Real Pirates! Weekly Piracy Report!

[Thagarr]

[imgleft]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_cQOyQjTP3GY/SzdzfGWk3nI/AAAAAAAAAIg/CePEMJs6IBk/real-pirates.gif[/imgleft]Not much happening pirate wise this week. Somali pirates are once again threatening to kill Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were captured on Oct. 23 as they sailed their yacht from the Seychelles towards Tanzania. Reached by satellite phone, one of the pirates holding the couple is quoted as saying "We die first before they get freed,". Apparently there was a rescue operation in the works by the Special Boat Service to rescue the couple, but it was "bungled" before it could reach them because of technical problems. Also, there are reports of ongoing negotiations to free two other vessels held by Somali pirates. The bulk carrier the St. James Park, carrying a crew of 26, and the Asian Glory, a car transporter with a crew of eight. Both vessels sail under a British flag, and are owned by Ofer Brothers company Zodiac Maritime Agencies of Israel. There are no Israelis among their crews. The pirates currently hold at least ten ships and 228 seamen.

There is a little more action on the ICC report this week, but nothing major :

22.01.2010: 0140 LT: Posn: 17:00.3N – 082:18.8E, Kakinada anchorage, India.

Three robbers in a small fishing boat approached a seismographic research vessel from the stern. One robber boarded the vessel thru the mooring port hole and started lowering the mooring rope into the boat. The duty watchman noticed the robber, made fast the rope on a bollard and informed bridge officer. Alarm raised and the robber dropped the rope and escaped. The theft was prevented due to the fast action of the watchman. Incident reported to PFSO port of Kakinada.


21.01.2010: 1000 – 1300 LT: Posn: 14:33.74N – 120:55.24E, Manila south harbour anchorage, Philippines.

Unnoticed robbers boarded an anchored tanker and stole a liferaft and ship’s property and escaped. Port authorities informed.


20.01.2010: 0220 LT: Posn: 02:46.5S – 080:26.6W, Guayaquil outer anchorage, Ecuador.

Robbers boarded a bulk carrier at anchor and tried to gain access into the forward store. Duty crew noticed them and informed duty officer on the bridge who raised the alarm and crew mustered. The robbers jumped overboard and escaped empty handed. Port control informed but no action taken.

18.01.2010: 2030 LT: Adang bay anchorage, Indonesia.

Robbers boarded a bulk carrier at anchor. Duty crew noticed them and raised alarm. Robbers jumped overboard and escaped with ship’s stores. Attempts to call police thru agent were not successful.


17.01.2010: 1630 UTC: Posn: 12:39.3N – 047:33.9E, Gulf of Aden.

Four pirates armed with automatic guns in a white coloured skiff approached a general cargo ship underway. At a distance of around 10 meters the pirates opened fire on the ship. Master raised alarm, Rocket parachute flares were fired. Hand flares were thrown into the water to .mark position if incident. One rocket parachute flare hit a skiff and injured a pirate. The skiff pulled away and aborted the attempted attack. A warship and a helicopter came to the assistance of the ship.


16.01.2010: 0425 UTC: Posn: 12:58N – 048:42E, Gulf of Aden.

Five pirates in a high speed skiff approached an oil tanker underway. The skiff proceeded towards the ship from the direction of the sun making it difficult to detect. The ship spotted the skiff at a distance of about one to two nautical miles. Master raised alarm, blew ship’s horn and carried out evasive manoeuvres. Pirates opened fire with RPG and automatic weapons. Master informed coalition warship and a helicopter was dispatched. Seeing the helicopter the pirates aborted the attempt. No damage to ship and no casualties.