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Just another update:
The Threat of Modern Piracy- A Merged Thread
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Blackadder1916
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Somali pirates living the high life
By Robyn Hunter BBC News Published: 2008/10/28 09:16:13 GMT
"No information today. No comment," a Somali pirate shouts over the sound of breaking waves, before abruptly ending the satellite telephone call.
He sounds uptight - anxious to see if a multi-million dollar ransom demand will be met.
He is on board the hijacked Ukrainian vessel, MV Faina - the ship laden with 33 Russian battle tanks that has highlighted the problem of piracy off the Somali coast since it was captured almost a month ago.
But who are these modern-day pirates?
According to residents in the Somali region of Puntland where most of the pirates come from, they live a lavish life.
Fashionable
"They have money; they have power and they are getting stronger by the day," says Abdi Farah Juha who lives in the regional capital, Garowe.
"They wed the most beautiful girls; they are building big houses; they have new cars; new guns," he says.
"Piracy in many ways is socially acceptable. They have become fashionable."
Most of them are aged between 20 and 35 years - in it for the money.
And the rewards they receive are rich in a country where almost half the population need food aid after 17 years of non-stop conflict.
Most vessels captured in the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden fetch on average a ransom of $2m.
This is why their hostages are well looked after.
The BBC's reporter in Puntland, Ahmed Mohamed Ali, says it also explains the tight operation the pirates run.
They are never seen fighting because the promise of money keeps them together.
Wounded pirates are seldom seen and our reporter says he has never heard of residents along Puntland's coast finding a body washed ashore.
Given Somalia's history of clan warfare, this is quite a feat.
It probably explains why a report of a deadly shoot-out amongst the pirates onboard the MV Faina was denied by the vessel's hijackers.
Pirate spokesman Sugule Ali told the BBC Somali Service at the time: "Everybody is happy. We were firing guns to celebrate Eid."
Brains, muscle and geeks
The MV Faina was initially attacked by a gang of 62 men.
BBC Somalia analyst Mohamed Mohamed says such pirate gangs are usually made up of three different types:
- Ex-fishermen, who are considered the brains of the operation because they know the sea
- Ex-militiamen, who are considered the muscle - having fought for various Somali clan warlords
- The technical experts, who are the computer geeks and know how to operate the hi-tech equipment needed to operate as a pirate - satellite phones, GPS and military hardware.
The three groups share the ever-increasing illicit profits - ransoms paid in cash by the shipping companies.
A report by UK think-tank Chatham House says piracy off the coast of Somalia has cost up to $30m (£17m) in ransoms so far this year.
The study also notes that the pirates are becoming more aggressive and assertive - something the initial $22m ransom demanded for MV Faina proves. The asking price has apparently since fallen to $8m.
Calling the shots
Yemen, across the Gulf of Aden, is reportedly where the pirates get most of their weapons from.
A significant amount is also bought directly from the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Observers say Mogadishu weapon dealers receive deposits for orders via a "hawala" company - an informal money transfer system based on honour.
Militiamen then drive the arms north to the pirates in Puntland, where they are paid the balance on delivery.
It has been reported in the past that wealthy businessmen in Dubai were financing the pirates.
But the BBC's Somali Service says these days it is the businessmen asking the pirates for loans.
Such success is a great attraction for Puntland's youngsters, who have little hope of alternative careers in the war-torn country.
Once a pirate makes his fortune, he tends to take on a second and third wife - often very young women from poor nomadic clans, who are renowned for their beauty.
But not everyone is smitten by Somalia's new elite.
"This piracy has a negative impact on several aspects of our life in Garowe," resident Mohamed Hassan laments.
He cites an escalating lack of security because "hundreds of armed men" are coming to join the pirates.
They have made life more expensive for ordinary people because they "pump huge amounts of US dollars" into the local economy which results in fluctuations in the exchange rate, he says.
Their lifestyle also makes some unhappy.
"They promote the use of drugs - chewing khat [a stimulant which keeps one alert] and smoking hashish - and alcohol," Mr Hassan says.
The trappings of success may be new, but piracy has been a problem in Somali waters for at least 10 years - when Somali fishermen began losing their livelihoods.
Their traditional fishing methods were no match for the illegal trawlers that were raiding their waters.
Piracy initially started along Somalia's southern coast but began shifting north in 2007 - and as a result, the pirate gangs in the Gulf of Aden are now multi-clan operations.
But Garowe resident Abdulkadil Mohamed says, they do not see themselves as pirates.
"Illegal fishing is the root cause of the piracy problem," he says.
"They call themselves coastguards."
By Robyn Hunter BBC News Published: 2008/10/28 09:16:13 GMT
"No information today. No comment," a Somali pirate shouts over the sound of breaking waves, before abruptly ending the satellite telephone call.
He sounds uptight - anxious to see if a multi-million dollar ransom demand will be met.
He is on board the hijacked Ukrainian vessel, MV Faina - the ship laden with 33 Russian battle tanks that has highlighted the problem of piracy off the Somali coast since it was captured almost a month ago.
But who are these modern-day pirates?
According to residents in the Somali region of Puntland where most of the pirates come from, they live a lavish life.
Fashionable
"They have money; they have power and they are getting stronger by the day," says Abdi Farah Juha who lives in the regional capital, Garowe.
"They wed the most beautiful girls; they are building big houses; they have new cars; new guns," he says.
"Piracy in many ways is socially acceptable. They have become fashionable."
Most of them are aged between 20 and 35 years - in it for the money.
And the rewards they receive are rich in a country where almost half the population need food aid after 17 years of non-stop conflict.
Most vessels captured in the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden fetch on average a ransom of $2m.
This is why their hostages are well looked after.
The BBC's reporter in Puntland, Ahmed Mohamed Ali, says it also explains the tight operation the pirates run.
They are never seen fighting because the promise of money keeps them together.
Wounded pirates are seldom seen and our reporter says he has never heard of residents along Puntland's coast finding a body washed ashore.
Given Somalia's history of clan warfare, this is quite a feat.
It probably explains why a report of a deadly shoot-out amongst the pirates onboard the MV Faina was denied by the vessel's hijackers.
Pirate spokesman Sugule Ali told the BBC Somali Service at the time: "Everybody is happy. We were firing guns to celebrate Eid."
Brains, muscle and geeks
The MV Faina was initially attacked by a gang of 62 men.
BBC Somalia analyst Mohamed Mohamed says such pirate gangs are usually made up of three different types:
- Ex-fishermen, who are considered the brains of the operation because they know the sea
- Ex-militiamen, who are considered the muscle - having fought for various Somali clan warlords
- The technical experts, who are the computer geeks and know how to operate the hi-tech equipment needed to operate as a pirate - satellite phones, GPS and military hardware.
The three groups share the ever-increasing illicit profits - ransoms paid in cash by the shipping companies.
A report by UK think-tank Chatham House says piracy off the coast of Somalia has cost up to $30m (£17m) in ransoms so far this year.
The study also notes that the pirates are becoming more aggressive and assertive - something the initial $22m ransom demanded for MV Faina proves. The asking price has apparently since fallen to $8m.
Calling the shots
Yemen, across the Gulf of Aden, is reportedly where the pirates get most of their weapons from.
A significant amount is also bought directly from the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Observers say Mogadishu weapon dealers receive deposits for orders via a "hawala" company - an informal money transfer system based on honour.
Militiamen then drive the arms north to the pirates in Puntland, where they are paid the balance on delivery.
It has been reported in the past that wealthy businessmen in Dubai were financing the pirates.
But the BBC's Somali Service says these days it is the businessmen asking the pirates for loans.
Such success is a great attraction for Puntland's youngsters, who have little hope of alternative careers in the war-torn country.
Once a pirate makes his fortune, he tends to take on a second and third wife - often very young women from poor nomadic clans, who are renowned for their beauty.
But not everyone is smitten by Somalia's new elite.
"This piracy has a negative impact on several aspects of our life in Garowe," resident Mohamed Hassan laments.
He cites an escalating lack of security because "hundreds of armed men" are coming to join the pirates.
They have made life more expensive for ordinary people because they "pump huge amounts of US dollars" into the local economy which results in fluctuations in the exchange rate, he says.
Their lifestyle also makes some unhappy.
"They promote the use of drugs - chewing khat [a stimulant which keeps one alert] and smoking hashish - and alcohol," Mr Hassan says.
The trappings of success may be new, but piracy has been a problem in Somali waters for at least 10 years - when Somali fishermen began losing their livelihoods.
Their traditional fishing methods were no match for the illegal trawlers that were raiding their waters.
Piracy initially started along Somalia's southern coast but began shifting north in 2007 - and as a result, the pirate gangs in the Gulf of Aden are now multi-clan operations.
But Garowe resident Abdulkadil Mohamed says, they do not see themselves as pirates.
"Illegal fishing is the root cause of the piracy problem," he says.
"They call themselves coastguards."
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one more update:
Blackadder1916
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NATO Shipping Centre - SOMALIA PIRACY UPDATE 29 OCT 2008
as at 291613Z OCT 2008
http://www.shipping.nato.int/SOMALIAPIR
LATEST:
Following a short lull in piracy incidents, possibly due to adverse weather conditions, there has been a very recent surge of incidents. Bulk carrier MV YASA NESLIHAN was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on 29 October. In addition, two other vessels were attacked and one approached in the Gulf of Aden on 28 October. the total number of commercial vessels (including one tug) hijacked in Somali waters now stands at ten; over 200 merchant seamen are held by pirates.
The use of mother-ships seems to be on the rise, and potentially, vessels are hijacked with the sole intention of using them as such.
Since last update (15 Oct) (posted here in this thread) there have been 5 new incidents including 1 hijack. Motorized dhow SHREE SHIV SHAMBHO was hijacked on 18 Oct but released following a Somali Security force operation during 22 - 23 Oct
Last known positions are as shown on slide.
. . .
(remainder of text for this sitrep is as per the Oct 15 version, the slide has been updated)
as at 291613Z OCT 2008
http://www.shipping.nato.int/SOMALIAPIR
LATEST:
Following a short lull in piracy incidents, possibly due to adverse weather conditions, there has been a very recent surge of incidents. Bulk carrier MV YASA NESLIHAN was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on 29 October. In addition, two other vessels were attacked and one approached in the Gulf of Aden on 28 October. the total number of commercial vessels (including one tug) hijacked in Somali waters now stands at ten; over 200 merchant seamen are held by pirates.
The use of mother-ships seems to be on the rise, and potentially, vessels are hijacked with the sole intention of using them as such.
Since last update (15 Oct) (posted here in this thread) there have been 5 new incidents including 1 hijack. Motorized dhow SHREE SHIV SHAMBHO was hijacked on 18 Oct but released following a Somali Security force operation during 22 - 23 Oct
Last known positions are as shown on slide.
. . .
(remainder of text for this sitrep is as per the Oct 15 version, the slide has been updated)
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OldSolduer said:
Would it not be a bit hypocritical towards our state's ideals regarding capital punishment in Canada while upholding a virtual death penalty on the crime of piracy?
OldSolduer
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Mr. Cog Diss - piracy on the high seas is an act of war. We do have provision in our ROE if required to the Navy that states deadly force can be used in preventing an act of piracy.
Besides, Mr Cog Diss, you have chosen the infantry tac sign as your symbol. We kill people Mr Cog Diss...is that not a bit hypocritical of yourself.
I
Besides, Mr Cog Diss, you have chosen the infantry tac sign as your symbol. We kill people Mr Cog Diss...is that not a bit hypocritical of yourself.
I
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OldSolduer said:
Could you point to me where Piracy is considered an act of war? As was posted above, Piracy in Canada is considered a crime, not an act of war. Therefore the jurisdiction in dealing with such a threat is not within the military's ROEs, but rather in the judicial system. Though I will admit its very much a sticky situation, but I would not support the use of lethal force unless in direct self-defense of us or others.
Yes I am in the Infantry, however there is a difference between what I am charged with in doing and what the State is charged with in doing when it is dealing with criminal aspects. Furthermore, the Infantry kills in the last resort, not as the initial means, and nor do I glorify such an act, in fact it is a disgusting and inhuman act that I abhor, as should every Infantrymen abhor. However we take it up for a larger purpose, in safety and security of ourselves and others, not for the sheer pleasure in the act.
If one is doing it for the sheer pleasure, then I highly suggest they leave the Canadian Forces and rethink their sociopathic tendencies.
OldSolduer
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Mr. Cog Diss, I'm putting you on IGNORE as I hope the remainder of the thread will. Wake up, young man. Smell the coffee. Pirates don't give a rat's ass whether the victims of their crimes live or die.
YOU have a BAD attitude, with a"holier than thou" flavor.
Sociopathic tendencies? Give us a break.
I don't know what infantry unit you're in, nor do I care. I know you're not in mine.Good day
YOU have a BAD attitude, with a"holier than thou" flavor.
Sociopathic tendencies? Give us a break.
I don't know what infantry unit you're in, nor do I care. I know you're not in mine.Good day
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OldSolduer,
The kid just needs attention and, just like any 9 year old, bad attention is still better than no attention......
Maybe its about time we used the STAT acronym.
The kid just needs attention and, just like any 9 year old, bad attention is still better than no attention......
Maybe its about time we used the STAT acronym.
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Cog-Dis
Yes we kill, but we should not abhor it, in fact we should have no feeling towards it one way or the other a properly trained soldiers does not abhor killing he simply does it on order and carries on. The old saying what do you feel when you kill some with the reply "Recoil" is a very true statement.
Getting to your point of who's jurisdiction it is for these crimes; were they just looting the ship and then letting it on it's way I might agree that is was simply robbery and to be handled by LEO pers. HOWEVER...
They are taking the ship hostage and they are doing in a country other then Canada, no LEO agency has a mandate to work outside of their countries borders nor do they have the capability to retake a ship from these hostage takers. As such it falls into the perview of the Military and we do not negotiate with hostage takers or terrorist. All effort will be made by any Military unit to mitigate the loss of life however the primary concern will be saving the lives of the hostages and themselves so if they see an armed Hostage taker/Terrorist they will shoot and kill that person it's that simple.
Now I suggest you re look at what it is you do and how it is the government will employ you to carry out it's national intrest.
Yes we kill, but we should not abhor it, in fact we should have no feeling towards it one way or the other a properly trained soldiers does not abhor killing he simply does it on order and carries on. The old saying what do you feel when you kill some with the reply "Recoil" is a very true statement.
Getting to your point of who's jurisdiction it is for these crimes; were they just looting the ship and then letting it on it's way I might agree that is was simply robbery and to be handled by LEO pers. HOWEVER...
They are taking the ship hostage and they are doing in a country other then Canada, no LEO agency has a mandate to work outside of their countries borders nor do they have the capability to retake a ship from these hostage takers. As such it falls into the perview of the Military and we do not negotiate with hostage takers or terrorist. All effort will be made by any Military unit to mitigate the loss of life however the primary concern will be saving the lives of the hostages and themselves so if they see an armed Hostage taker/Terrorist they will shoot and kill that person it's that simple.
Now I suggest you re look at what it is you do and how it is the government will employ you to carry out it's national intrest.
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Let them cry about it... They would raise more of a stink if the military did it. Some European navies cannot even arrest pirates because they would have to give them asylum then. An increasing body count would dissuade people from pursuing a career in piracy.
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Like Clint Eastwood said in one of his movies:
"Some folk just need a good killin"
Our "human rights" advocates would be singing a different song if they were captured by pirates. It's all well and good to sit and pontificate about theoretical issues, but the real world rarely translates neatly into theory.
"Some folk just need a good killin"
Our "human rights" advocates would be singing a different song if they were captured by pirates. It's all well and good to sit and pontificate about theoretical issues, but the real world rarely translates neatly into theory.
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OldSolduer said:
I hear you OS.
Cog Dis has an agenda he now openly waves in front of our faces. Its just a matter of time until he hangs himself on here. He already has enough rope both in length and around his neck, its just a matter of tripping it up.
He knows he gets to us. However the countdown clock is ticking.
He's just trolling on the corner of Portage and Main ;D
We must be patient. Good things come to those who wait.
Here's to ya :cheers:
Wes
Meanwhile I'll try not to vomit from reading his posts.
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Just a quick BZ to all contributing to this thread on an ongoing basis - great resource for the latest, and (generally) interesting discussion as well.
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First, a BZ to all contributing to this thread - GREAT open source resource, and (generally) interesting commentary...
A few tidbits - highlights mine....
From UKR radio
From OhMyNews
From the Associated Press
Meanwhile, from ITAR-TASS
And from the Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Focus, more on the tanks on board the Faina
A few tidbits - highlights mine....
From UKR radio
From OhMyNews
From the Associated Press
Meanwhile, from ITAR-TASS
And from the Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Focus, more on the tanks on board the Faina
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More details on the pirate seizure of that Turkish ore ship. And some heroic action by a Spanish P3 Orion crew that prevents the pirates from taking another vessel.
Blackadder1916
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Russian naval tanker to join warship in African waters
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081103/118109383.html
15:57 | 03/ 11/ 2008
MOSCOW, November 3 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian Baltic Fleet tanker is to join a naval frigate involved in protecting merchant ships from pirates in African waters, a naval source said on Monday.
The Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate entered waters off the Somali coast last Monday where local pirates have increased their attacks on ships in the area in exchange for ransom demands.
"At the moment, the Neustrashimy frigate is escorting a merchant ship through the dangerous shipping zone in the Horn of Africa. The Russian combat vessel is ensuring the safety of Russian merchant shipping through the zone," the source said, adding that the Baltic Fleet's Yelnya was expected to join the Neustrashimy in the near future.
He also said that the frigate's commander was maintaining contact with NATO ships in the area as part of a coordinated approach to fighting piracy in the region.
U.S. warships from the 5th Fleet have surrounded a Ukrainian ship, the MV Faina, which was seized by Somali pirates on September 25. The Faina, which was carrying tanks and heavy weaponry, has a crew of 17 Ukrainian nationals, two Russians, and one Lithuanian on board.
The Faina's Russian captain died of a heart attack when the ship was seized. Earlier the pirates were reported to have demanded an $8 million ransom to free the ship's crew.
The London-based As-Shark al-Ausat newspaper, however, cited on Saturday anonymous sources in Somalia as saying the pirates were demanding a $5 million ransom for the release of the ship's crew and that the hostage talks were entering their final stage.
Somali pirates have seized around 30 ships so far this year off the coast of the east African nation, which has no effective government and no navy to police its coastline.
NATO and EU announced plans to increase their naval presence in the Gulf of Aden, which has been declared one of the busiest and most dangerous shipping lanes with about 20,000 vessels passing through the area annually.
At the beginning of June, the UN Security Council passed a resolution permitting countries to enter Somalia's territorial waters to combat "acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea."
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081103/118109383.html
15:57 | 03/ 11/ 2008
MOSCOW, November 3 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian Baltic Fleet tanker is to join a naval frigate involved in protecting merchant ships from pirates in African waters, a naval source said on Monday.
The Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate entered waters off the Somali coast last Monday where local pirates have increased their attacks on ships in the area in exchange for ransom demands.
"At the moment, the Neustrashimy frigate is escorting a merchant ship through the dangerous shipping zone in the Horn of Africa. The Russian combat vessel is ensuring the safety of Russian merchant shipping through the zone," the source said, adding that the Baltic Fleet's Yelnya was expected to join the Neustrashimy in the near future.
He also said that the frigate's commander was maintaining contact with NATO ships in the area as part of a coordinated approach to fighting piracy in the region.
U.S. warships from the 5th Fleet have surrounded a Ukrainian ship, the MV Faina, which was seized by Somali pirates on September 25. The Faina, which was carrying tanks and heavy weaponry, has a crew of 17 Ukrainian nationals, two Russians, and one Lithuanian on board.
The Faina's Russian captain died of a heart attack when the ship was seized. Earlier the pirates were reported to have demanded an $8 million ransom to free the ship's crew.
The London-based As-Shark al-Ausat newspaper, however, cited on Saturday anonymous sources in Somalia as saying the pirates were demanding a $5 million ransom for the release of the ship's crew and that the hostage talks were entering their final stage.
Somali pirates have seized around 30 ships so far this year off the coast of the east African nation, which has no effective government and no navy to police its coastline.
NATO and EU announced plans to increase their naval presence in the Gulf of Aden, which has been declared one of the busiest and most dangerous shipping lanes with about 20,000 vessels passing through the area annually.
At the beginning of June, the UN Security Council passed a resolution permitting countries to enter Somalia's territorial waters to combat "acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea."
Blackadder1916
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NATO Shipping Centre SOMALIA PIRACY UPDATE 4 November 2008 (as at 041653Z NOV 2008)
http://www.shipping.nato.int/SOMALIAPIR
UNCLAS
Following a short lull in piracy incidents, possibly due to adverse weather conditions, there has been a very recent surge of incidents.
MV YASA NESLIHAN, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier was successfully hijacked in Gulf of Aden on 29 Oct during an attack by 2 skiffs, each with 4 armed pirates on board. No further information at the present time. The vessel was laden with a cargo of iron ore pallets and was enroute to Rizhao, China, from Pointe Noire, Canada. The hijackers have taken hostage 20 crew members.
MV AQUILO, St Vincent & Grenadines-flagged general cargo vessel reported an attack from a single skiff at 13.50 UTC on 28 Oct. Pirates were close to achieving a successful boarding when their engine suddenly broke down and they were left floundering in the wake. Coalition vessel then arrived on scene and escorted AQUILO until out of area.
MV LEANDER, a Singapore-flagged crude oil tanker reported she was attacked on 2 separate occasions when transiting the Gulf of Aden on 28 Oct. During the first attack, at 05.45 UTC she reported receiving small arms fire from 3 fast skiffs. At 11.19 UTC she reported 2 more skiffs in her vicinity, again they used small arms fire. During this second incident a Spanish MPA overflew the pirate skiffs three times releasing smoke markers on each pass thereby causing the pirates to call off their attack.
The total number of commercial vessels (including one tug) hijacked in Somali waters now stands at ten; over 200 merchant seamen are held by pirates. The use of mother-ships seems to be on the rise, and potentially, vessels are hijacked with the sole intention of using them as such.
In short, the trends in latest piracy incidents are as follows:
Targeting larger cargo / oil / gas / chemical tankers
Approaches / attacks conducted from 2-3 small speedboats with 3-5 armed persons each. The number of boats involved in each incident seems to be increasing.
http://www.shipping.nato.int/SOMALIAPIR
UNCLAS
Following a short lull in piracy incidents, possibly due to adverse weather conditions, there has been a very recent surge of incidents.
MV YASA NESLIHAN, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier was successfully hijacked in Gulf of Aden on 29 Oct during an attack by 2 skiffs, each with 4 armed pirates on board. No further information at the present time. The vessel was laden with a cargo of iron ore pallets and was enroute to Rizhao, China, from Pointe Noire, Canada. The hijackers have taken hostage 20 crew members.
MV AQUILO, St Vincent & Grenadines-flagged general cargo vessel reported an attack from a single skiff at 13.50 UTC on 28 Oct. Pirates were close to achieving a successful boarding when their engine suddenly broke down and they were left floundering in the wake. Coalition vessel then arrived on scene and escorted AQUILO until out of area.
MV LEANDER, a Singapore-flagged crude oil tanker reported she was attacked on 2 separate occasions when transiting the Gulf of Aden on 28 Oct. During the first attack, at 05.45 UTC she reported receiving small arms fire from 3 fast skiffs. At 11.19 UTC she reported 2 more skiffs in her vicinity, again they used small arms fire. During this second incident a Spanish MPA overflew the pirate skiffs three times releasing smoke markers on each pass thereby causing the pirates to call off their attack.
The total number of commercial vessels (including one tug) hijacked in Somali waters now stands at ten; over 200 merchant seamen are held by pirates. The use of mother-ships seems to be on the rise, and potentially, vessels are hijacked with the sole intention of using them as such.
In short, the trends in latest piracy incidents are as follows:
Targeting larger cargo / oil / gas / chemical tankers
Approaches / attacks conducted from 2-3 small speedboats with 3-5 armed persons each. The number of boats involved in each incident seems to be increasing.
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