Thagarr's Pirate News!

[Thagarr]

I wondered how long it would be before the professional criminals got involved with this ...kinda surprised that it took this long!

Ransom dispute may alter response to pirates' demands

Shipowner, cargo firm spar over sharing ransom in hijacking

LONDON—A ransom payment dispute between a U.K. shipowner and a Chinese cargo shipper could significantly affect how insurers and others pay to release ships hijacked by pirates, legal experts and other observers say.

On April 6, Somali pirates hijacked the MV Malaspina Castle, which was on its way to China from a Russian port on the Black Sea. On May 9, the pirates released the ship for $1.8 million in ransom.

Hangzhou Cogeneration Import and Export Co. Ltd., a Chinese firm that shipped 30,000 tons of iron on the Malaspina, refused to contribute to the ransom. London-based shipowner Navalmar (U.K.) Ltd. took Hangzhou Cogeneration to arbitration, according to legal documents.

The arbitration is taking place in London, where the details and results of such cases are not released publicly. But Navalmar filed a related action in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which said the hijacking cost the firm $3.6 million. In addition to the ransom, Navalmar paid $512,000 to negotiate and deliver the ransom and $75,000 to insure the ransom during delivery, according to the complaint, which also said the firm anticipates $500,000 in claims from crew members.

The case is important because it could cast doubt on the largely informal process by which many shipowners, charterers, shippers and their insurers have been paying for ransom, observers say. A shipowner without separate kidnap and ransom insurance typically pays the ransom and then seeks reimbursement contributions from the various interests involved in the ship's voyage, under a concept known as "general average."

A general-average declaration means the ship had to incur an extraordinary expense to save it from peril, and the owner, cargo owner and other interests—and their insurers—should contribute their proportionate share as beneficiaries of the ship being saved. A general-average adjuster determines how much each interest owes.

Maritime attorneys say numerous court cases have established that a pirate hijacking qualifies as a general-average act. But marine insurance experts say, in many piracy cases, those involved agree on their contributions without involving an adjuster, avoiding a potentially costly and lengthy process.

Navalmar paid $25,000 in average adjuster fees and expenses for the Malaspina, according to court records.

"There is so far relatively little consensus or established practice," Jonathan Spencer, a New York-based average adjuster with Spencer Co., said during a June panel discussion at the Marine Money conference in New York. "A number of claims have been settled with (general-average adjustments)," he said. "A lot of incidents have also been settled on the basis of a more informal pooling of the ransom between the ship and cargo interests."

Some shipowners buy separate K&R insurance, which reimburses the owner for the ransom and all related expenses. But that insurance can be expensive: between $16,000 and $20,000 for a single voyage through areas beset by Somali pirates, according to industry observers. It is impossible to know how many shipowners buy K&R cover because policyholders are not permitted to reveal that they have the insurance, but observers say many shippers rely on general-average contributions to help pay for ransom, instead of K&R insurance.

For the Malaspina hijacking, a general-average adjuster determined Hangzhou should contribute $2.3 million—64% of total costs, according to Navalmar's complaint.

It is not known on what basis the Chinese cargo shipper is disputing that charge. It's possible the shipper is disputing only part of the charges; Mr. Spencer said he thought some of the expenses were not properly included in the general-average adjustment.

John Woods, a New York-based partner with law firm Clyde & Co. U.S. L.L.P. who has handled piracy cases, said he could imagine a cargo interest arguing its general-average obligation was nullified for a ship made "unseaworthy" by traveling through pirate-infested waters without proper safeguards.

"A year ago, it would have been clear-cut that shipowners were not expected to take steps like arming their ships," Mr. Woods said. "Now the waters are a little murkier because more owners are in fact either hiring private companies or otherwise arming their ships."

Observers wonder if the Malaspina case could encourage more shipping interests to resist informal ransom agreements and, instead, push for a formal general-average adjustment or dispute a general-average adjustment in arbitration, as Hangzhou has done.

"If there start to be decisions that come from courts or arbitration panels holding that payment of ransom is not a general-average act, you can see cargo interests not stepping up and paying," said Bruce G. Paulsen, a New York-based attorney at Seward & Kissel L.L.P. "We haven't gotten to that point (yet). I don't know if this case will get us there. It could."

Even if the arbitration panel were to side with Navalmar, observers say the dispute underscores the risk of relying on general-average contributions to cover ransom costs. They say it could take a long time, and potentially a legal battle, before getting repaid.

It "could call into question those that are not buying K&R cover, but relying on recovery (through) general average sometime after the detention is over," Mr. Paulsen said. "They may want to think twice."

Original story here :
http://www.businessi...SUE01/307269980

 

[Thagarr]

Six days under the threat of death
Praveen Menon

• Last Updated: July 28. 2009 12:17AM UAE / July 27. 2009 8:17PM GMT

Captain Sidhik Umar Bhatti recalls the hostage ordeal with members of his crew on board the MV Nefya yesterday. Jeff Topping / The National

SHARJAH // At first it was just a dot on the horizon. The dhow was about 15 miles off the Somali city of Bossaso, in the Gulf of Aden, returning to the UAE from Mogadishu, when members of her 14-strong Indian crew noticed what seemed to be a fishing boat moving towards them.


Aware of the threat of pirate attacks in the area, Sidhik Umar Bhatti, the captain of the dhow, the MV Nefya, ordered full speed ahead, just to be on the safe side.

Moments later, though, a speedboat, manned by four armed Somali pirates, had almost caught up with them.

"The pirates started firing in the air and threatened to shoot us. They came close and demanded that we throw down a ladder," said Mr Bhatti.


Another speedboat, loaded with ammunition, quickly reached the dhow. The sailors looked on helplessly as seven men climbed on board their ship. They carried two rocket launchers, several machine guns and communications equipment.

For the sailors, it was the beginning of a six-day ordeal in which every moment would be filled with dread.

"For six days, we were under fear of when they would kill us," said Mr Bhatti, 37, sitting in the dhow in Sharjah creek near Khalid Port, recalling the hostage drama.


The dhow, which has a capacity of more than 1,300 tonnes, was captured on July 10.

"They told us they wanted nothing from us but they needed the boat. They instructed us to move towards Aden," said the captain.

The crew believe that the pirates had been given a tip-off that the empty vessel was returning, and it was just what they needed. "They wanted to use this boat to capture bigger ships," said Mr Bhatti.


The pirates were young, between 25 and 30, and were taking orders from an older man.

"The older man was in constant communication with someone over the wireless phone. He would take orders in directions and the next course of action over the phone," said Mr Bhatti.

On July 13, the dhow was steered towards a Liberian oil tanker, the MV Elephant. A full assault was launched on the tanker as the crew of the dhow ducked for cover.


"I have never seen such firing before. We were all very scared and thought they would kill us too," said one of the junior sailors.

The pirates fired indiscriminately and took to their speedboats again to get close to the Elephant, then tried to climb on board.

"The captain of the ship was intelligent and he poured hot water to prevent the men from climbing on," said Mr Bhatti.

In the meantime, the tanker made contact with a French naval warship that was patrolling nearby, and which soon reached them. A helicopter also arrived, as did a vessel from the Indian Navy.


It was the first time that two warships from different navies had been involved in such an incident during the piracy off Somalia.

The warships shadowed the dhow, putting pressure on the pirates to leave the ship and release her crew. For the next few days, the warships and the helicopter kept watch on the movement of the captured dhow, not allowing it out of sight.

On board the vessel, however, the pirates' frustration was boiling over. Once their attack on the Elephant failed, they became agitated and started assaulting the crew.


"They kicked and punched us," said Mr Bhatti. "They wanted the navy vessels to go away. They asked us to communicate with the navy and tell them that all hostages would be killed if they do not go away."

The sailors were desperately worried and wondered if they would ever be rescued.

"Two of our men even thought of jumping into the sea," said Mr Bhatti. "However, the navy vessels were three miles away at this point and it would be certain death if the ships did not spot them."


Threatened with the prospect of the naval forces moving in, the pirates set the dhow for the Somali shore and got off on the morning of July 15.

Before they left, the pirates took the crew's personal belongings, including money and mobile phones, and warned the men not to talk to anyone or they would track them down and kill them.

The crew's survival is being seen as a major victory for multi-national anti-piracy patrols being carried out off Somalia.


"We thank the navies as they only left because they were scared the navies would attack and capture them," said Mr Bhatti.

"Navy patrolling in this area is necessary – and a lifesaver for us."

Rest of the story here :
http://www.thenation...04/1041/FOREIGN

 

[Thagarr]

Pak Ship Assists Vessel in Gulf of Aden
July 27, 2009Navy News|by MC1 Eric L.Beauregard The Pakistani naval ship (PNS) Badr, operating as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, recently came to the assistance of Merchant Vessel (M/V) Antisana Jorf after the vessel reported engine problems in the Gulf of Aden.

Knowing that a slow speed would make the Norwegian-flagged M/VAntisana Jorf susceptible to pirate attack, CTF 151 dispatched PNS Badr to render assistance to the motor vessel and provide security as the vessel attempted to transit towards the nearest port in Aden, Yemen.

Badr escorted the distressed vessel for approximately 36 hours, assuring the vessel safe passage to Yemeni territorial waters. CTF-151 contacted the Yemeni Coast Guard to rendezvous with the vessel once it reached Yemeni territorial waters to further assist its arrival to Aden for repair.

"As professional sailors, we are all out here ultimately for the same reason," said Turkish Rear Adm. Caner Bener, commander, CTF 151. "We want to ensure safety and security in the region for all those who sail in the area."

The coordination between CTF 151 and the Yemeni Coast Guard demonstrates the importance of multinational efforts off the Coast of Somalia. This incident also highlights the increased level of cooperation with coalition forces in the area.

CTF 151 is a Turkish-led multinational task force established to conduct counterpiracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) area of responsibility to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations.

original story here :
http://www.military....l=1186032311124

 

[Thagarr]

Pirates Pop Up In The Amazon To Rob Luxury River Cruise
Where: Peru
by JetSetCD
on July 28, 2009 at 9:04 AM

Although we'd love to believe that Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow is the only noteworthy pirate of the last few years, the reality is that pirates are back in a big way, and an event this week proves that they aren't just confined to the treacherous waters off of Somalia.

On Sunday, the Aqua, a luxury river cruising boat just beginning a turn down the Amazon, was boarded and raided by six weapon-yielding bandits who robbed the vessel's 24 passengers of money and other valuables. Luckily that's all the pirates took as no cruisers were hurt. After returning to port in Iquitos, Peru, the passengers were sent home care of Aqua Expeditions, who also refunded them for the entire cruise—prices per person for the cruise began at $4,500—and tried to mollify them by offering a free future cruise.

Even though Peru maintains that an event like this has never occurred on the Amazon, if you were one of these robbed passengers, would you accept a free future trip? A high-adrenaline, life-or-death situation like this one is probably still giving them nightmares, not to mention possibly turned them off from cruising forever since boating in international waters (not applicable to the Amazon) exposes you to risk. Where are the British navy and their cannons when you really need them?

Original story here:
http://www.jaunted.c...ry+River+Cruise

 

[Thagarr]

Hostage talks stall after Somali pirates up demands
Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:42am EDT
* Ship owners rarely answering calls, pirates say



By Abdi Guled and Abdi Sheikh

MOGADISHU, July 28 (Reuters) - The imminent release of 24 hostages on board a German ship hijacked off Somalia in April has been delayed after pirates demanded a higher ransom, a gang member said on Tuesday.

The German-flagged container vessel Hansa Stavanger with five Germans, three Russians, two Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos had been expected to be released on Monday.

The pirates had agreed to a $3 million ransom, but some members of the gang said that was too little, a pirate named Hassan told Reuters.

"Some of our friends say we are many and so the Germans must add $1 million or $500,000 to make the ransom about $4 million," he told Reuters by phone from Haradheere, about 17 km (10 miles) west of Gan, where the ship is being held.

"The Germans seemed to be angry after we broke the promise. They rarely answer our calls. Now they insist on the agreed $3 million, but we are divided on this issue. We do not know how long it will take to release the ship," he said.

The 20,000 tonne ship, owned by Hamburg shipping company Leonhardt & Blumberg, was captured about 400 miles off the southern Somali port of Kismayu on April 4.

The vessel's owners refused to comment.

"We don't give any statements on the Hansa Stavanger," said a company spokeswoman who did not give her name.

Ahmed, a member of the Somali gang, had earlier told Reuters that colleagues and friends had gathered at Gan, a coastal village about 450 km (280 miles) northeast of Mogadishu, to wait for the ransom money.

But by Monday talks stalled after the pirates increased their demands.

Concerns were raised over the crew's welfare this month after reports surfaced in the German media that they had run out of water, food and medicine.

Naval forces in the area are ready to provide escort to any hijacked ship that is released and the EU naval force Atalanta has a warship on standby to provide support should any vessel has been freed. (Additional reporting by Alison Bevege in Nairobi; Editing by Helen Nyambura-Mwaura)

Original story here :
http://www.reuters.c...is/idUSLS606914

 

[Thagarr]

Russian task force arrives in Gulf of Aden on anti-piracy mission

VLADIVOSTOK, July 30 (RIA Novosti) - A new task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet has arrived in the Gulf of Aden to fight piracy off the Somali coast, a fleet spokesman said on Thursday.

The task force, comprising the Admiral Tributs destroyer with two helicopters, a salvage tug, a tanker, and a naval infantry unit, will escort commercial ships, conduct aerial reconnaissance, and search for suspected pirate vessels.

"The task force arrived in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday and will soon start to form a convoy of commercial ships to be escorted to a secure shipping lane," Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov said.

The Admiral Tributs is an Udaloy-class missile destroyer, armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and Ka-27 Helix helicopters

Around 35 warships from the navies of 16 countries are currently deployed off Somalia's coast to counter frequent pirate attacks on key trade routes.

The Russian Navy joined international anti-piracy efforts off Somali coast in October 2008.

Three Russian warships have so far participated in the mission - the Baltic Fleet's Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate, and the Pacific Fleet's Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Panteleyev destroyers.

A total of 126 vessels have been attacked with 44 of them captured since the start of the year in the region. Somali pirates are currently holding around 270 hostages on at least 16 vessels.

According to the United Nations, Somali pirates collected $150 million in ransom payments from ship owners last year, while overall losses from piracy were estimated at $13-16 billion, including the soaring cost of insurance and protection for vessels, as well as sending ships on longer routes to avoid high-risk areas.

Original story here :
http://en.rian.ru/ml.../155675087.html

 

[Thagarr]

Search is on for "pirate attackers" in Baltic Sea
Europe News

Jul 31, 2009, 14:01 GMT

Stockholm - Swedish police Friday treating very seriously reports of a mysterious presumed pirate attack on a Maltese- registered freighter in the Baltic Sea.

Swedish deputy crime police chief Tommy Hydfors confirmed to the German Press Agency dpa the report that eight heavily-armed masked men on Friday last week boarded Finnish-owned freighter Arctic Sea from a rubber dinghy.

According to the ship's 15-member Russian crew, the armed men claimed to be drug enforcement agents and thoroughly searched the ship, reacting violently to anyone who got in their way, including using a rifle butt to knock out teeth from one crew member.

The ship was held for 12 hours before the hijackers men left again without taking anything.

Investigators speculated that the 'pirates' may have actually been a drugs gang that was acting on a tip to search for contraband.

Investigator Ingemar Isaksson was quoted by the Swedish daily Expressen as saying there were a number of open questions, including why the crew waited several days before reporting the incident to the ship's owners Solchart Management.

Investigators however said they was no indication of a possible a rise in piracy in Swedish waters, which had not seen a single incident of piracy in modern times.

The Arctic Sea, which was carrying a shipment of wood from Finland to Algeria, continued its journey following the reported incident.

Original story here :
http://www.monstersa..._in_Baltic_Sea_

 

[Thagarr]

Turkish commandos capture 7 Somali pirate

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:52:05 GMT

Turkish navy soldiers on a NATO mission to combat piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden have reportedly captured seven pirates who were ready to attack a ship.

According to a report published by the daily Hurriyet, the frigate TCG Gediz intercepted and seized a boat off Somalia's coast on Friday in an operation that also involved a helicopter and navy commandos.

The operation was the second of its kind in a week. The Turkish navy commandos aboard the Turkish frigate TCG Gediz backed by a helicopter had earlier this week, raided a Somali pirates' boat and captured five pirates in the Gulf of Aden as they were about to launch an attack on a ship.

The Turkish frigate TCG Gediz set sail from Turkey to Somalia in June as part of a UN-led force to prevent pirates from hijacking foreign ships off the coast of Somalia.

The TCG Gediz is the second Turkish ship sent to the region and is on a one-year mission and part of the Combined Task Force (CTF) 151. The international naval force aims to prevent piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean as well as the Red Sea.

The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, is the quickest route for more than 20,000 vessels going from Asia to Europe and the Americas every year.

Attacks by heavily-armed Somali pirates have prompted some of the world's biggest shipping firms to switch routes from the Suez Canal and send cargo vessels around southern Africa, causing a hike in shipping costs.

The pirate-infested Somali waters remain dangerous despite the presence of foreign navies on patrol.

Original story here :
http://www.presstv.i...ionid=351020501

 

[Thagarr]

Somali pirates release Malaysian ship: NGO


NAIROBI — Somali pirates have freed a Malaysian tugboat and its 11 Indonesian sailors after a ransom was paid to end the second longest hostage saga off the coast of Somalia, a maritime watchdog said on Monday.

The tugboat TB Masindra 7 and its attached Indonesian barge ADM1 had been operating under a contract from French oil giant Total when it was seized eight months ago on December 16, said Kenya-based Ecoterra International.

"The Malaysian tugboat TB Masindra 7 with its attached Indonesian barge ADM1 is free," the non-governmental organisation said in a statement.

The crew of 11 was "all right, given the circumstances", said the statement, adding that "a ransom was paid".

The tugboat and barge had been on their way back to Malaysia from Mukallah in Yemen when the pirates hijacked them.

Andrew Mwangura, of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme, said the crew were "safe and sound" after their ordeal and their ship was "now steaming out to safe waters."

Ecoterra said a lack of cooperation between the Malaysian and Indonesian ship owners meant the case dragged on for months.

"Over long stretches the crew felt completely abandoned. One engine of the tugboat was damaged during the first night of the sea-jacking and provisionally repaired. Vessel, barge and crew therefore are approaching the nearest harbour for repairs and bunker," it said.

The eight-month hostage saga is the second-longest ship seizure by the Somali criminal gangs. In the longest, a Nigerian tugboat and its 11 crew were held for 10 months before their release in June.

Rest of the story here :
http://www.google.co...P72KSafX_gTUuFQ

And this ...

Somali pirates get $2.7 mln ransom for German ship

Mon Aug 3, 2009 6:29am EDT

MOGADISHU, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Somali pirates holding a German ship with five Germans, three Russians, two Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos said they had received a $2.7 million ransom and were counting it before releasing the ship a pirate told Reuters.

"We have taken $2.7 million ransom for Hansa, a German ship," pirate Abdi told Reuters by phone from Haradhere, a piracy haven.

"We are now dividing the money. We shall get down (off the ship) soon," he added. (Reporting by Mohamed Ahmed and Abdi Guled)

Original story here :
http://www.reuters.c...is/idUSL3705276

 

[Thagarr]

Norwegian frigate to hunt Somali pirates



The Norwegian frigate "Fridtjof Nansen" has this weekend left home base and is heading for the coast of Somalia, where it will join the EU-led "Operation Atlanta" in its effort to fight pirate attempts.

During the past few weeks the frigate and its 140 man crew have undergone test missions off the Norwegian coast.

On board is also a unit of the Norwegian Special Naval Force (MJK), equipped with high speed boats which will be used to intercept pirates attempting to board cargo ships in Somali waters.

The Norwegian frigate is initially on a six-month assignment.

Original story here :
http://www.norwaypos...t/view/22333/1/

 

[Fred Bob]

Harr! : Thagarr, ye gona join dem Norski fellers wid Viking blood in thar veins an' catch ye a few pyrates?!

 

[Thagarr]

Aye! The thought did cross my mind Fred Bob!! I think my tactics might not be appreciated by the rest of the strike force though ...I would wait till after the shipping company's had paid the ransom ..then swoop in with my Drakkar while they are counting the loot, and take out the little buggers!

 

[Thagarr]

Lithuanian seamen seized in pirate raid
Africa News

Aug 4, 2009, 13:08 GMT

Vilnius - A Lithuanian ship came under attack from pirates off the West African coast and five crew members have been taken hostage, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday.

The attack took place on Monday off the Nigerian coast in the vicinity of the Escravos river in the western Niger Delta, a statement said.

'Five crew members who are Lithuanian citizens were taken hostage and removed to an unknown location in a high-speed boat,' the ministry said.

Available information suggested the crew members seized by the pirates from the ship Saturnas had not been injured. Nine other crew members were reported to be still aboard the vessel which had not sustained damage.

The Saturnas is a refrigerated vessel built in Japan in 1982 but operated by Lithuania's Limarko Shipping Company.

Families of the crew have been informed but the ministry and the owners of the ship said there would be no further comment owing to the 'sensitivity' of the situation.

The Niger Delta is a region renowned for lawlessness and banditry, though recently pirate attacks have been associated more with Somalia on the Horn of Africa than Nigeria

Original story here :
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/n...0.php/Lithuanian-seamen-seized-in-pirate-raid

 

[Thagarr]

Aid Group to Defend Somali Piracy Suspects, Ensure Fair Trials
Written by Sarah McGregor

France-based Lawyers of the World, an international legal aid network, said it will defend 24 Somali piracy suspects held in Kenya, to boost the chances of a fair trial.​

The hearing for the first group of 11 Somali men accused of piracy starts today in the port city of Mombasa, lawyer Avi Singh, a dual U.S.-Indian citizen coordinating the pro-bono defense effort, said in an interview yesterday in Mombasa. All 24 men claim they are not guilty and face up to life imprisonment if convicted.​

Kenya, which borders Somalia, became a venue for piracy trials after signing prisoner-transfer deals this year with the U.S., the U.K. and the European Union in exchange for legal and logistical support. Those same countries are demanding that Kenya improve its own legal system.​

"Foreign navies are dumping pirate suspects in Kenya," said Singh. "They are the governments telling Kenya to get the judicial system right, then using it for a quick and dirty solution to piracy."​

UN Human Rights investigator Philip Alston authored a report published this year that alleged widespread judicial corruption in Kenya and called for a "root and branch" overhaul of the system.​

The country's courts are struggling to process a backlog of more than 80,000 cases, according to a government-appointed task force led by Justice William Ouko.​

Fair Trial
The trials can't be held in Somalia because the country doesn't have a functioning judicial system after 18 years of civil war.​

As a result, foreign navies have dropped off more than 110 suspected Somali pirates since 2006 at Kenya's Mombasa port.​

Resources provided to the prosecution and courts in Kenya have not been matched by funds to help suspected pirates pay for defense lawyers, summon witnesses, or collect evidence, said Singh.​

He interviewed his 24 clients for the first time at Shimo La Tewa maximum-security prison near Mombasa yesterday. Some of them staged a 7-day hunger strike last month to protest their lack of legal representation, said Singh, citing prison records. Others claimed they were denied medical treatment, he added.​

Lawyers of the World plans to set-up an office in Kenya to strengthen basic rights for detained piracy suspects, said Singh. That may include coordinating with relief agencies to deliver food, medicine and other supplies to inmates charged with piracy.​

Rest of the story here :
http://www.australia...news&Itemid=201

 

[Thagarr]

S. Korean Naval Forces Capture Pirates off Somalia

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

South Korean naval forces deployed off the coast of Somalia rescued a Bahaman commercial ship from pirates Wednesday, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul said.

In the seventh operation of its kind, a group of 30 UDT/SEAL forces aboard rigid inflatable speedboats, backed by a Lynx attack helicopter, seized seven pirates trying to hijack the cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. They conducted the operation at the request of the Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, a multinational naval task force to combat piracy in the Somalia littorals.

It was the first time that South Korean forces of the Cheonghae unit have captured pirates on a ship. Previous operations aimed at driving away suspected pirate boats from commercial ships used warning shots fired by the unit's Lynx helicopter.

The pirates were released after being given warnings, JCS officials said.

The South Korean unit, consisting of a 4,500-ton destroyer, began operations in Somali waters in April to escort the country's commercial vessels.

About 500 South Korean cargo ships sail through the piracy-stricken Gulf of Aden every year, and some 150 of them are believed to be vulnerable to hijacking due to their size and speed.

If required, the unit is also supposed to monitor, inspect, stop and seize pirates' vessels as part of the CTF 151, under the command of the Combined Forces Maritime Component Command based in Bahrain.

The task force is responsible for maritime security from the Red Sea down the east coast of Africa and into the Arabian Sea toward Pakistan and India.

Rest of the story here :
http://www.koreatime.../205_49674.html

 

[Thagarr]

Russian warships escort freighter convoy in Gulf of Aden

MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian Pacific Fleet task force escorted a convoy of commercial ships through a secure shipping lane in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, a Navy spokesman said.

The new task force arrived in the Gulf of Aden to fight piracy off the Somali coast last Thursday.

"The Liberian-flagged tanker NS Commander and the Gibraltar-flagged transport vessel ÂÂÑ Sweden were escorted under the protection of Russian warships," the spokesman said.

The task force - comprising the Admiral Tributs destroyer with two helicopters, a salvage tug, a tanker, and a naval infantry unit - escorts commercial ships, conducts aerial reconnaissance, and searches suspected pirate vessels.

The Admiral Tributs is an Udaloy-class missile destroyer armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and Ka-27 Helix helicopters.

Around 35 warships from the navies of 16 countries are currently deployed off Somalia's coast to counter frequent pirate attacks on key trade routes.

The Russian Navy joined international anti-piracy efforts off Somali coast in October 2008.

Three Russian warships have so far participated in the mission - the Baltic Fleet's Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate, and the Pacific Fleet's Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Panteleyev destroyers.

A total of 126 vessels have been attacked with 44 of them captured since the start of the year in the region. Somali pirates are currently holding around 270 hostages on at least 16 vessels.

According to the United Nations, Somali pirates collected $150 million in ransom payments from ship owners last year, while overall losses from piracy were estimated at $13-16 billion, including the soaring cost of insurance and protection for vessels, as well as sending ships on longer routes to avoid high-risk areas.

Original story here :
http://en.rian.ru/ru.../155734395.html

 

[Thagarr]

Pirate says $4 million ransom paid for Italian tugboat
Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:46am EDT

BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) - Somali pirates received a $4 million ransom to free an Italian cargo ship that was seized four months ago with a crew of 16, a member of the gang that held it captive said on Monday.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Sunday the Buccaneer was freed after "exceptional work" on the part of Somali authorities and the Italian intelligence service.

The owners of the Buccaneer, Ravenna-based Micoperi Marine Contractors, said on Sunday the ship was not freed as a result of military action or ransom payment.

"We have taken $4 million ransom and freed the Italian tugboat. It has already gone," pirate Aden told Reuters.

Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of regional maritime group, East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme, said the pirates received $5 million.

"They were counting the money last evening," he told Reuters by telephone.

The Buccaneer was hijacked on April 11 in the Gulf of Aden along with two barges. It is now on its way to the port of Djibouti escorted by naval vessels.

It was crewed by 10 Italians, five Romanians and a Croatian.

A flotilla of foreign naval vessels off Somalia has failed to quell the rampant piracy, which has affected one of the world's busiest shipping lanes that links Europe to Asia.

Original story here :
http://www.reuters.c...E57913W20090810

 

[marbatico]

i think its time that merchant vessels start to arm themselfs

 

[Thagarr]

I agree marbatico! A couple of well placed 24 pounders fore and aft would help as well! Those little pirates skiffs would shatter like match sticks!

Seriously though, some shipping companies already are using private security. However with the way maritime laws are nowadays, armed merchant seaman risk being arrested and having their guns confiscated for carrying arms depending on what territorial waters they are in. Some private security firms have already ran into that problem. The best defense I have seen to date is the use of barbed wire, there are a few shipping companies that are starting to place barbed wire all the way around their ships. There are a couple of posts about it on some earlier pages in this thread.

FACTBOX-Ships held by Somali pirates
Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:45am EDT

Aug 10 (Reuters) - An Italian tugboat, the Buccaneer, has been freed, Italy's foreign minister said on Sunday. [ID:nLA178141]

The Buccaneer, owned by Ravenna-based Micoperi Marine Contractors, was seized on April 11 and was crewed by 10 Italians, five Romanians and a Croatian. It was towing two barges through the Gulf of Aden.

Here is a list of some ships believed to be still under the control of Somali pirates:



SERENITY: The catamaran sailing for Madagascar from the Seychelles with three people aboard, was seized in March 2009.

INDIAN OCEAN EXPLORER: Seized March 2009. The 35-metre boat was built in Hamburg for oceanographic research. It accommodates about 12 passengers. Pirates have freed the seven crew.

WIN FAR 161: Taiwanese tuna boat, seized April 6, 2009.

SAMARA AHMED: Seized April 10, 2009. The Egyptian fishing vessel was captured with 16 crew.

MOMTAZ 1: Seized April 10, 2009. The Egyptian fishing vessel was taken with 18 crew.

IRENE E.M.: Seized April 13, 2009. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged Greek-owned bulk carrier was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. Its Filipino crew of 21 was unharmed.

ARIANA: Seized May 2, 2009. The Ariana was seized north of Madagascar en route to the Middle East from Brazil. The 24 Ukrainian crew were said to be unhurt. The ship, flying a Maltese flag, belongs to All Oceans shipping in Greece.

VICTORIA: Seized on May 5, 2009. The Antigua and Barbuda- flagged cargo vessel was hijacked by eight pirates in the Gulf of Aden on its way to the port of Jeddah. The 146-metre ship has a crew of 11 Romanians.

CHARELLE: Seized on June 12, 2009. The 2,800-tonne cargo ship carrying about nine crew, was attacked 60 miles south of Oman. Lloyds reported the vessel was owned by shipping firm Tarmstedt International.

HORIZON-1: Seized on July 8, 2009. The 34,173 dwt bulk carrier, believed to be carrying sulphate, was hijacked with 23 Turkish crew aboard.

Rest of the story here :
http://www.reuters.c...is/idUSLA226732

 

[Thagarr]

Pirate ship 'passed Dover Strait'

A cargo ship may have travelled through the English Channel after being hijacked by pirates, coastguards say.

A search has begun to find the 15 Russian crew of the Maltese-flagged Arctic Sea, which reports say was boarded by hijackers in the Baltic sea.

UK authorities made contact before it entered the Strait of Dover but the Russian navy told the Itar-Tass agency it was now looking for the ship.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the situation was "bizarre".

Spokesman Mark Clark said: "Who would think that a hijacked ship could pass through one of the most policed and concentrated waters in the world?

"It seems strange to think that a ship which had been hijacked was passing along the channel along with ships carrying day-trippers going over to Calais for the day."

'Extremely curious'

Hijackers may have been coercing the ship's crew when they made radio contact with coastguards at Dover on 28 July, the MCA fears.

Reports say Swedish authorities were told by the Finnish shipping line operating the 3,988-tonne ship that it was boarded by up to 10 armed men claiming to be anti-drugs police as it sailed through the Baltic sea on July 24.


The intruders apparently left the vessel - which was carrying about £1m worth of sawn timber from Finland to Algeria - 12 hours later on an inflatable boat after damaging the Arctic Sea's communications equipment.

But on 3 August, Interpol told Dover Coastguard that the crew had been hijacked in the Baltic Sea and asked UK authorities to be alert as the vessel passed through the channel.

By then the ship had already left the Strait of Dover and was last recorded off the coast of Brest, northern France, just before 0130 BST on 30 July.

The MCA said it was told the vessel had seemingly been spotted subsequently by a Portuguese coastal patrol aircraft but its current location was unknown.

Rest of the story here :
http://news.bbc.co.u...ews/8196640.stm