a Dutch-operated container ship off the coast of Tanzania on Saturday but failed to hijack the vessel. AP reported yesterday that the pirates attacked the vessel about 520 miles east of Dar es Salaam. (The Citizen-Tanzania, 12/07/2008)SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDES STATES, REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS MAY USE ‘ALL NECESSARY MEANS’ TO FIGHT PIRACY OFF SOMALIA COAST FOR 12-MONTH PERIOD The Security Council today (SC9514) strengthened international efforts to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia by expanding the mandate of States and regional organizations working with Somali officials towards that aim. Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1846 (2008), and acting under the Charter’s Chapter VII, the Council decided that during the next 12 months States and regional organizations cooperating with the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) may enter Somalia’s territorial waters and use “all necessary means” -- such as deploying naval vessels and military aircraft, as well as seizing and disposing of boats, vessels, arms and related equipment used for piracy -- to fight piracy and armed robbery at sea off the Somali coast, in accordance with relevant international law. States and regional organizations cooperating with Somali authorities were also requested to provide the Council and the Secretary-General with a progress report on their actions within nine months.(United Nations, 12/2/2008)
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Michele Lynn Ballarin
Who is Michele Lynn Ballarin of The Plains, Virginia (aka Michele Lynn Golden-Ballarin)? Michele Lynn Ballarin is a Virginia entrepreneur who sells real estate, horses and body armor. She also, with her husband, also sells military tactics. Which has earned her a place of respect in Somali Society. Select Armor designs and makes body armor and provides executive protection to wealthy individuals. She has a long history of involvement in Somalia, including allegations that she was helping plan military operations there in 2006. “Amira” (or "Princess" in Arabic) was Ballarin’s nickname when she was helping plan military operations in Somali during 2006.
She is trying to market a solution for failed states through Black Star. If she can demonstrate that it works in Somalia, which has not had a functioning unitary government in 19 years, she would have an excellent product to sell. She discussed her company's participation as a CIA intermediary in the militarization of Somalia, even revealing her company's use of three military bases. She claims she has been given 'carte blanche' to use three bases in Somalia 'and the air access to reach them'. She then suggests that the CIA have been kept informed of the plans.
Ballarin's companies:
Select Armor
Select Armor SourceWatch
Black Star
Cambridge Wealth Management Ltd. SourceWatch
(aka Cambridge Asset Management)
Somali Pirates Call on American Benefactor Military.com spoke with Ballarin for more than an hour Nov. 24 and she told us she has been in regular touch with the pirates by satellite phone, the last contact was Monday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, and had just returned from Somalia Nov. 18. Ballarin said she is not only negotiating with the pirates holding that Saudi tanker, she is also in touch with the MV Faina, the Ukrainian ship loaded with grenade launchers, ammunition and 33 Russian-made T-72 tanks. "I'm in communication with both ships on a regular basis," she said. Ballarin's goal is even bigger than helping end the takeover of the two ships. She wants to negotiate an end to piracy off the Somali coast altogether. "My goal is to unwind all 17 ships and all 450 people they've been holding," she said. (Military.com, 11/25/2008) [excellent interview and background]
PRETTY WOMEN, THE CIA AND SOMALIAN PIRATES Once again, the CIA is repeating the same gambit it first used to fuel the original war on terror against the Soviets in Afghanistan, that of using an attractive wealthy socialite to front for the agency, in promoting the government's secret agenda for world domination. Ballarin owns a Blackwater clones, called Select Armor and Black Star, which she is using to further the agency's mercenary solution for failed states, using ruthless unaccountable private soldiers to do the work that is too dirty for regular government troops. (Peter Chamberlain, 11/29/2008)
She is trying to market a solution for failed states through Black Star. If she can demonstrate that it works in Somalia, which has not had a functioning unitary government in 19 years, she would have an excellent product to sell. She discussed her company's participation as a CIA intermediary in the militarization of Somalia, even revealing her company's use of three military bases. She claims she has been given 'carte blanche' to use three bases in Somalia 'and the air access to reach them'. She then suggests that the CIA have been kept informed of the plans.
Ballarin's companies:
Select Armor
Select Armor SourceWatch
Black Star
Cambridge Wealth Management Ltd. SourceWatch
(aka Cambridge Asset Management)
Somali Pirates Call on American Benefactor Military.com spoke with Ballarin for more than an hour Nov. 24 and she told us she has been in regular touch with the pirates by satellite phone, the last contact was Monday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, and had just returned from Somalia Nov. 18. Ballarin said she is not only negotiating with the pirates holding that Saudi tanker, she is also in touch with the MV Faina, the Ukrainian ship loaded with grenade launchers, ammunition and 33 Russian-made T-72 tanks. "I'm in communication with both ships on a regular basis," she said. Ballarin's goal is even bigger than helping end the takeover of the two ships. She wants to negotiate an end to piracy off the Somali coast altogether. "My goal is to unwind all 17 ships and all 450 people they've been holding," she said. (Military.com, 11/25/2008) [excellent interview and background]
PRETTY WOMEN, THE CIA AND SOMALIAN PIRATES Once again, the CIA is repeating the same gambit it first used to fuel the original war on terror against the Soviets in Afghanistan, that of using an attractive wealthy socialite to front for the agency, in promoting the government's secret agenda for world domination. Ballarin owns a Blackwater clones, called Select Armor and Black Star, which she is using to further the agency's mercenary solution for failed states, using ruthless unaccountable private soldiers to do the work that is too dirty for regular government troops. (Peter Chamberlain, 11/29/2008)
Current Articles & News v.4
Here are links to current articles and new releases regarding the crisis of international hijacking by pirates (terrorists).
Report: Oceania Nautica not the only cruise ship attacked by pirates in recent days A news outlet in Germany today is reporting that the pirate attack on the Oceania Nautica Sunday in the Gulf of Aden wasn't the only raid on a cruise ship in recent days. German broadcaster Deutsche Welle says suspected pirates also targeted a German cruise ship, MS Astor, operated by Transocean Tours last week but were chased away by a German naval vessel, the frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. (USA Today, 12/05/2008)
Cruise Ship Attacked by Somali Pirates A luxury cruise ship carrying passengers between Rome and Singapore came under attack from Somali pirates as it sailed between Somalia and Yemen on Sunday. The Nautica, an Oceania cruise ship, was carrying 690 American, British and Australian passengers and a 386-member crew when two small fishing boats tried to intercept it. (FOXNews 12/01/2008)
Somali pirates to free Yemen cargo ship Somali pirates have agreed to release a Yemeni cargo ship without ransom after successful negotiations between the hijackers, local elders and a Yemeni official, a local official said on Monday. "No ransom was paid, but after negotiations, the pirates will get off the ship soon. The Yemeni ship will be released in the coming hours," Ali Abdi Aware, state minister of the northern province of Puntland, told Reuters. The MV Amani was seized on Nov. 25. (Reuters, 12/01/2008)
Legal Hurdles in West Slow Pursuit of Pirates The latest attack, in which even trained security personnel aboard could not deter the pirates, demonstrated the urgent need for coordinated action by governments from Cairo to Berlin. But the bureaucratic and legal hurdles facing international institutions and national governments have so far defeated most efforts to deal with the nimble crews of pirates in speedboats, whose tactics have grown bolder as their profits have paid for better weapons and equipment. (NYTimes, 11/28/2008)
4 Pirates Killed in Standoff off Coast of Sierra Leone Pirates attacked a Chinese fishing vessel in a rare attack off West Africa, officials said Thursday. Four of the pirates, all from neighboring Guinea, were killed early Wednesday in a clash with the Sierra Leone navy, police spokesman Mohamed Samura said. Two were shot and another two drowned, he said. The remaining four were arrested. The pirates approached the Shanghai 3 before dawn off Yeliboya, a coastal town between Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, and Conakry, the neighboring capital of Guinea. (FOX News 11/27/2008)
U.S. Woman Negotiating With Somali Pirates An American businesswoman with connections to U.S. intelligence and the military has been talking with the Somali pirates who have commandeered the Saudi oil tanker Sirius Star, trying to get the ship released, ABC News has confirmed. First reported by Military.com, the pirates, who have halted all talks with the ship's owners, are talking to a woman named Michele Lynn Ballarin, instead. (ABCNews, 11/27/2008)
Pirates move Saudi tanker after militants' threats Somali pirates have taken their greatest prize - a Saudi supertanker with $100 million of crude oil - farther offshore in what appears to be a rare defensive move after threats by Islamic insurgents. Last Friday, Islamic fighters promised to fight the pirates and free the ship because it was Muslim-owned and flagged under Saudi Arabia. Two days later, pirates moved the ship about 28 miles, putting it about 30 miles off the coast of the coastal village of Harardhere. (AP/Boston.com, 11/26/2008)
Report: Oceania Nautica not the only cruise ship attacked by pirates in recent days A news outlet in Germany today is reporting that the pirate attack on the Oceania Nautica Sunday in the Gulf of Aden wasn't the only raid on a cruise ship in recent days. German broadcaster Deutsche Welle says suspected pirates also targeted a German cruise ship, MS Astor, operated by Transocean Tours last week but were chased away by a German naval vessel, the frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. (USA Today, 12/05/2008)
Cruise Ship Attacked by Somali Pirates A luxury cruise ship carrying passengers between Rome and Singapore came under attack from Somali pirates as it sailed between Somalia and Yemen on Sunday. The Nautica, an Oceania cruise ship, was carrying 690 American, British and Australian passengers and a 386-member crew when two small fishing boats tried to intercept it. (FOXNews 12/01/2008)Somali pirates to free Yemen cargo ship Somali pirates have agreed to release a Yemeni cargo ship without ransom after successful negotiations between the hijackers, local elders and a Yemeni official, a local official said on Monday. "No ransom was paid, but after negotiations, the pirates will get off the ship soon. The Yemeni ship will be released in the coming hours," Ali Abdi Aware, state minister of the northern province of Puntland, told Reuters. The MV Amani was seized on Nov. 25. (Reuters, 12/01/2008)
Legal Hurdles in West Slow Pursuit of Pirates The latest attack, in which even trained security personnel aboard could not deter the pirates, demonstrated the urgent need for coordinated action by governments from Cairo to Berlin. But the bureaucratic and legal hurdles facing international institutions and national governments have so far defeated most efforts to deal with the nimble crews of pirates in speedboats, whose tactics have grown bolder as their profits have paid for better weapons and equipment. (NYTimes, 11/28/2008)
4 Pirates Killed in Standoff off Coast of Sierra Leone Pirates attacked a Chinese fishing vessel in a rare attack off West Africa, officials said Thursday. Four of the pirates, all from neighboring Guinea, were killed early Wednesday in a clash with the Sierra Leone navy, police spokesman Mohamed Samura said. Two were shot and another two drowned, he said. The remaining four were arrested. The pirates approached the Shanghai 3 before dawn off Yeliboya, a coastal town between Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, and Conakry, the neighboring capital of Guinea. (FOX News 11/27/2008)
U.S. Woman Negotiating With Somali Pirates An American businesswoman with connections to U.S. intelligence and the military has been talking with the Somali pirates who have commandeered the Saudi oil tanker Sirius Star, trying to get the ship released, ABC News has confirmed. First reported by Military.com, the pirates, who have halted all talks with the ship's owners, are talking to a woman named Michele Lynn Ballarin, instead. (ABCNews, 11/27/2008)
Pirates move Saudi tanker after militants' threats Somali pirates have taken their greatest prize - a Saudi supertanker with $100 million of crude oil - farther offshore in what appears to be a rare defensive move after threats by Islamic insurgents. Last Friday, Islamic fighters promised to fight the pirates and free the ship because it was Muslim-owned and flagged under Saudi Arabia. Two days later, pirates moved the ship about 28 miles, putting it about 30 miles off the coast of the coastal village of Harardhere. (AP/Boston.com, 11/26/2008)
Friday, November 28, 2008
Hobyo, Mudug, Somalia
Hobyo (aka Obbia, Hobyaa, Hoboyo) Somalia (Google Earth, coordinates:95.20'58.35" N 48.31'36.60" E) is where three hijacked vessels are being held by pirates (MV Capt. Stephanos, MV Centauri and MV Faina). [click on Google Earth photograph for close-up]Hobyo Wikipedia
Hobyo SiloBreaker
Waiting for the Neustrashimy, off the Somali Coast at Hobyo, Ecoterra 27th Update "The task of the destroyer Neustrashimy (Unchallengeable) is to escort and protect Russian vessels or ships with Russian crew-members on board from pirate attacks," Russian Navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo said according to RIA Novosti. Other maritime sources, however, claimed the Russian warship had already arrived in Somali waters. The Russian deployment has raised media speculation that Moscow, which has dealt harshly with hostage-takers in the past, could use force to free the crew of the MV FAINA. Russia's central command, however, had earlier ruled out a direct military engagement with the situation concerning the weapon-laden ship pinned down at the Somali coast by several US and EU navy ships plus a submarine in the area, which regularly is also spotted further South near Mogadishu harbour. (Buzzle.com 10/21/2008)
List of Vessels Hijacked v.2
Here is a partial list of vessels hijacked by pirates:
MS Biscaglia von Pirenaico, (Liberia) 11/28/2008,
Adina (Yemeni), 11/19/2008
Chemstar Venus 11/15/2008
Tianyu (China) 11/13/2008
The Karagol (Turkey) 11/12/2008
Stolt Strength, 11/10/2008
MS Centauri
African Sanderling 10/15/2008
Capt. Stephanos (Bahama) 09/21/2008
Bunga Melati 5 (Malaysia) 08/29/2008
Lehmann Timber (German) 05/28/2008
MS Biscaglia von Pirenaico, (Liberia) 11/28/2008, Adina (Yemeni), 11/19/2008
Chemstar Venus 11/15/2008
Tianyu (China) 11/13/2008The Karagol (Turkey) 11/12/2008
Stolt Strength, 11/10/2008
MS Centauri
African Sanderling 10/15/2008
Capt. Stephanos (Bahama) 09/21/2008
Bunga Melati 5 (Malaysia) 08/29/2008
Lehmann Timber (German) 05/28/2008
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