October 8, 2024
Oil tanker Sounion 'poses environmental risk' after Houthi attack in Red Sea
A Greek-flagged oil tanker carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude that was evacuated by its crew after being attacked in the Red Sea now poses an environmental hazard, the EU's Red Sea [...]
March 23, 2024
Somali Pirates to Face Trial After Indian Navy Capture
The Indian navy captured the suspects on the MV Ruen that was hijacked by pirates of Somalia. They will be prosecuted in India, a departure from recent practices of dealing with pirates.
Thirty-five [...]
December 31, 2023
US Navy Helicopters Destroy Houthi Boats in Red Sea After Attempted Hijack
The US Navy has destroyed Houthi "small boats" attempting to board a container ship in the Red Sea.
Four vessels from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen fired upon [...]
April 1, 2022
Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Somalia
MARCH 30, 2022
ON April 12, 2010, by Executive Order 13536, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economi [...]
January 14, 2022
Caution Urged Despite Lowest Reported Maritime Piracy Incidents Since 1994 - IMB
MARITIME piracy and armed robbery attacks reached the lowest recorded level since 1994, the annual piracy report of the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), published tod [...]
December 27, 2021
Wounded suspected pirate transferred to hospital in Ghana
A SUSPECTED pirate wounded during an exchange of gunfire last month with the Danish navy off West Africa has been transferred to a hospital in Ghana, authorities said.
Four other suspected pirates [...]
December 6, 2021
UN Security Council Adopts 3-Month Renewal of Counter Piracy Resolution
THE UN Security Council on Friday, 3 December, unanimously renewed an additional three months of its authorisation for States and regional organizations cooperating with Somalia to us [...]
October 18, 2021
EU NAVFOR Somalia Conducts Joint Naval Exercises
EUNAVFOR conducted joint naval exercises with Japanese frigate JPS Yugiri and the Maritime Security Centre of the Sultanate of Oman in the Indian Ocean, increasing capability and reach alongside partners.
[...]
September 23, 2021
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Robbery At Sea in Asia August 2021 Report
SEVEN incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during August 2021, reports ReCAAP ISC. No piracy incident was reported. All seven incidents were categorised as actual in [...]
September 23, 2021
UPDATE: Increased Piracy Threat Expected in Nigeria, Benin, Togo Waters Warns MDAT-GOG - Threat Reduced
MDAT-GoG issued a warning of the threat of increase in piracy in Zone E of the Gulf of Guinea. Nigerian security operations ashore successfully reduced [...]
August 27, 2021
Increasing Container Ship Boardings in Manila Anchorage Raises Concerns
CONCERNS have been highlighted by ReCAAP ISC surrounding the increase in armed robbery incidents against ships at Manila Anchorage areas in the Philippines. Particularly worrisome is [...]
August 19, 2021
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Robbery At Sea in Asia July Report 2021
RECAAP ISC latest report states that in July 2021, five incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia. No piracy incident was reported. All five incidents were actual incidents [...]
August 17, 2021
Shipping Industry Agrees to Reduce Size of Indian Ocean ‘High Risk Area’ for Piracy
WITH a continued downward trend in Somali piracy incidents, a group of the leading shipping organizations have agreed to reduce the geographic boundaries of th [...]
August 3, 2021
Federal Republic of Germany Joins the ReCAAP
ON 1 AUGUST 2021, Federal Republic of Germany has joined the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) as the twenty-first Contracting Party. The R [...]
July 6, 2021
Pirates Prosecuted; A First For Togo
THE trial of nine pirates, held on Monday [5 July] in Togo, is the first of its kind. The defendants present at the hearing were sentenced to terms ranging from 12 to 15 years in prison.
They are nine, seated [...]
July 2, 2021
Ecuador Takes Preventive Actions Due to the Presence of Foreign Vessels Near Galapagos
THE Government of Ecuador undertook preventive actions to safeguard sovereignty in the jurisdictional maritime spaces of the country.
Foreig [...]
June 21, 2021
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Robbery At Sea in Asia 1st Quarter Report 2021
IN MAY 2021, ReCAAP ISC reported four incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia. No piracy incident was reported. Of the four incidents, three were actual incidents [...]
June 15, 2021
HMCS Calgary Redeploys With CMF Record For Most Interdictions By A Single Ship
ROYAL CANADIAN Navy (RCN) ship HMCS Calgary conducted three successful counter-narcotics interdictions June 4-7, raising their total to 17 in eight weeks, and setting a record [...]
June 14, 2021
Ethiopia, Djibouti Agree to Scale Up Military Cooperation
ETHIOPIA and Djibouti have agreed to scale up their military cooperation for peace in the region, an official statement said on Friday.
The East African neighbours will boost military cooperation [...]
April 23, 2021
ReCAAP ISC Highlights Concern Over Continued Occurrence Of Ship Boarding in Singapore Strait
ON 17 Apr 21, two incidents occurred to ships while underway off Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island, Indonesia. The two incidents occurred within an interv [...]
April 21, 2021
Gulf of Guinea Remains World’s Piracy Hotspot in 2021, IMB Reports
THE Gulf of Guinea accounted for nearly half (43%) of all reported piracy incidents in the first three months of 2021, according to the latest figures from the ICC International Mari [...]
March 21, 2021
Abducted Fishermen Rescued by Philippines Armed Forces
ON 17 January 2020, ReCAAP ISC reported that six gunmen dressed in black suits with masks abducted eight crew from fishing trawler, SSK 00543, at approximately 4.24nm North-west of Pulau Tambisan, Lah [...]
January 25, 2021
Pirates Kill One Crew Member, 15 Kidnapped - Gulf of Guinea
UPDATED: TURKISH-owned, Liberia-flagged container ship, Mozart, whilst transiting from Lagos, Nigeria to Cape Town, South Africa, was boarded by armed pirates in the early morning of Saturday, 23 [...]
January 14, 2021
Gulf of Guinea Records Highest Ever Number of Crew Kidnapped in 2020
THE International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB)’s annual piracy report recorded an increase of piracy and armed robbery incidents in 2020.
In 202 [...]
December 18, 2020
West Africa Maritime Security Warning
OVER the period of the last five or six weeks, piracy-related maritime incidents in the Gulf of Guinea have seen a concerning rise with approximately 27 instances of vessel crew being kidnapped.
The estimated total o [...]
November 23, 2020
Incidents Against Ships in the Singapore Strait
SINCE 2019 through 2020, there is a sharp increase in the number of incidents of robbery and theft against ships while underway in the Singapore Strait (SS), compared to the period of 2016-2018. In 2019, 31 [...]
October 15, 2020
Pirates Are Kidnapping More Seafarers Off West Africa, IMB Reports
ICC INTERNATIONAL Maritime Bureau (IMB) figures show a rise in piracy and armed robbery on the world’s seas in the first nine months of 2020, with a 40% increase in the number of kid [...]
September 25, 2020
ReCAAP ISC Special Report on Incidents at Anchorages/Ports in the Philippines
THERE has been an increase of the number of incidents reported at the nchorages/ports in the Philippines during Jan-Sep 2020, reports ReCAAP ISC in this Special Repor [...]
September 1, 2020
Last Hostages Held By Somali Pirates Released After Five And A Half Years
A BRITISH-led team of hostage negotiators are celebrating after securing the release of three kidnapped sailors in the last and longest running hijacking in the Somali piracy crisis [...]
August 20, 2020
Premature Release of Convicted Pirates in Somalia
THE Chair of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) conveys deep concern and alerts the International Community and the UN Security Council over the recent decision of the P [...]
August 11, 2020
Nigerian Navy Secures First Conviction Under the New Anti-Piracy Law
THE [Nigerian] Federal High Court (FHC) Port Harcourt, on 23 July 2020, convicted three of nine accused persons who, on 21 March 2020, hijacked an Equatorial Guinea-flagged vessel, MV El [...]
July 30, 2020
ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre Holds Dialogue with Shipping Industry to Strengthen Maritime Situation Awareness and Deepen Cooperation in Fight against Piracy and Sea Robbery in Asia
ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) today held a virtual dialogue [...]
July 15, 2020
Crew kidnappings Surge In Seas Off West Africa - IMB
VIOLENT attacks against ships and their crews have risen in 2020, with 77 seafarers taken hostage or kidnapped for ransom since January, reveals the ICC International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) lates [...]
July 2, 2020
ReCAAP ISC Issues Kidnap Warning in Sulu Sea
On 22 May 2020, the ReCAAP ISC, disseminated a Warning (Warning 01-2020) about a group of five Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members planning to conduct kidnapping activities in undisclosed areas in Sabah, Malaysia (b [...]
May 23, 2020
ReCAAP Issues Warning of Possible Kidnap Attempts in Sulu Sea
ON 22 May, the ReCAAP ISC has received information from the Philippine Coast Guard (ReCAAP Focal Point) that a group of approximately five ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) members armed with assorted fir [...]
April 14, 2020
Piracy And Armed Robbery a Threat To Ships’ Crews, Warns IMB
SEAFARERS face continuing threats from pirates and armed robbers on the world’s seas, says the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB [...]
March 11, 2020
CTF151 UNDERTAKES FOCUSED OP IKARUS
COMBINED Task Force 151 (CTF151) recently completed Focused Operation IKARUS (FO IKARUS) around the Somali Coast, the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden, raising awareness of their presence in the area and ensurin [...]
January 15, 2020
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Robbery At Sea in Asia Annual Report 2019
ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) released its Annual Report 2019 (January to December 2019). Eighty-two incidents of piracy and robbery against ships at sea in Asia w [...]
January 14, 2020
Unprecedented Number of Crew Kidnappings in the Gulf of Guinea Despite Drop in Overall Global Numbers
DESPITE overall piracy incidents declining in 2019, there was an alarming increase in crew kidnappings across the Gulf of Guinea, according to the [...]
December 11, 2019
Kidnapped Crew of MV Bonita Released
THE J.J. Ugland Companies released a statement concerning the released and return to safety of nine crewmembers kidnapped by pirates from bulk carrier, Bonita, on November 2, 2019, Southwest of Cotonou, Benin [...]
December 10, 2019
ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre Conducts Anti-Piracy Capacity Building Programme
ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre Conducts Anti-Piracy Capacity Building Programme for Senior Officers of Maritime Authorities and Law Enforcement Agencies in Cooperation w [...]
November 4, 2019
Pirates Kidnap Nine From Norwegian Ship Off Benin
PIRATES have kidnapped nine crew members from a Norwegian shipping vessel off the coast of Benin in West Africa.
The vessel, a bulk carrier, was carrying gypsum, a mineral used as a fertiliser, and was at [...]
October 23, 2019
EUNAVFOR Provides Aid to Stricken Somali Naval Vessel
ON the morning of 20 October 2019, EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation ATALANTA received a request to assist a vessel belonging to the Somali Navy in distress some 60 km north of Cadale. The vessel had reporte [...]
October 18, 2019
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Sea Robbery 3rd Quarter 2019 Report
THE situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia continued to improve during January-September 2019. Both the total number of incidents and the number of actual incidents reported du [...]
October 15, 2019
Maritime Piracy Incidents Falls in Q3; Gulf of Guinea Remains a Hot Spot
THE International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) report for the third quarter of 2019 demonstrates fewer incidents of piracy and armed robbery agains [...]
September 16, 2019
CTF-151 Outline Of Focused Operation ‘KING CRAB’
A CTF 151 led Counter Piracy Focused Operation ‘KING CRAB’, will be conducted from 23 - 26 Sept 2019. The purpose of this notice is to inform military forces (EUNAVFOR, Independent D [...]
August 13, 2019
CGPCS Communication of the Chair on the Premature Release of Convicted Pirates
(Port Louis, Mauritius) - THE International Community and States in the region have put in much efforts to ensure that acts of piracy are not left unpunished following the UN R [...]
August 11, 2019
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Sea Robbery July 2019 Report
ReCAAP ISC reports A total of six incidents of piracy1 and armed robbery against ships2 were reported in Asia in July 2019. Of the six incidents, one was an incident of piracy and five were incident [...]
July 9, 2019
Seas Off West Africa World’s Worst For Pirate Attacks, IMB Reports
The seas around West Africa remain the world’s most dangerous for piracy, the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) latest report reveals.
Of the 75 seafarers taken host [...]
June 28, 2019
Five Indian Sailors Abducted in Nigeria Rescued: Indian Shipping Ministry
THE High Commission of India in Abuja, Nigeria sought help from the Nigerian Navy to track the whereabouts of the missing Indian sailors, which in turn roped in the Nigerian Maritim [...]
May 28, 2019
One Month Since 2019’s First Piracy Attack Off The Somali Coast
ON 21 April, suspected pirates seized a fishing dhow off the coast of Somalia, holding 23 people hostage. In a matter of hours, the European Union’s counter-piracy force EU NA [...]
May 8, 2019
New Zealand Man Killed in Boat Attack Off Panama
IN a rare report of an attack against a pleasure boat off Panama, a family of four saw one member shot and killed and two others injured by three Panamaians on May 2.
The international Maritime Bureau Pi [...]
April 26, 2019
Piracy Suspects Transferred to Seychellois Authorities
EUNAVFOR Somalia Op Atalanta has transferred five suspected pirates to Seychellois authorities today after responding to piracy attacks on 21 April.
Spanish flagship ESPS Navarra transported the fi [...]
April 24, 2019
First Piracy Attack Off Somalia in 2019 Thwarted, Hijacked Dhow Mothership Intercepted
IN what appears to be the first piracy incident to occur off the coast of Somalia since 16 October 2018, on 21 April, fishing vessels Adria and Txori Argi were attacked [...]
April 18, 2019
ReCAAP ISC Reports 52 Percent Decrease in Incidents of Piracy/Armed Robbery Against Ships In Asia During January-March 2019
ReCAAP ISC reports a total of 10 incidents of armed robbery against ships (comprising nine actual incidents and one attempted incid [...]
April 11, 2019
Spanish Patrol Boat Rescues Hijacked Ship Off Nigeria
A SPANISH patrol boat rescued a Nigerian merchant ship which had been kidnapped by pirates in the Guinean Gulf, reports the ministry of defence.
The P-71 Serviola is based on the west African coast an [...]
March 29, 2019
EUNAVFOR OHQ Handover to Spain
A CEREMONY took place today, 29 March, in Rota Naval Base, Cadiz, Spain, to mark the relocation of the Operation Headquarters of EU NAVFOR Atalanta Operation.
The relocation of the Headquarters of the Operation has no pre [...]
March 29, 2019
EU Flag Lowered At Northwood OHQ
THE European Union flag is to be lowered at Northwood HQ. The United Kingdom loses control of the EU's anti-piracy operation, which it has been commanding since the beginning, a good decade ago in December 2008. At issue: [...]
March 14, 2019
Five Crew Kidnapped by Pirates Off Nigeria
FIVE crew members from a Nigeria-flagged offshore support vessel have been kidnapped by armed pirates around 30 nautical miles southeast of Brass, Nigeria.
During the attack on the E Francis on 9 March, the pira [...]
March 12, 2019
Indian Ocean Piracy High Risk Area to be Further Reduced
THE SIZE of the ‘High Risk Area’ (HRA) for piracy in the Indian Ocean is to be further reduced effective from 1 May 2019, organisations representing the global shipping and oil industry [...]
March 12, 2019
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - February 2019 Report
ReCAAP ISC in the latest February report, states that a total of three incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in February 2019. There was no report of [...]
March 4, 2019
Suspected Somali Pirate Caught in Salzburg Police Net
A SUSPECTED pirate alleged to have been involved in the capture of two German ships off the Somali coast in 2010 and 2011 has been arrested in Salzburg. The man apparently wanted to seek asylum there. [...]
January 16, 2019
IMB Piracy Report 2018: Attacks Multiply in the Gulf of Guinea
PIRACY increased on the world’s seas in 2018, with a marked rise in attacks against ships and crews around West Africa, the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Mariti [...]
November 8, 2018
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - October 2018 Report
ReCAAP ISC October 2018 report states that total of six incidents of armed robbery against ships1 were reported in Asia in October 2018. No piracy2 incident was reported. Ther [...]
October 29, 2018
Record-Low Hijackings Yet Danger Persists in Gulf of Guinea, States IMB Report
A TOTAL of 156 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the ICC International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) in the fir [...]
September 19, 2018
Fishermen Kidnapped Off Sabah, Malaysia. ASG Suspected
LOCAL authorities in Malaysia report the kidnapping of two Indonesian fishermen from a fishing vessel, Dwijaya 1, by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants on 11 September in the province of Sulu, the souther [...]
September 10, 2018
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - August 2018 Report
ReCAAP ISC reports that a total of eight incidents of armed robbery against ships1 were reported in Asia in August 2018. No piracy incident was reported. There was also no repo [...]
September 4, 2018
ReCAAP ISC Capacity Building Workshop Held in Yangon, Myanmar
MARITIME Law Enforcement and Regulatory Officers from 15 Countries Meet in Yangon, Myanmar for ReCAAP ISC Capacity Building Workshop to Share Best Practices in Combatt [...]
September 3, 2018
MOAS Marks 4th Anniversary of First Maritime Rescue
ON Saturday, 30th of August 2014, the newly-launched Migrant Offshore Aid Station carried out its first rescue in the Mediterranean Sea. Two weeks later, our crew had rescued and assisted over [...]
August 1, 2018
Nigerian Pirates Kidnap 35 Seafarers in the Gulf of Guinea – Report
ACCORDING to security firm EOS Risk Group, Nigerian pirates have kidnapped 35 seafarers from vessels in the Gulf of Guinea so far this year. This information was disclosed in their [...]
July 24, 2018
New IMB Report Shows Persistent Piracy Risk in Gulf of Guinea
THE second quarterly report from the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) shows that all 2018 crew kidnappings have so far occurred in the Gulf of Guinea in six separate incidents.
A total [...]
July 18, 2018
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Half-Yearly Report 2018
FORTY Incidents Reported to ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre from January to June 2018, Marking 15% Year-on-Year Decrease, and the Lowest in Number am [...]
June 12, 2018
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Sea Robbery Conference 2018 Addresses Proactive Response Among Stakeholders to Counter Piracy in Asia
ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre organises jointly with BIMCO and INTERTANKO for the first time its annual conference i [...]
May 9, 2018
EU NAVFOR in Collaboration With the Seychelles
AT a recent port visit to the Seychelles, ITS Margottini’s crew and embarked Force Headquarters Staff have built on the strong relationship between EU NAVFOR and the Seychelles authorities.
The Seych [...]
May 8, 2018
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - April 2018 Report
ReCAAP ISC reported that there were three minor incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in April 2018, while there was no report of incidents involving the a [...]
May 2, 2018
Japan-Funded Maritime Security Courses Get Underway in Djibouti
THE first in a series of regional maritime security courses, funded by the Government of Japan, has been held at the Djibouti Regional Training Centre (DRTC). During a five-day workshop (22-2 [...]
April 27, 2018
ReCAAP & RSIS Hold Maritime Roundtable on “Single Reporting Centre” for Piracy and Sea Robbery
THE Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) [...]
April 24, 2018
EUNAVFOR/CMF Hold 42nd SHADE Conference
EU NAVFOR chaired the 42nd Shared Awareness and De-confliction (SHADE) conference in Bahrain over two days from 17th to 18th April 2018; this was co-chaired by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and w [...]
April 11, 2018
Pirate Attacks Worsen in Gulf of Guinea, Report
A surge in armed attacks against ships around West Africa is pushing up global levels of piracy and armed robbery at sea, warns the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
I [...]
March 9, 2018
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - January 2018 Report
ACCORDING to ReCAAP ISC latest report a total of five incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in February 2018. No piracy incident was reported. Of the [...]
March 2, 2018
National Maritime Security Strategy for Seychelles
CONSULTATIONS to draft a National Maritime Security Strategy for Seychelles with different actors and stakeholders who are working in, playing a role in protecting and safeguarding or are connected in one [...]
February 9, 2018
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - January 2018 Report
ReCAAP ISC reports total of seven incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia (comprising five actual incidents and two attempted incidents) in J [...]
January 25, 2018
INTERTANKO, ICS and BIMCO Issue Guidance As Yemen Conflict Forces New Security Recommendations
IN response to the threats arising from the conflict in Yemen, BIMCO, ICS and INTERTANKO have published interim guidance on maritime security in the southern Re [...]
January 16, 2018
ReCAAP ISC Reports 19 Percent Rise in Incidents of Piracy/Armed Robbery Against Ships In Asia for 2017
ReCAAP ISC annual report states that a total of 101 incidents (comprising 89 actual incidents and 12 attempted incidents) were reported in 2017 compared [...]
January 13, 2018
Loss of Communication With Vessel MT Barrett off Benin
THE Union Maritime vessel, MT Barrett, a product tanker which was at anchor off Benin, West Africa has not been heard from since late on Tuesday 9th January, states Union Maritime, London-based tanker [...]
December 21, 2017
Six Suspected Somali Pirates Held in Seychelles Face 30 Years in Prison
SIX Somali nationals who were transferred to Seychelles after being caught attacking a container ship and a fishing vessel last month [November]c ould face 30 years imprisonment [...]
December 11, 2017
CGPCS Chair Handover to Indian Ocean Commission by Seychelles
Contact Group on Piracy off the Somali Coast (CGPCS) Chai IOC took over the presidency for a period of two years.
The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) has succeeded the Republic of Seychelles a [...]
December 7, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - November 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC latest report states that a total of nine incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in November 2017.
Of these, seven were actual incident [...]
November 20, 2017
Suspected Pirates Chased & Apprehended in Somali Basin After Firing on Container Ship
EU NAVFOR Somalia’s Flagship, the Italian warship, ITS Virginio Fasan, has apprehended six suspected pirates and seized their vessels, reports the Operati [...]
November 9, 2017
Seychelles Chair of the CGPCS Welcomes Renewed Resolution on Anti Piracy by UN Security Council
AMBASSADOR Barry Faure, current chairman of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, CGPCS, has welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2383 ( [...]
October 16, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Jan-Sep 3rd Quarterly 2017 Report
IN AN extensive third quarter report, ReCAAP ISC states that a total of 50 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 43 actual incidents an [...]
September 11, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - August 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC reports a total of four incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in August 2017. Of these, three were actual incidents and one was an attempted [...]
September 8, 2017
Guidance on Maritime Security Transit Corridor
THE following information from the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) relates to transits through the Gulf of Aden, Bab Al Mandeb (BaM), Southern Red Sea, and associated waters. It does not replace any pr [...]
September 5, 2017
Combined Task Force 151, Focused Operation 14 to 28 Sept 2017
A MARITIME Security Operation will be conducted in areas off the Somali Coast and Suqutra (Socotra) Gap between 14 and 28 September 2017.
CTF 151 and UKMTO have released a notice of the plan [...]
August 22, 2017
Three Years On, MOAS Vows to Continue Saving Lives At Sea
THREE YEARS have passed since when, on 30 August 2014, the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) first rescued a group of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean. The first private search-and [...]
August 17, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - July 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC latest report for July 2017 states that a total of two actual incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in July 2017. No piracy incident was [...]
August 11, 2017
Inauguration of the Sir James Mancham International Centre for Peace & Diplomacy in Seychelles
HOW to ensure peace and stability in the Western Indian Ocean and prevent threats such as piracy? How might the foreign policy and diplomacy of Seychelles [...]
August 9, 2017
Guidance On Transits Through The Bab El Mandeb and Associated Waters
UKMTO operating from Dubai, has issued an advisory following information from the UK government relating to ship transits through the Bab El Mandeb (BeM) and associated waters. Thi [...]
August 9, 2017
Community of Reporting for The Gulf of Guinea
PIRACY and armed robbery as a crime continues to be a concern to the shipping industry, states the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC). A structured response by governments and thei [...]
July 28, 2017
India's Measures to Deal With Piracy At Sea
THE INDIAN Government has issued steps as part of various preventive/mitigating security measures against piracy at sea
The Government has taken the following steps as part of various preventive/mitigating [...]
July 26, 2017
CGPCS Chairman Faure on Goodwill Mission to Mogadishu
THE Seychelles’ chair of the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), Ambassador Barry Faure, has undertaken a goodwill mission to Mogadishu, capital of Somalia and the seat of t [...]
July 18, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Jan-Mar Quarterly 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC half yearly report for 2017 states that a total of 36 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 30 actual incidents and six att [...]
July 18, 2017
CMF Advisory to Maritime Community - Gulf of Aden/Bab-el-Mandeb Strait
RECENT attacks against merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandeb have highlighted there are still risks associated with transits through these waters.
Daylight attacks b [...]
July 16, 2017
Piracy in the Gulf of Oman a Misunderstanding?
RECENT REPORTS of the return of pirates in the waters of the Gulf of Oman may be somewhat premature.
According to the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre report, an incident involving the G [...]
July 14, 2017
Two Maritime Security Centres Commissioned
Two centres to enhance maritime security have been commissioned.
THE NATIONAL Information Sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC) and the Regional Centre for Operations Coordination (RCOC) were officially opened [...]
July 11, 2017
Seychelles Delivers a Successful 20th Plenary of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia
THE SEYCHELLES delegation has returned to Seychelles following the successful 20th Plenary of the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS [...]
July 4, 2017
Newly Issued Report Reveals 87 Incidents of Maritime Piracy in First Half of 2017 - IMB
CONTINUING decline in the number of reported incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships has been revealed in the second quarter piracy report of the [...]
June 14, 2017
HMAS Arunta Intercepts 260kg of Heroin in Indian Ocean
HMAS ARUNTA has completed a third significant narcotics interdiction after seizing 260kg of heroin in the Indian Ocean, while operating in support of the French-UK led Combined Task Force 150 (CT [...]
June 9, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - May 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC latest report states that a total of six actual incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in May 2017. No attempted incident was reporte [...]
June 8, 2017
Gulf of Guinea Interregional Network to Fight Crime at Sea
NINETEEN coastal countries stretching from Senegal to Angola have started working together in a joint effort at fighting crime at sea.
The European Union project, Gulf of Guinea Interregional N [...]
June 5, 2017
Piracy discussed in Dubai meetings: ‘Recommendations to adhere to Best Management Practices’
A COMBINED Maritime Force (CMF) visit to Dubai has given the regional counter-piracy coordinator an opportunity to discuss security issues with [...]
May 31, 2017
Oil Tanker Attacked With RPG in Southern Red Sea
EU NAVFOR has confirmed that earlier today, 31 May 2017, a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker (pictured) was approached and fired upon by three men in a skiff in the southern Bab-Al-Mandeb (BAM) Strait.
[...]
May 25, 2017
33 Casualties As Boat With 750 People Capsizes In Mediterranean - MOAS
24th May 2017 saw one of MOAS’ most tragic rescues to date. Overcrowding and sea swell tipped hundreds into the water during a rescue yesterday. 31 bodies were recovered to MOAS [...]
May 17, 2017
Indian Navy Warship Foils Potential Pirate Activity in Gulf of Aden
THE Government of India Press Information Bureau released details of a suspicious incident occurring in the Gulf of Aden last weekend resulting in the boarding of three suspect dhows by a [...]
May 12, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - April 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC in it’s latest monthly report that a total of three incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in April 2017. Of these, two were [...]
May 4, 2017
MOAS Representatives Attend Italian Parliamentary Hearings As Phoenix Crew Conduct Med Rescues
MOAS representatives today appeared before the Schengen Committee of the Italian Parliament and the Defence Commission of the Italian Senate to give input on ma [...]
May 4, 2017
Maritime Piracy Report Sees First Somali Hijackings After Five-Year Lull
PIRATES and armed robbers attacked 43 ships and captured 58 seafarers in the first quarter of 2017, slightly more than the same period last year, according to the latest ICC Internat [...]
April 25, 2017
EU NAVFOR Spanish Flagship ESPS Galicia Prevents Hijack off Somalia
SPANISH flagship, ESPS Galicia, received a SOS distress call from the master of merchant ship, MT Costina, to say that his vessel was being attacked by a number of armed pirates in a fast [...]
April 18, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Jan-Mar Quarterly 2017 Report
ReCAAP ISC Jan-Mar 2017 Quarterly reports states that a total of 20 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 15 actual incidents and five atte [...]
April 16, 2017
MOAS Conducts Rescue of Over 1,500 People from 9 Vessels Across 24 Hours of Uninterrupted Rescue Operations in The Central Meditteranean
SINCE IN the early hours of Saturday 15 April, MOAS has been involved in the ongoing rescue and ass [...]
March 31, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Special Report on Abducting of Crew from Ships in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and Waters off Eastern Sabah (Part III)
ReCAAP ISC has issued a Special Report includes an advisory to the shipping industry to exercise enhanced vigilance and to report imm [...]
March 31, 2017
Seychelles Authorities Call For Reinforced Safety Measures At Sea
FISHERMEN, pleasure boats and other seafarers are being asked to be more vigilant and to reinforce all their security precautions before they go out at sea and when they are already out and [...]
March 30, 2017
Centre for Peace Studies and Diplomacy Holds First Forum on Small Island Diplomacy
THE SIR James Mancham International Centre for Peace Studies and Diplomacy has organised its first forum on core diplomatic challenges for Seychelles and the region.
The f [...]
March 28, 2017
MOASxChange 2017 - A Forum Exploring Safe and Legal Alternatives to the Maritime Migration Route
ON 27 MARCH, MOAS hosted the second edition of ‘MOASxChange’, a forum dedicated to the migration phenomenon. This year, experts in the f [...]
March 13, 2017
Seychelles Repatriates Five Somali Nationals Acquitted For Piracy Offences
FIVE Somali nationals were repatriated Monday after being acquitted for their conviction on piracy offences, a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
In co-ordination [...]
March 9, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - February 2017 Report
ACCORDING to ReCAAP ISC latest report, a total of four incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in February 2017. Of these, three were a [...]
February 9, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - January 2017 Report
ACCORDING to ReCAAP ISC latest report total of six incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in January 2017. No incident of piracy was reported.
Of the [...]
January 19, 2017
ReCAAP ISC Reports Signifcant Drop in Incidents of Piracy/Armed Robbery Against Ships In Asia for 2016
ACCORDING to the latest ReCAAP Annual Report for 2016, here has been a significant improvement in the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ship [...]
January 12, 2017
Opinion - Steady As She Goes – As CGPCS Enters 2017
IN a recent interview with SBC television I mentioned that although there had been no successful attacks against IMO registered vessels by Somali pirates in the year 2016, and that the last of the [...]
January 11, 2017
IMB Report: Sea Kidnappings Rise in 2016 Despite Plummeting Global Piracy
More crew were kidnapped at sea in 2016 than in any of the previous 10 years, despite global piracy reaching its lowest levels since 1998, the ICC International Maritime Bureau&rsqu [...]
January 7, 2017
Former Seychelles’ President Sir James Mancham Dies at Residence
SEYCHELLES former President James Mancham died on Sunday morning at his residence, said a member of the family.
Speaking to SNA, Mancham’s nephew, Dereck Pothin confirmed that [...]
January 3, 2017
Seychelles Founding President Mancham Comments on New UN Secretary General New Year's Appeal for Peace Address
SEYCHELLES founding president, Sir James Mancham, comments on the the New Year Appeal for Peace made by the new UN Secretary General, Ant&o [...]
December 28, 2016
CGPCS Chair Changes Hands As Work Continues For 2017
THE Secretariat of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, CGPCS, announces that the current chairman, Minister Joël Morgan, has handed over the responsibilities of the chairmanship t [...]
December 21, 2016
Opinion - Rising to the Challenge of the Christmas Spirit
OUR little capital of Victoria is glittering once again with silver lights all over the place reminding us that Christmas is on the way. Thank you Mayor of Victoria for organising this. Although no [...]
December 13, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - November 2016 Report
ReCAAP ISC latest reports reveals that a total of 10 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in November 2016. Of these, six were actual inc [...]
December 9, 2016
Piracy: Seychelles’ Top Court Quashes Conviction of 5 Somalis, Dismisses Appeals of 8 Others
(Seychelles News Agency) - THE Seychelles Court of Appeal -- the island nation’s top court -- on Friday ruled on two separate piracy cases, deciding t [...]
December 7, 2016
China Should Be The Nation Aiming To Win The Peace
The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Foundation will strengthen regional cooperation among Indian Ocean Islands of Reunion, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles on both public and private sectors partnersh [...]
November 30, 2016
Seychelles Founding President Delivering Keynote Address at 21st Century Silk Road Indian Ocean Islands Foundation in Mauritius
IT is announced from Glacis-sur-Mer that Seychelles founding President Sir James R. Mancham will be leaving Seychelles on Sunda [...]
November 21, 2016
Increasing Concern of Crew Abduction from Ships in Asia
IN the latest incident alert, the ReCAAP ISC details the increasing cases of abduction of crew from ships. It goes on to state that it is deeply concerned about the situation of abduction of crew fro [...]
November 16, 2016
Seychelles in a Politically Topsy-Turvy World
AS President Danny Faure boarded an Air Seychelles flight on Sunday 13th November, 2016 to Abu Dhabi with his delegation of advisers and experts to tackle the global warming problem at a summit meeting in Moro [...]
November 16, 2016
Search-and-Rescue in the Mediterranean More Dangerous Than Ever as 2016 Becomes Deadliest Year on Record
DESPITE tireless efforts to save lives by both civil society and European navies, MOAS crews are witnessing search-and-rescue efforts in the Mediterra [...]
November 10, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - October 2016 Report
ReCAAP ISC reports that in October 2016, five incidents were reported in Asia. Of these, one was an incident of piracy in South China Sea and the other incidents were armed ro [...]
November 6, 2016
Environmental Education Vital For in Fight Against Climate Change
OP-ED by Sir James Mancham - I refer to your article ‘SEYCHELLES’ ECO-SCHOOLS PROGRAMME’ which appeared in your issue of 2nd November, 2016, which was contributed by [...]
November 5, 2016
EU Naval Force Operation Commander Reinforces Need for Vigilance at Sea as Chemical Tanker Attacked by Suspected Somali Pirates
THE Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force (Somalia), Major General Rob Magowan CBE, has reiterated the need for continued v [...]
November 2, 2016
Threat to Seafarers Remains Despite Piracy Clampdown, IMB Reports
KIDNAPPING and hostage-taking persists off the coasts of West Africa and South East Asia, despite a 20-year low in piracy on the world’s seas, according to new figures from the Intern [...]
November 2, 2016
Letter to the Editor: Seychelles – “A Small Country That Thinks Big”
I AM writing to you as a member of Le Club de Madrid which celebrated on Tuesday October 25, 2016, its 15th anniversary having been formed with the objective of consoli [...]
October 24, 2016
CGPCS Chairman, Minister Joel Morgan, Welcomes Release of Crew of FV Naham 3 Released by Somali Pirates After Over 4 1/2 Years in Captivity
“IT IS indeed pleasing to understand that at long last, the crew of FV Naham 3 have been released from their [...]
October 22, 2016
Crew of FV Naham 3 Released by Pirates After Over 4 1/2 Years in Captivity
Nairobi, Kenya – 22 October 2016: THE HOSTAGE Support Partners announce the release of the 26 remaining hostages of the FV Naham 3. The Omani flagged fishing vessel was hijac [...]
October 18, 2016
Seychelles New President to Benefit From Predecessors Wisdom
SEYCHELLES new President Danny Rollen Faure who was sworn in as the fourth President of the Republic of Seychelles on Sunday 16th October, 2016, at State House – on Monday 17th October met [...]
October 13, 2016
MOAS-Italian Red Cross Late Night Rescue: 113 People Rescued; at Least 17 Missing, Including a 3-Year-Old Baby
ANOTHER tragedy struck in the Mediterranean Sea last night. At least 17 people are considered to be dead/missing according to the 113 survivors [...]
October 12, 2016
Muslims In Seychelles
SEYCHELLES’ Founding President Sir James R. Mancham has agreed to write a foreword to a book which will be published before the end of the year in Seychelles by iMedia (Seychelles) Ltd under the title Muslims in Seychelle [...]
October 7, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Rbbery Against Ships in Asia Third Quarter Report 2016
THE third quarter of 2016 has seen the lowest number of incidents year-on-year in Asia, according to ReCAAP ISC latest report.
Fifty nine incidents were recorded of which [...]
October 6, 2016
Migration: Joint MOAS/Italian Red Cross (CRI) Mission Rescues Almost 800 People
Three bodies recovered in the hold of one vessel
IN a chaotic night of operations that continued well into the early hours of the morning, the Phoenix and Responder, two vess [...]
September 30, 2016
Is Seychelles To Remain “An Oasis of Peace In A World In Turmoil?"
SEYCHELLES'’ founding President Sir James R. Mancham has welcomed the initiative taken by Mexico, Austria, Ireland, Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa for their resolution at the [...]
September 22, 2016
UK University Professor Commends Sir James Mancham's Politics of Reconciliation
UNDOUBTEDLY, you will have noticed that OCEANUSLive has followed and supported the endeavours of Sir James Mancham, the founding President of the Republic of the Seychelles, f [...]
September 21, 2016
The Somali Legal System for the Maritime Police; EUCAP Nestor Workshop
EUCAP Nestor Workshop held in Mogadishu on September 18th and 19th, EUCAP Nestor organised a workshop on Maritime Legislation. Four Somali Prosecutors – two of which were fe [...]
September 19, 2016
Royal Artist to Paint Sir James Mancham Portrait
THE Royal painter Fiona Graham-Mackay whose portrait of poet Sir Andrew Motion has been selected for the BP Award Exhibition at the National Gallery Portrait Gallery in London this summer, and which is abou [...]
September 7, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - August 2016 Report
ReCAAP ISC reports a total of three incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in August 2016. Of these, two were actual incidents and one was an [...]
September 5, 2016
Seven Bodies Recovered & 354 Rescued During Dramatic Day in the Mediterranean
SEVEN people, 5 women and 2 men, have lost their lives today in one of the most challenging rescues ever conducted by MOAS and Italian Red Cross since the beginning of their [...]
September 5, 2016
A Telescopic View of Seychelles Beyond the September National Assembly Election
I HAVE before me the 20th page of today’s Seychelles NATION (Thursday 1st September, 2016) dedicated to ‘World News’, writes Sir James Mancham, founding Pres [...]
September 2, 2016
EUCAP Nestor Head of Ops Meets EUNAVFOR FCdr & Somali Maritime Security Leaders
ON 1 September, EUCAP Nestor’s Head of Operations hosted a meeting with the Force Commander from EU NAVFOR Atalanta and key Federal Somali maritime security leaders. [...]
August 31, 2016
Investigation: Military Conscription Reintroduction in Sweden in 2019
CONSCRIPTION [is to be] reintroduced in 2019, with basic military training for both women and men within the framework of the law on national service. It is proposed, from the in [...]
August 30, 2016
MOAS Calls For #SafeAndLegalRoutes To End Deaths At Sea As Hits Two-Year Anniversary
EXACTLY two years ago, on 30 August 2014, MOAS conducted its first rescue operation in the Mediterranean, saving the lives of some 250 Syrians and Palestinians, including [...]
August 25, 2016
UPDATE: Incident Involving MSF Mediterranean Search and Rescue Vessel Bourbon Argos - Libyan Navy Admit Confrontation
A REPORT reached us at OCEANUSLive that one of the Medecins Sans Frontieries - Doctors Without Borders - rescue ships in the Mediterranea [...]
August 19, 2016
Death in the Mediterranean: Two Syrian Children Among 5 Bodies Recovered and Hundreds More Rescued Through Joint MOAS – Red Cross Mission
TWO Syrian girls, aged 8 months and 5 years, are among the five bodies recovered yesterday morning in the Medit [...]
August 15, 2016
Director of Irish Coast Guards heads EUCAP Nestor’s Operations in Somalia
IN August 2016 Christopher Reynolds joined EUCAP Nestor’s team at the Mogadishu HQ as the new Head of Operations. He will lead a team of European maritime, legal and pol [...]
August 8, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - July 2016 Report
ACCORDING to ReCAAP ISC, a total of four incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in July 2016. Two were incidents of abduction of crew from ships in waters [...]
August 5, 2016
An International Response to a Global Crisis: MOAS and the Italian Red Cross Strengthen Their Partnership to Save Lives at Sea
AS the humanitarian migration crisis continues to intensify to worryingly critical levels, the Italian Red Cross (CRI) and [...]
July 30, 2016
The Quest For Democracy As We Approach The National Assembly Eelections - Op-Ed
July, 2016, Mr Regis Francourt states that ‘no one has monopoly on democracy.’ Mr Francourt was questioning the basis of certain allegations disparaging his i [...]
July 27, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Special Report on Abduction of Crew from Ships in Waters Off Eastern Sabah and Southern Philippines
THE ReCAAP ISC states that it is concerned with the spate of incidents involving the abduction of crew from ships while underway in waters off e [...]
July 25, 2016
Sea Piracy Drops to 21-Year Low, IMB Reports
PIRACY and armed robbery at sea has fallen to its lowest levels since 1995, despite a surge in kidnappings off West Africa, according to a new report from the International Chamber of Commerce's International M [...]
July 15, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Half Year 2016 Report
ReCAAP ISC reports that there has been an improvement in the piracy and armed robbery situation in Asia with the largest decrease in number of incidents during January-June [...]
July 7, 2016
Mancham in Paris - "Seychelles A Small Country That Thinks Tall"
40 YEARS ago, just two weeks after Seychelles became an independent nation, its founding President Sir James R. Mancham, Officier de la Légion d’Honneur, attended in Paris the 1 [...]
July 5, 2016
Maritime Vessels in Gulf of Guinea Targeted by Email Phishing
THE MDAT-GoG (Marine Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea) has received information that there have been numerous attempts to encourage mariners, in the Gulf of Guinea re [...]
June 24, 2016
VRAs: Traffic, Threat, & Response Awareness
THE establishment of the new MDAT-GoG reporting “network” in the Gulf of Guinea and the associated changes to UKHO chart Q6114, have raised old questions about the definitions and purp [...]
June 24, 2016
South Korean Team Leads Investigations as Fishing Boat With Murdered Crew Members Docks in Seychelles
INVESTIGATORS from South Korea are in Seychelles probing the deaths of the captain and chief engineer of a South Korean fishing vessel, the island nation [...]
June 22, 2016
Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) Fleet Saves Over 2000 People in Two Weeks on the Frontline of the Mediterranean Crisis
SINCE the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) launched the 2016 Mediterranean mission on June 6th, over 2,000 people were rescued an [...]
June 18, 2016
Update: The Future Of MTISC-GoG and New FR/UK Reporting Centre
AS advised, the Maritime Trade Information Sharing Centre – Gulf of Guinea (MTISC-GoG) will close following the successful conclusion of the Pilot Project and France and the United [...]
June 13, 2016
Sir James Mancham International Centre for Peace Studies and Diplomacy, Seychelles
WITH the expert guidance and experience of Sir James Mancham, and under the auspices of the University of Seychelles, it is proposed to establish an international centre fo [...]
June 10, 2016
Seychelles Court Sentences Five Somalis to 12 years, Concludes Last Piracy Case
A last group of suspected Somali pirates that remained on trial in Seychelles has been found guilty of piracy offences and sentenced to 12 years in prison by the Sey [...]
June 9, 2016
Propelling Seychelles As The Pioneer of the Blue Economy Concept
IN a ceremony to mark World Ocean Day yesterday (8th June), Seychelles President James Alix Michel launched a new book entitled, Rethinking the Ocean – Towards the Blue Economy.
[...]
June 8, 2016
Rethinking The Oceans - Towards the Blue Economy
SEYCHELLES is marking World Ocean Day by the launching of a new book entitled RETHINKING THE OCEANS – Towards the Blue Economy by President James Alix Michel who was last week confirmed by the Supreme [...]
June 8, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - May 2016 Report
IN its latest report, ReCAAP ISC states that a total of eight incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in May 2016, and this accounts for a 65% de [...]
June 7, 2016
India Becomes Co-Chair of Working Group on Maritime Situational Awareness Under CGPCS
INDIA on 4 June 2016 became the co-chair of Working Group on Maritime Situational Awareness under Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS).
This decisio [...]
June 6, 2016
MTISC-GoG, West Africa Reporting Centre, Announces it is to Close in June
MTISC-GoG, the West Africa reporting centre for maritime incidents, will close following the successful conclusion of the Pilot Project before the end of June 2016 it was anno [...]
June 6, 2016
MOAS & Emergency NGO Partner in Mediterranean Rescue & Medical Care Mission
A JOINT operation by Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) and EMERGENCY NGO, humanitarian organisation which provides medical care, will leave Malta today aboard the Respon [...]
June 4, 2016
19th CGPCS Plenary Concludes. Seychelles to Remain as Chair for Another Year
MEMBERS attending the 19th Plenary of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, CGPCS, proposed at the closing of the event yesterday afternoon, 3rd June 2016, that S [...]
June 3, 2016
Sir James Mancham Pronounced Ambassador of M3 Communications Group, Inc. SEYCHELLES founding President Sir James Mancham was pronounced Ambassador of the leading Public Relations corporation M3 Communications Group, Inc. The special recognition [...]
June 1, 2016
Contact Group Delegates to Chart the Way Forward
HUNDREDS of delegates from around the globe are joining with local stakeholders today at the International Conference Centre to deliberate on actions to date of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coa [...]
May 31, 2016
MOAS launch 2016 Mediterranean Mission with Two Ships, Two Drones Patrolling the ‘Dead Zone’
MIGRANT Offshore Aid Station fleet readies for June 6th mission launch after Mediterranean’s deadliest week.
Profess [...]
May 31, 2016
Operations Centre to Improve Maritime Safety Opens in Berbera
Colorado, USA – 26 May 2016: Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP), United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), EUCAP Nestor and the Somaliland Coast Guard announced today the opening of the B [...]
May 30, 2016
Mancham Called Upon to Assist in Finding Solution to Roma Problems in Europe
SEYCHELLES’ founding President Sir James R. Mancham was welcomed on arrival at Sofia International Airport, Bulgaria, yesterday (Sunday 29 May, 2016) by the Honourable Maxi [...]
May 18, 2016
EU Appoints New Operation Commander for EU NAVFOR Somalia
ON 18 May 2016, the Political and Security Committee appointed Brigadier Robert Magowan CBE, an officer from the British Royal Marines, as Operation Commander for the EU Naval Force Somalia- EU NAV [...]
May 12, 2016
Shared Awareness and De-Confliction in the Mediterranean - SHADE-MED Meeting 12/13 May
SHARED Awareness and De-confliction in the Mediterranean (SHADE MED) is a forum where representatives from nations and organizations interested in or impacted by t [...]
May 11, 2016
Contact Group Anti-Piracy Conference in Seychelles Nears
20 DAYS left as Seychelles Readies for Major Anti Piracy Conference. Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, CGPCS, Delegates Head for their 19th Plenary.
As of Wednesday 11 May 2016 [...]
May 10, 2016
Oil Tanker Hai Soon 12 Rescued After Hijack, Suspects Arrested Off Indonesia
IN the first hijack of an oil tanker in Southeast Asian waters in 2016, and since the hijack of MT Joaquim in Aug 2015, Cook Islands-flagged [ex-Kiribati-flagged] oil tanker, Hai [...]
May 9, 2016
Seychelles UN-Friendly Encounter
THE visit of the UN Secretary General, His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon to Seychelles from Saturday 7 and 8 of May can certainly be described as an important and friendly encounter between the representative of the lon [...]
May 6, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - April 2016 Report
THE latest ReCAAP ISC report states that a total of 10 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in April 2016; Ten crew abducted from tug Brahma [...]
May 6, 2016
Freedom of Expression Stops Where and When Defamation Begins - Op Ed by Sir James Mancham
LAST night (Wednesday 4 May), I had the opportunity to follow the roundtable discussions which SBC hosted with Ms Marceline Evenor as Chairperson and a collecti [...]
May 4, 2016
If You Sow A Mango Seed, You Get A Mango Tree
SEYCHELLES’ founding President Sir James R. Mancham, KBE, who was recently the recipient of the Africa Peace Award 2016, has welcomed the news that the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has accepted the [...]
May 1, 2016
Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain Lead the SHADE Counter-Piracy Conference
THE latest Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) conference took place in Bahrain at an opportune time with the International Mine Counter Measures Exercise [...]
April 27, 2016
Violent Attacks Worsen in Seas Off West Africa Despite Global Piracy Downturn, IMB Reports
AS piracy on the world’s seas continues to fall, new figures from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) highlight gr [...]
April 22, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Special Report - Abduction of Crew from Tug Boats in Waters off East Sabah and South Philippines
ReCAAP ISC highlights that within a period of three weeks (26 March – 15 April 2016), the ReCAAP Focal Point (Philippines) reporte [...]
April 17, 2016
MOAS Calls for Support on the One-Year Anniversary of Mediterranean’s Deadliest Day for Migrants
ON the one-year anniversary of a tragic accident where a boat with an estimated 850 people on board sank in the Mediterranean Sea, search and resc [...]
April 16, 2016
Mancham Calls for the Re-Activation of the ‘Spirit of Harambee’
IN Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday 12th April 2016, Seychelles founding President Sir James R. Mancham called upon the Kenyan Nation, the African continent and indeed the wh [...]
April 15, 2016
Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) Ends Sea Mission in South East Asia
DUE to delays in the release of drones used for search and rescue mission, MOAS ends its sea mission in SE Asia. The MOAS ASIA mission will continue to use its ground network and adv [...]
April 15, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - 1st Quarter 2016 Report
ACCORDING to ReCAAP ISC 1st Quarter 2016 report, there has been improvement in the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia during January-March 2016 co [...]
April 12, 2016
MPHRP Visit at Maximus Ship’s Crew Home
MT MAXIMUS was attacked off Ivory Coast on 11th February. The ship name and IMO number were changed but the Nigerian Navy followed the vessel and during a fight to recapture the ship one of the pirates was kil [...]
April 9, 2016
Mancham ‘The Apostle Of National Reconciliation’ Heading For Nairobi To Collect Peace Trophy
SEYCHELLES founding President Sir James R. Mancham leaves Mahe, Seychelles tomorrow heading for Nairobi, Kenya where he will be presented with the Afr [...]
April 8, 2016
Two Security Guards Shot Dead Onboard Spanish Tuna Boat
TWO security guards of the Spanish company Seguribérica died Friday [8 Apr] on board the Spanish tuna fishing vessel, Txori Gorri, while the ship was fishing off the coast of Madagascar, about [...]
April 6, 2016
URI-Africa to Present its Africa Peace Award to Seychelles Founding President James Mancham
IT is announced from the office of the United Religions Initiatives (URI)-Africa that the Regional Director of URI-Africa in common accord with Common Purpose and [...]
March 28, 2016
Russian Sailor Tells Of Life as a Prisoner of Nigerian Pirates
IVAN RUDNY flew from St. Petersburg to Murmansk on Sunday evening. At the airport he was met by his wife and friends. The sailor said to journalists that he is healthy and they [pirates] treat [...]
March 25, 2016
Russian Sailor, Kidnapped Off Nigeria, Reported Freed
A RESIDENT of Murmansk, Russia, who was captured during an attack on a ship by pirates in Nigeria on February 23 is reported to have been released. This was stated in the message of the Russian Embassy [...]
March 22, 2016
Mancham Invited to Become ‘Membre du Comité d’Honneur’ of International Movement for Relations Between States and Religions
IT is announced from the office of Seychelles’ founding President Sir James R. Mancham that the latt [...]
March 18, 2016
MOAS' Aegean Sea SAR Op Saves Over 1600 People in 3 Months
MOAS saves and assists 1,633 people in the Aegean Sea over the last three months in a period of increasing refugee traffic and political pressure
Search and rescue NGO MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid [...]
March 18, 2016
MANCHAM - "Sustainability Must Become Part of National Policy"
IT is announced from the office of Seychelles' founding President Sir James R. Mancham that Sir James flew from Baku in Azerbaijan where he was busy last week debating on the political conditi [...]
March 15, 2016
Lease For Peace - A Bold Suggestion for Peace in the Middle East by Prominent Seychelles Citizen
IN the new issue of VIOAS magazine (Voice of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea) printed in the Seychelles, it carries a two-page proposal for bringing [...]
March 14, 2016
20 Years in Prison for Somali Pirate Kingpin, Belgian Court Rules
THE Bruges Criminal Court, sentenced, in absentia, the Somali pirate Kingpin Mohamed Abdi Hassan (60), to 20 years in prison for the hijacking of merchant vessel Pompeii. His compatriot, Mo [...]
March 11, 2016
Seychelles Founding President, Sir James Mancham, Calls to Comment on “Is Seychelles Paradise on Earth”?
“WHERE does Seychelles, which is internationally reputed to be a paradise on earth sit in the state of a world which is in conflict [...]
March 9, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - February 2016 Report
ACCORDING to ReCAAP ISC, a total of three incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in February 2016. No piracy incident was reported. The number of inci [...]
March 9, 2016
Mancham at 4th Baku Forum - "Towards a Multipolar World"
SEYCHELLES' founding President Sir James R. Mancham was warmly welcomed on his arrival in Baku, Azerbaijan, last night (Tuesday 8th March), to participate at the 4th Global Baku Forum titled, "Towar [...]
March 7, 2016
Mancham in Hamburg Discussing Strategies for a Better World
SEYCHELLES founding President Sir James R. Mancham arrived in Hamburg on Saturday 5th March, 2016 to take part in the 9th World Future Council (WFC) Annual General Meeting on the theme of: [...]
March 5, 2016
Masked Gunmen Kill German Sailor on Yacht in St. Vincent
PRIME Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, on Friday expressed “revulsion” at the murder of a German national and the injury of another on board a yacht anchored [...]
February 26, 2016
MOAS Launches New Mission in South East Asia
BANGKOK, THAILAND: Global search and rescue charity MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) will begin a new mission in South East Asia on March 3 in the Andaman Sea. The M.Y. Phoenix and its crew will coordinate w [...]
February 24, 2016
Mancham to Participate in “Top Level Dialogue” in New Delhi
IT IS announced from the office of the founding President Sir James R. Mancham that Sir James has accepted the invitation of the Observers’ Research Foundation, an independent t [...]
February 23, 2016
French Yachtsman Seriously Wounded in Attack Off St Croix
A French yachtsman was badly wounded following an attack on his single-hander yacht by sea robbers looking for drugs and money off St Croix in the Caribbean.
The single-hander yacht, Arc en Ciel, [...]
February 22, 2016
Kenyan Hostage Returns Home
NAIROBI, KENYA and BROOMFIELD, USA, February 22, 2015 — JAMES Gachamba Kuria returned home to his family in Nairobi today after being kidnapped in Somalia in November 2014 and held for ransom by Somali Pirat [...]
February 22, 2016
FST - The Forum
FORUM is prime opportunity to connect U.S.A. large and small businesses with the US Navy League
For the past 15 years, the Department of the Navy’s “Forum for SBIR/STTR Transition” (FST) – the nation’s premie [...]
February 22, 2016
Seychelles’ Vulnerabilities in the Geo-Political Context - Op Ed
A FEW years ago I told an audience of presidents of the Pacific island nations at an international conference in Tokyo, Japan, that they should pray to God Almighty that the only [...]
February 18, 2016
All Africa Conference of Churches Endorses Mancham’s Peace and Reconciliation Centre in Seychelles Initiative
IN a letter dated 9th February Rev. Andre Karamaga, General Secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches has congratulated Sir James [...]
February 17, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - January 2016 Report
A TOTAL of nine actual incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in January 2016. No piracy incident was reported. The number of incidents in January 2016 [...]
February 11, 2016
Mancham Fellowship of RSA Revived
IT IS announced from the office of Seychelles founding President that at the invitation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Society for the encouragement of arts, manufacture and commerce, Mr Mathew Taylor, [...]
February 6, 2016
Africa Peace Award 2016 - Mancham Receives Congratulatory Messages from Home and Abroad
OVER the last couple of years, OCEANUSLive has been most fortunate to follow and engage with the work heralded by Sir James R Mancham, the founding President of t [...]
February 6, 2016
CTF150 – HMAS Melbourne Makes Fifth Drug Seizure
THE Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) made another seizure of heroin as part of their latest string of successes in combatting illegal narcotics.
Under the direction of the Australian-led [...]
February 5, 2016
Anti-Piracy Group, CGPCS, Holds 1st Strategy Meeting of the Year Under Seychelles Chairmanship in Mumbai
UNDER the chairmanship of Seychelles, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) has concluded its first strategy meeting of the gro [...]
February 2, 2016
IMB: Maritime Piracy Hotspots Persist Worldwide Despite Reductions in Key Areas
PIRACY and armed robbery on the world’s seas is persisting at levels close to those in 2014, despite reductions in the number of ships hijacked and crew captured, the In [...]
February 1, 2016
Seychelles' Mancham Honoured with Africa Peace Award 2016
SIR James R. Mancham, KBE, founding President of the Republic of Seychelles, has announced his acceptance of the Africa Peace Award, with which the United Religions Initiative (URI) has decided to [...]
January 31, 2016
Seychelles Formally Announces Withdrawal from UNSC Race
SEYCHELLES has formally announced its withdrawal as the East African Candidate for the Non-Permanent Seat of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2017-2018 at the 28th meeting of the Ex [...]
January 28, 2016
ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - 2015 Annual Report
ReCAAP ISC has published its annual report covering incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea against ships in Asian waters. A total of 200 incidents of piracy and arm [...]
January 23, 2016
MOAS Completes One Month of Complex Rescues as Refugee Deaths in Aegean Reach Record High
ATHAGONISI – Search and rescue charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) has assisted hundreds of refugees from hostile seas between Turkey and Greece since [...]
January 22, 2016
ECPD Keen to Contribute Towards the Realisation of Peace Centre in Seychelles
IN a letter published in Seychelles Nation (Thursday 21st January, 2016), Prof. Dr. Negoslav Ostojic, the Executive Director of the European Center for Peace and Development (EC [...]
January 18, 2016
Opinion - Seychelles Can Be a Centre for Promoting World Peace and National Reconciliation
I HAVE just returned to Seychelles after an absence of ten days spent mostly in Belgrade, Serbia where I also found a lot of time for thoughts and reflections. Befo [...]
January 4, 2016
Opinion - Mancham’s Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation
WE have finally said goodbye to the year 2015 and after going through two rounds of presidential election, our small nation of less than 100,000 people remains politically more divided than [...]
January 2, 2016
Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) Rescues Shipwrecked Syrians on Greek Island of Agathonisi
AGATHONISI (02/01/2016) - Early this morning, January 2, 35 refugees endured five hours in heavy seas only to end up shipwrecked upon jagged rock [...]
December 29, 2015
Multinational Naval Force Seizes Over Eight Tonnes of Heroin
THE multi-national Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) has reached an impressive milestone and seized in excess of eight tonnes of heroin since January 2013. This recent triumph confirms CMF as [...]
December 24, 2015
EUNAVFOR Med Strengthening its Air Capabilities; New Air Base in Pantelleria
(B2) THE European operation against human smugglers in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med Sophia) has reinforced its air operation. A Greek Airborne team joined the operat [...]
December 22, 2015
Mancham's Vision for Humanity Receives Worldwide Recognition
IT IS announced from the office of Seychelles’ founding President Sir James R. Mancham that Sir James has been discerned a Citizen of the Earth-XXI. This certificate dated 20th December, 2 [...]
December 18, 2015
Combined Maritime Forces Continue the Fight Against Illegal Drugs
THE Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) have continued their success against illegal narcotics and made another seizure of heroin off the coast of East Africa. This latest haul of 216 kilog [...]
December 15, 2015
EUCAP Nestor Phases Out Operations in the Seychelles
ON December 14th EUCAP Nestor officially phased out its operations in the Seychelles.
A closing ceremony, attended by representatives of the Seychelles Government, the Judiciary, Seychelles People Defe [...]
December 13, 2015
Somali Nationals Deported/Repatriated from Seychelles Following Piracy Cases
THE SEYCHELLES Minister for Home Affairs requested the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Somalia, to agree and accept the deportation from the Republic of Seychelles an [...]
December 9, 2015
Combined Maritime Forces Seize More High Purity Heroin
AUSTRALIAN warship (HMAS) Melbourne, working for the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in the Middle East, has made another seizure of illegal narcotics off the coast of East Africa.
Members of t [...]
December 7, 2015
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - ReCAAP ISC November 2015 Report
IN its November report on Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia, ReCAAP ISC states a third month consecutive decrease in incidents but also a 53% decrease on the n [...]
December 4, 2015
President Obama Moved By Mancham’s Generosity
SEYCHELLES founding President Sir James R. Mancham following his return to Seychelles yesterday (Thursday 3rd December, 2015) from various peace-orientated overseas missions, received in audience Her Exc [...]
December 2, 2015
MOAS Founders Named Among 100 Global Thinkers of 2015 by Foreign Policy
FOREIGN Policy yesterday released its seventh annual Global Thinkers issue, naming MOAS founders Christopher and Regina Catrambone among their list of 100 Global Thinkers.
Mr and M [...]
December 2, 2015
Littoral OP Tech East - Examining Coastal Operations
EXPERTS from navies, academia and industry are meeting in Tokyo to examine the unique challenges of operating in the littoral or coastal environment.
The Littoral OPTECH East workshop is being held i [...]
November 27, 2015
ReCAAP ISC Releases Guide for Tankers Operating in Asia to Combat Oil Cargo Theft
ReCAAP ISC, in collaboration with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) has produced a guide for tankers ope [...]
November 27, 2015
Seychelles President Nominated for Prestigious 2016 GUSI Peace Prize
SEYCHELLES President James A. Michel has been nominated as a laureate for the 2016 Gusi Peace Prize Award in connection with the initiative he has taken on the Blue Economy concept in th [...]
November 24, 2015
Seychelles Gears Up to Take Over Contact Group Chairmanship
SEYCHELLES is gearing up to take over the chairmanship of the Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia (CGPCS) from the European Union as from January 1 next year.
As part of this prep [...]
November 22, 2015
Council of Former African Heads of States & Government for Environment & Climate Change Invitees
SIR JAMES R Mancham was invited to join former President of Ethiopia as a Founding Member of the Council of Former African Heads of States and Governm [...]
November 17, 2015
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - ReCAAP ISC October 2015 Report
ReCAAP ISC has released the Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia report for October 2015. It highlights a fall in the number of incidents having taken place with n [...]
November 7, 2015
Tugboat Robbed, Crew Tied Up Off Trinidad
THE Captain of a commercial tug boat, Ms. Anne, was beaten when the vessel was boarded by robbers whilst anchored in the most westerly end of Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad.
The incident occurred at approximately 0530 [...]
November 3, 2015
‘Today’s Democracies’ as Opposed to ‘Democratic Idealism’
I HAVE just returned home after a comparatively long stay overseas attending three major conferences, writes Sir James R Mancham KBE, Founding President of the Republi [...]
October 28, 2015
Mancham Meets The King Of Spain at High-Profile Dialogue in Madrid Hosted to Stop Violent Extremism
SIR James R. Mancham, founding President of the Republic of Seychelles is at this moment in Madrid, Spain, participating in the high-level global dialogue [...]
October 21, 2015
Seychelles New Mantra: Indian Ocean ‘Zone of Peace and Opportunity’
IN JULY 2015, at the 18th Plenary Session, the Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia (CGPCS), accepted the Government of Seychelles offer to take over the Chairmans [...]
October 21, 2015
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - ReCAAP ISC 3rd Quarterly Report 2015
A TOTAL of 161 incidents, comprising 150 actual incidents and 11 attempted incidents, were reported in Asia during January-September 2015 by ReCAAP ISC. Compared to Ja [...]
October 15, 2015
Turkish-Led Operation Working Alongside the EU and NATO
TURKISH-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 has been working in association with NATO Task Force CTF 465 and the European Union Naval Force’s Task Force CTF 508 in the Gulf of Aden, Somali B [...]
October 15, 2015
In Savannah, Georgia, USA - Mancham Focusing on the Crisis in the World’s Oceans
SEYCHELLES Founding President, Sir James R. Mancham, at the moment in Savannah, Georgia, USA, attending The Ocean Exchange Conference in his capacity as an Ambassador-a [...]
October 9, 2015
UNODC Commends Students Following Maritime Training Courses
FORTY-EIGHT students from eight Indian Ocean countries including Seychelles following this year’s maritime security training courses taking place here were welcomed in a ceremony at the Cor [...]
October 2, 2015
Mancham Calls on US President Obama to Re-Open Embassy Closed at End of the Cold War
FOLLOWING his return from New York where he addressed an audience of distinguished Americans at the New York Institute of Technology on the "Future of Education in the Wo [...]
September 27, 2015
"Robots Can Be a Threat to The Wellbeing of Mankind" - Seychelles' Founding President Warns at High-Level Panel Discussion in New York
New York - SPEAKING at the First Employment Pathway Innovative Conference, which is intended to serve as a unique forum [...]
September 21, 2015
Dutch Teacher Killed Onboard Sailboat in Cartagena
Cartagena - A DUTCH citizen, Durdana Bruijn, aged 54 (stated as 60 in other reports), was apparently killed by a band of 'pirates' that boarded the sailboat as it was anchored in Rosario Islands, Cartagen [...]
September 21, 2015
Seychelles Ready to Take Chairmanship of UN Contact Group
SEYCHELLES is now ready to take chairmanship of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia which coordinates efforts to fight against piracy in the region.
This is what Foreign Affa [...]
September 10, 2015
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - ReCAAP August 2015 Report
A TOTAL of 24 incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in August 2015. Of these, 22 were actual incidents and two were attempted incidents. No piracy incide [...]
September 9, 2015
British High Commissioner to Seychelles Accredited
THE new British High Commissioner to Seychelles, Ms. Caron Röhsler, presented her credentials to President James Michel at State House this morning.
The President and the High Commissioner discussed [...]
September 2, 2015
8 Somalis Convicted of Piracy Released by Seychelles Court of Appeal
THE Seychelles Court of Appeal has freed eight Somalis who had been convicted for piracy.
The Somalis were declared free on Friday morning as verdict was delivered in seven criminal and [...]
August 31, 2015
Piracy or Not, Danger Exists; A SE Asia Problem
SOUTHEAST Asia piracy and robbery at sea are rising once again, but not according to some regional States.
Much has been written, commented and spleens vented on the topic of the increase in piracy and arme [...]
August 31, 2015
Mancham to Take Part in COMESA Retreat of the Elders and the Wise in Angola
SEYCHELLES’ founding President James R. Mancham will be leaving Seychelles on Sunday September 6, 2015 to attend the Third Retreat of the Pan-African Network of the Wise (Pa [...]
August 29, 2015
Turkey Assumes Command of CTF 151 from Japan
ON 27 August 2015 command of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) passed from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force under the command of Rear Admiral Hiroshi Ito to Captain Ayhan Bay of the Turkish Navy, w [...]
August 28, 2015
Iranian Hostages Escape from Somali Pirate Gangs
ON August 27, 2015, the Jaber, an Iranian fishing dhow, and its crew members managed to slip its mooring and escape from the hands of Somali pirates. The Jaber was briefly pursued by the pirates befo [...]
August 21, 2015
Kreol Magazine Highlights Mancham's International & Local Performance as He Speaks About 'La Creolisation' in the Future World
THE RECENT issue of International Kreol Magazine, which is published in London to promote the Creole phenomena worldwid [...]
August 21, 2015
CGPCS Chairmanship Handover to Seychelles 2016
A communiqué released 8 July 2015 at the 18th Plenary Session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia endorsed the Seychelles to take over the Chair of the Contact Group from [...]
August 17, 2015
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - ReCAAP July 2015 Report
ReCAAP ISC reports a decline in the number of piracy and robbery at sea incidents in Asia for July 2015, a 38% decrease on July 2014.
A total of 10 incidents of armed robbery agai [...]
August 12, 2015
CTF 151 & Multinational Partners Conduct Joint Maritime Operation in HoA
COMBINED Task Force (CTF) 151 has conducted a joint operation with partners from across the international community, both military and non-military, aimed at encouraging the mari [...]
August 10, 2015
UPDATE: Fishing Vessel Run Aground on Somali Coast; Crew Rescued, Repatriated & Investigation Ongoing
YEMEN-registered fishing vessel, Al Amal, was wrecked on the coast of Somalia, south of the former pirate stronghold of Eyl on the night of August 5, [...]
August 7, 2015
MANCHAM - "Seychelles Should Assist and Encourage Acceptable Tourism Development Within the Chagos Archipelago"
SEYCHELLES' founding President Sir James R. Mancham, KBE has commented on the article which appeared in the UK newspaper "The Guardian" on 5 Au [...]
August 7, 2015
Somali Coast Guard Cadets Receive Course in the Role of Civilian Police Organized by the EU
ON August 6, a twelve week Basic Training Course for the Somali Coast Guard organized in Mogadishu by EUCAP Nestor in cooperation with EUTM Somalia and the partici [...]
August 6, 2015
Large-scale Investigation Into Illegal Entry of Migrants and Theft of Goods by Greek Nationals in Samos
AFTER several days of operation involving domestic resources and staff, as well as Latvian helicopter operating in the region within the Joint Undertak [...]
August 5, 2015
European Union Responds to Mancham's Allegation at World Ocean Summit Concerning IUU Fishing off Africa
DURING the course and furtherence of the World Ocean Summit in June 2015, hosted by The Economist in association with the National Geographic in Cascai [...]
August 5, 2015
British High Commissioner Lindsay Skoll Bids Farewell
THE British High Commissioner to Seychelles, H.E. Mrs. Lindsay Skoll paid a farewell call on President James Michel at State House this morning following a three year tenure in Seychelles.
Presid [...]
July 27, 2015
Mancham Speaks About Peace of Mind and Cultural Diplomacy at End of London Summit
IN his concluding remarks at the international symposium on Cultural Diplomacy that was held in the House of Lords in London this week hosted by the Institute of Cultural Di [...]
July 24, 2015
EUCAP Nestor and Somali Prosecutors Train Coast Guards
THIS week EUCAP Nestor again took up the training of 29 members of the Somali Coast Guard in Jazeera Training Camp in Mogadishu after Ramadan. The training is a joint venture between the maritime [...]
July 23, 2015
Mancham Specially Honoured and Recognised for Unique Role in Diplomacy & World Peace
Seychelles' founding President Sir James R. Mancham was this morning (Tuesday 23rd July) presented with "The award for distinguished contributions to the field o [...]
July 22, 2015
IMB & ReCAAP ISC Release 2015 Half-Yearly Reports on Piracy & Armed Robbery At Sea
IN a rare case of coincidence, both IMB and ReCAAP ISC release their half-yearly reports on Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships both globally and in the Asia reg [...]
July 15, 2015
Mancham's Plea to World Leaders, "Support Diplomacy and Not War"
FOLLOWING the historic agreement between the world powers and Iran on limiting Iranian nuclear activities in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions - Seychelles' founding [...]
July 14, 2015
UNODC Counts on Seychelles Support to Combat Drug Trafficking on the High Seas
THE United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) is looking at other opportunities to engage with Seychelles now that there is a decline in piracy off the Horn of Africa.
[...]
July 11, 2015
Seychelles Set to Take Chairmanship of CGPCS in 2016
THE Republic of Seychelles has played a key role in ensuring maritime safety and bringing an end to the scourge of Somali based piracy.
Seychelles has been an active member of the Contact Group on Pira [...]
July 9, 2015
Prisoner Survey - International Naval Presence as the Primary Deterrent to Pirates
New York, 7 July 2015: UNODC and OBP jointly conducted an informal survey of 66 Somali inmates accused of piracy in Hargesia prison in Somaliland, Bosasso Prison in P [...]
July 7, 2015
Cultural Diplomacy Within the Commonwealth
SEYCHELLES FOUNDING President James R. Mancham has accepted the invitation of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy to deliver a keynote address at an international symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the Commonweal [...]
July 2, 2015
Heads of Navies Meet for SEA SENSE 2015 Global Maritime Security Conference
TODAY more than 160 NATO and partner nation military and civilian leaders are gathering in London for the two day NATO Maritime Commanders’ Meeting (MARCOMET) to discuss cur [...]
July 2, 2015
Sailors’ Society Launches Crisis Response Centre to Support Seafarers Affected by Piracy
DURBAN-based facility will provide 24-hour rapid response and trauma counselling for survivors of piracy attacks and other disasters at sea
July 1, 2015. [...]
June 30, 2015
Migrant Search and Rescue in the Mediterranean Sea - Medecins Sans Frontieres
EVERY year, thousands of people fleeing violence, insecurity, and persecution at home attempt a treacherous journey via North Africa and across the Mediterranean to reach Europe [...]
June 30, 2015
Global Collaboration For All Small Island States Is Imperative
[Seychelles] ON this occasion of our National Day I would like to applaud President James Michel’s initiative in inviting the President of the Republic of Palau, His Excellency Mr Tommy [...]
June 28, 2015
Maritime Piracy: "Africa Must Develop Its Own Security Architecture"
GATHERED on Thursday, June 25, around Admiral Bernard Rogel, Chief of Staff of the French Navy in Brest, where the operational authority of the Navy is based, several senior military off [...]
June 27, 2015
International Maritime Community Works Together to Counter Piracy at SHADE
REPRESENTATIVES of the international maritime community met in Bahrain on Tuesday to discuss counter-piracy efforts at the 36th SHADE conference.
The Shared Awareness &a [...]
June 25, 2015
Day of the Seafarer - Remembering Hostages, Past & Present
Between 2000 and 2013, 2,919 seafarers were held hostage by Somali pirates in inhumane conditions, in some instances for years. On this Day of the Seafarers, we should remember those who have [...]
June 24, 2015
Australian Frigate Seizes Over $1 Billion in Narcotics off East Africa
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Newcastle patrolling with the Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East region has seized another 581kg of illegal narcotics with an estimated stre [...]
June 19, 2015
Hijack Tanker Safe; Suspect Pirates Arrested After Lifeboat Escape
REPORTED missing days after a sister ship was hijacked in close proximity, Orkim Harmony, a Malaysia-flagged oil product tanker, was confirmed as hijacked which then saw a huge search miss [...]
June 17, 2015
CTF 150 Seizes 981kg, $625M Heroin Haul off East Africa
AFTER several weeks of coordinated effort, Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, under the leadership of Captain Crignola, French Navy, has seized 981kg of highly purified heroin from drug smugglers off the [...]
June 15, 2015
EUCAP Nestor Provides Prosecutor Training at Regional Conference in Djibouti
FROM June 14 to 15th, EUCAP Nestor organized the Fourth Regional Conference for Prosecutors dealing with piracy and other maritime crime. The event was held in Djibouti and was c [...]
June 14, 2015
ReCAAP Piracy & Robbery Against Ships in Asia - May 2015 Report
ReCAAP ISC, in its latest reports, states that in May 2015, a total of 20 incidents were reported in Asia, of which two were acts of piracy and 18 were incidents of robbery onboard ship.
[...]
June 12, 2015
Malaysian Gas Carrier, Teknogas, Reported Safe After Distress Signal
MALAYSIA-flagged LPG tanker, Teknogas, was reported missing off Vietnam is reported safe and unloading cargo in Indonesian port.
Talking to Online Reporter UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION, the [...]
June 11, 2015
Oceans Beyond Piracy 5th State of Maritime Piracy Report
IN its fifth State of Maritime Piracy Report, Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) analyzes the impacts of this crime during 2014 in the Western Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Guinea and, for the first t [...]
June 9, 2015
Update: MT Orkim Victory Hijack & Fuel Siphon off Malaysia
ON 4 June at about 0010 hrs LT, more than eight perpetrators boarded the Malaysia-registered oil product tanker, Orkim Victory from a speed boat when the vessel was en route to Kuantan port, M [...]
June 8, 2015
Mancham Raises Seychelles’ Profile at World Ocean Summit
THE profile of Seychelles ran high on the opening day of the World Ocean Summit on Thursday 4th June, 2015 following three interventions from Sir James R. Mancham, founding President of [...]
May 26, 2015
How Does the Migrants At Sea Issue Impact Seafarers Following SAR Ops?
The issue of migrants at sea continues to grab world headlines, in order to shed light upon the effect that migrant rescues have on commercial ships a survey is being compiled.
This t [...]
May 22, 2015
Mancham Specially Honoured by Mandela Rhodes Foundation
(Cape Town) - SEYCHELLES founding President, James R. Mancham and his wife, Catherine, were exceptionally honoured yesterday (Thursday, 21st May) when they were received for morning tea at the Cape T [...]
May 22, 2015
Capacity Building Workshop Held in Seychelles to Respond to Threats of CBRN
THE DIVISION of Disaster and Risk Management (DRDM), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Centres of Excellence, and t [...]
May 20, 2015
Ireland Deploys a Ship in the Mediterranean
THE flagship of the Irish navy has sailed in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea to support Italian search and rescue operations.
The Irish Navy patrol ship, L.É. EITHNE, (P-31) departed from its base [...]
May 16, 2015
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia
ReCAAP ISC has issued its April 2015 report stating that 17 incidents took place with an increase on incidents over the same period 2011 to 2014.
Of the 17 incidents reported in April 2015, two were piracy [...]
May 16, 2015
Mancham to Attend Chinese Entrepreneurship Forum in Shanghai Following Mandela Washington Fellowship Conference in Johannesburg
IT IS announced from the office of Seychelles founding president James R Mancham that Mr Mancham has accepted an invitation fro [...]
May 13, 2015
Mancham Guest of Honour at the Mandela Washington Southern Africa Fellowship Conference
The office of founding President James R. Mancham has confirmed that the former [Seychelles[ President has accepted an invitation of the Mandela Washington Fellowship [...]
May 13, 2015
Operations Chief Could Soon to be Appointed for EUNAVFOR Med
(BRUXELLES2 - Exclusive) - THE operation EUNAVFOR Med will soon be equipped with an operations head. According to the operational logic, the Italian HQ in Rome, having been proposed that an [...]
May 11, 2015
Three Bourbon Crew Members Released After Being Kidnapped in Nigeria in April
Three Nigerian crew abducted in Nigeria on April 8 have been released a month later, says Bourbon Offshore.
The French offshore marine company, BOURBON, in a short statem [...]
May 11, 2015
MSF Reinforces Its Search And Rescue Operation the Mediterranean Sea
MEDECINS SANS Frontieres launched, on Saturday May 9th, a second boat for search and rescue in the Mediterranean Sea in order to help those who risk their lives in a desperate attempt to [...]
May 8, 2015
ReCAAP Executive Director's Message Regarding the Piracy and Armed Robbery Situation in Asia
FOLLOWING coverage by some recent media reports, the ReCAAP ISC Executive Director has released a statement in response to the fears and criticims raised through [...]
May 4, 2015
"Trust is Essential for a New World Order," Mancham Declares at Historic Global Forum
IN 2014 Henry Kissinger, who was US Secretary of State (1973-1977), defined World Order as "a set of commonly accepted rules that defined the limit of permissible [...]
May 4, 2015
Skipper's Tale of Violent Attack on Cruising Couple, Haiti
THE HARROWING story of the violent attack on a cruising couple while at rest at Petit Port a Pimien which is located on the south side of the Northern Peninsula of Haiti, close to the city of Gona [...]
April 27, 2015
Seychelles Assumes Chairmanship of Eastern Africa Defence Security Policy Organ
THE POLICY Organ Meeting of the Eastern Africa Standby Force was held in Khartoum, Republic of Sudan from the 20 to 25 April 2015. This meeting was convened to disc [...]
April 26, 2015
Seychelles Minister Morgan meets Australian High Commissioner to Explore Fields of Greater Cooperation and a Unified Approach of the Blue Economy
TODAY THE Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport, Mr Joël Morgan met with Australian [...]
April 26, 2015
Combined Maritime Forces Chairs the 35th SHADE Counter-Piracy Conference
by Combined Maritime Forces
THE 35th SHADE conference convened in Bahrain to discuss counter-piracy efforts on Apr 1. This unique gathering, held quarterly allowed over 120 rep [...]
April 23, 2015
ReCAAP Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - 2015 1st Quarter Report
OVERALL NUMBER of incidents reported during January-March of 2015 in Asia has increased to 38 from the lowest of 29 incidents reported during the same period in 2013, [...]
April 22, 2015
Seychelles Islands Foundation Congratulates Sir James For Aldabra's Speech
THE OFFICE of founding President James R. Mancham has this morning (Tuesday 22nd April), released a copy of the following letter from Dr. Frauke Fleischer-Dogley, Chief Executive O [...]
April 20, 2015
Breathtaking Pictures from Migrant Boat Wreck off Rhodes
It doesn't fit in the human mind that in one of the most central beaches of Rhodes was this morning disturbed by the approach of a ship carrying at least 90 migrants, which then became wrecked on a [...]
April 20, 2015
Seychelles and India Set for Greater People to People Exchanges with Visa Waiver Programme
(MHAT Seychelles) - DURING HIS recent visit to Seychelles, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Seychelles will soon be included in the [...]
April 20, 2015
Luxurious Cruise Ship National Geographic Orion in Seychelles Waters
“Seychelles and Aldabra in the context of global geopolitics” was the title of the address which Seychelles’ founding President Sir James Mancham delivered to 120 privi [...]
April 13, 2015
Three Crewmembers of Bourbon Boat, Surfer 1440, Kidnapped off Nigeria
Bourbon Offshore confirmed that three crewmembers were kidnapped from a crewboat off the coast of Nigeria.
Bourbon said in a press release that the three were kidnapped from the Surfer [...]
April 13, 2015
Search and Rescue Exercise Off St Anne Island
(Seychelles Nation) - SEYCHELLES COAST Guard, Seychelles Air Force, Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, EUCAP Nestor and EU Navfor exercise search and rescue of a ditched plane in the Indian Ocean. [...]
April 10, 2015
Seychelles Supreme Court Annexe at Ile du Port Officially Opens
(Seychelles Nation) - The Supreme Court annexe building which will be served mostly to hear piracy and maritime crime cases was officially opened yesterday afternoon in the Seychelles.
The [...]
April 7, 2015
Somali Pirates Sentenced in Dutch Court
The Court of The Hague has sentenced a Somali man to six years in prison for firing weapons on a Dutch navy team.
The court considered it proven that he - and others - shot a gun at Dutch navy personnel during the [...]
April 6, 2015
WANTED: Brave Chefs to Volunteer on Life-Saving Mission in the Mediterranean Sea
WANTED: Great chefs to brave the Mediterranean waters in exchange for an extraordinary life-saving adventure. Involves long hours of preparation as well as ad hoc search and [...]
April 1, 2015
President Michel Congratulates President Buhari Following Election Win in Nigeria
ON BEHALF of the Government and people of Seychelles, President James Michel congratulated newly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buha [...]
March 30, 2015
14th Meeting of COMESA Ministers of Foreign Affairs - Piracy in the Indian Ocean - Seychelles Commended
SEYCHELLES WAS once more commended for its role in the fight against Piracy in the Indian Ocean during the COMESA Foreign Affairs Ministers meetin [...]
March 29, 2015
Peacemaking versus Peacekeeping
OVER THE last 10 years, Sir James R. Mancham, founding President of the Republic of Seychelles, has been making it his mission to advocate that more money be spent on peace-making (education and human resources development) [...]
March 29, 2015
Sir James Mancham Re-elected to COMESA
THE GOVERNMENT of Seychelles has offered its deep-felt congratulations to former President Sir James Mancham, following his re-election for a second term as a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Souther [...]
March 27, 2015
Nigeria’s Maritime Sector and the Elections
Port2Port West Africa’s Managing Director, Bola Adefehinti, looks at the upcoming elections, and what they might mean for the maritime sector.
The Nigerian elections are taking place against a backd [...]
March 25, 2015
International Statesman, Sir James Mancham, Recognised for Global Peacemaking Efforts
SEYCHELLES FOUNDING President James R. Mancham's stature as an international statesman received further recognition on Monday 23rd March 2015 when he got an invitation f [...]
March 20, 2015
Italy Announces Is To End Participation in NATO Counter Piracy Missions
ITALY WILL no longer participate in NATO counter piracy operations or to embark on missions to protect merchant ships from attack, reported the Italian Defence Minister, Roberta Pinot [...]
March 20, 2015
Mancham Joins Campaign Urging US Senate to Reauthorise the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
IT IS announced from Glacis-sur-Mer that Seychelles' founding President James R. Mancham has agreed to join the AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity [...]
March 17, 2015
9 Pirates Sentenced Up to 14 years For Attempted Hijack Danish Tanker in 2013
DENMARK FAILED to prosecute nine pirates for an attack on the Danish-flagged tanker Torm Kansas and ordered to pay the pirates 20,000 Danish crowns (approx $3,247) in damages. T [...]
March 13, 2015
ReCAAP Feb 2015 Report; Lowest Feb Incidents in 5 Years
ReCAAP ISC reports a total of 11 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in February 2015. Amongst these, one was an incident of piracy and 10 were armed robberies against ships. [...]
March 13, 2015
EUCAP Nestor Organizes ‘Change Management’ Workshop for the Somaliland Coast Guard
ON 10-11 March EUCAP Nestor organised a workshop for the Somaliland Coast Guard on ‘Change Management’. The activity, attended by twenty young perso [...]
March 12, 2015
EUCAP Nestor Organizes Workshops for Prosecutors, Judges and Investigators in Hargeisa
ON 9 and 10 March, seven judges, seven prosecutors and twelve investigators from Hargeisa and coastal areas of Somaliland participated in workshops organized by EUCAP N [...]
March 4, 2015
10 Migrants Dead as Boat Capsizes, Nearly 1,000 Rescued in Sicilian Channel
IN TOTAL, 941 migrants were rescued in the Sicilian Channel by the Italian Coast Guard on Tuesday 3 March. Among the various operations coordinated by the National Rescue Cen [...]
March 4, 2015
SNMG2 Begins Operations in the Black Sea
NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) arrived today in the Black Sea to operate and train with ships from the Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish Navies. This training will include simulated a [...]
March 4, 2015
After Operation ATALANTA
Rear Admiral Jonas Haggren of the Swedish Royal Navy, the new Force Commander for the EU's Op Atalanta Task Force, writes in his marine blog:
After months of preparation the day came when I had the great honor to take comma [...]
March 1, 2015
Release of the Longest Held Hostages in Somalia’s History
Taken hostage at sea by Somali pirates on the 18 April 2010, the four remaining crewman of the FV Prantalay 12 vessel were finally released on 25 February by their captors into the hands of t [...]
February 27, 2015
Thai Crew of Prantalay 12 Released From Captivity in Somalia
MPHRP has welcomed the news that after 4 years, 10 months and 9 days held in captivity by Somali pirates the four Thai crew of the fishing vessel Prantalay 12 have been released and are on their [...]
February 25, 2015
Dutch Yachtsman Murdered Off Sao Luis, Brazil Coast
A Dutchman, identified as Ronald Francois Wolbeek, 60, from Edam, Holland, was fatally shot in the chest in the early hours on Sunday, 15 Feb near the Yacht Club of Sao Luis, off Maranhao coast, Northeas [...]
February 23, 2015
UPDATE: Hijacked Tanker Found; Run Aground in Philippines
The North Sulawesi Police are currently investigating the hijacking of a ship transporting 700 kiloliters of diesel while it was en route from Bitung, North Sulawesi, to Halmahera, North Maluku. Sh [...]
February 23, 2015
The World in Seychelles
The World, a spectacular cruise ship owned by the residents who travel on it, is scheduled to stop in Seychelles this week (from February 26-28).
It will first dock on Mahé where the residents will be invited to join in [...]
February 17, 2015
Tanker Hijack, Fuel Siphoned & IED Threat in Malacca Strait
ON 12 Feb, a Thailand-registered product tanker, Lapin, departed Singapore for Krabi province, Thailand. The vessel with 15 crew was laden with 2,000 tons of bunker oil when it was boarded an [...]
February 16, 2015
Belgian Frigate Against West Africa Piracy
THE WARSHIP Leopold I, a Karel Doorman-class frigate and flagship of the Belgian Navy, set sail on Tuesday from its base in Zeebrugge. The ship and its crew last year were part of the European Union's O [...]
February 13, 2015
Search and Rescue Charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) Launches Urgent Fundraising Appeal to Expand Operations After Latest Lampedusa Tragedy
Highlights:
- With reduced EU presence and a surge in migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea, 2015 is ex [...]
February 13, 2015
Account of Chinese Fishing Vessel Hijacked off Ghana, More Crew Deaths
DRAMA UNFOLDED at the Tema Fishing Harbour last week Thursday, when the media exposed Chinese owners of a fishing vessel, FV Lu Rong Yuan Yu 917, which was recently seized by pirates i [...]
February 13, 2015
ReCAAP January 2015 Report; Decrease in Piracy Incidents
IN ITS latest report, RECAAP ISC states that a total of 10 incidents of robbery onboard ships were reported in Asia in January 2015. No piracy incidents were reported. There has been a continuous de [...]
February 11, 2015
Lampedusa Tragedy Marks Start of Deadly 2015
- MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) rescued 3000 migrants in 2014
- The Mediterranean Sea is the deadliest border crossing in the world
- With reduced presence in 2015 by the EU’s Fro [...]
February 10, 2015
EUCAP Nestor donates equipment to Seychelles authorities to increase Maritime Safety and Security
ON TUESDAY, 10 February, EUCAP Nestor Head of Country Office, Bo Holtse officially handed over equipment to the Chief Justice Office, the Seychelles Fishing [...]
February 6, 2015
Mancham Adds Voice to Call For End of Female Genital Mutilation
Former President James R. Mancham, in his capacity as a councillor of the World Future Council has joined other councillors and ambassadors on the eve of the International Day of Zero Toleran [...]
February 4, 2015
Togolese Navy Intervenes Against Pirates' Attack
The Togolese Navy, on Sunday 1 Feb, rescued 24 Ghanaian and Chinese sailors whose boat was attacked by pirates in international waters, said the Togolese maritime prefecture.
At the request of the Ghanaian [...]
February 3, 2015
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships Increased in Asia in 2014, ReCAAP Annual Report
In the latest annual report for 2014 by ReCAAP ISC, it is stated that there has been an increase in the number of piracy and armed robbery against ships incidents in [...]
January 30, 2015
Suspect Hijacked Tanker Rescued by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
In one of the swiftest operations to counter piracy in SE Asia, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) were praised for their immediate response to rescue a chemical tanker [...]
January 27, 2015
Mancham Joins Editorial Board of Prestigious World Peace Journal
26-January-2015
IT IS announced from Glacis sur Mer that Seychelles’ founding President James R. Mancham has been invited to join the editorial board of the International Jour [...]
January 22, 2015
Seychelles Police to Get Training & Capacity Building From India
AN AGREEMENT was signed yesterday for the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPRD) of India to provide training and capacity building to the Seychelles police force i [...]
January 21, 2015
MPHRP: Violent Crime Against Seafarers
Complacency and simple acts of humanitarian support; the MPHRP highlights the hardship inflicted upon seafarers and families.
Responding to recent articles and reports on current levels of maritime piracy intentiona [...]
January 13, 2015
UNODC Maritime Crime Programme
MARITIME CRIME poses a serious threat to the safety of seafarers, international trade and regional stability. As over 90% of global trade is carried out by sea, the economic effects of maritime crime can be crippling. U [...]
January 12, 2015
Special Report on Siphoning of Ship Fuel/Oil at Sea in Asia - Part II
IN THE second part of a Special Report on "incidents of Siphoning of Ship Fuel/Oil at Sea in Asia', ReCAAP ISC provides an update on the escalation in the frequency of siphoning of sh [...]
January 8, 2015
Joint Counter-Piracy Exercise Held in Seychelles
A COUNTER-PIRACY exercise was carried out jointly by the Seychelles Coast Guard, Air Force and Police together with the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta - and the EU’s civilian mariti [...]
December 30, 2014
Sea Eagle Task Force to Fight Strait of Malacca Piracy
COMMANDER OF the Western Fleet Command Indonesia Navy, Admiral Widodo Young states he has now formed a special team called the Sea Eagle joint task force. This special team will be placed specifi [...]
December 19, 2014
Seychelles, Japan Sign Pirate Transfer Agreement
A MEMORANDUM of understanding (MoU) between Japan and Seychelles covering the conditions of transfer of suspected pirates and seized property, was signed on Thursday in Indian Ocean island nation’s Po [...]
December 16, 2014
Seychelles Court of Appeal Acquits 3 Suspected Somali Pirates Convicted of Piracy
THE SEYCHELLES Court of Appeal has acquitted and ordered the repatriation of 3 Somali pirates back to their homeland. The highest court in the [...]
December 11, 2014
Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - November 2014 ReCAAP Report
ACCORDING TO the latest report by ReCAAP ISC, a total of 20 incidents were reported in November 2014 in Asia, consistent with October 2014. However, of the 20 incidents, three we [...]
December 11, 2014
Second Case of Pirate Compensation Draws Bitter Criticism
ADDING INSULT to injury as another decision of the European Court of Human Rights is even more repugnant and insulting to all Seafarers who have survived piracy atacks, says MPHRP.
Close on the ne [...]
December 8, 2014
MPHRP Saddened By The Death of Another Seafarer As a Victim of Piracy
THE MARITIME Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) has responded to the latest pirate attack as a Vietnam bitumen tanker has been attacked and a crew member murdered.
A Tanker [...]
December 8, 2014
EU Court Decision to Compensate Pirates is "An Insult To All In The Maritime Industry," MPHRP
IN A stinging indictment of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in ordering the French government to pay thousands of euros in compensation to Som [...]
December 8, 2014
Crew Member Dies From Injuries After Vietnamese Tanker Boarded by Pirates
FOR THE first time since 2009, a crew member has died as a result of pirates boarding a 3118 gwt tanker underway in the South China Sea, reports ReCAAP ISC, the Asia regional p [...]
December 6, 2014
EUCAP Nestor Head of Mission Visits Seychelles for End of Basic Training Course and High Officials Meetings
ON 4 and 5 December, EUCAP Nestor Head of Mission, Etienne de Poncins, visited EUCAP Nestor’s Country Office in the Seychelles. During his vi [...]
November 28, 2014
Hijacked Indonesian Tanker Found, Repainted, Eight Arrested
ON 9 October, around 0600 local time (LT), the Indonesia-registered product tanker, Srikandi 515, was boarded by perpetrators in Sampit waters, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, reports ReCAAP [...]
November 27, 2014
New Zealand-led CTF-151 Coordinates Successful International Search and Rescue Operation
EIGHT SAILORS who abandoned their sinking ship have been safely plucked from the sea following a 30 hour search involving two international organisations and six [...]
November 24, 2014
EUCAP Nestor Deploys in Mogadishu
AS FROM today, November 24th, EUCAP Nestor maritime, legal and police experts are permanently deployed in Mogadishu. The Mission operational base is located in Mogadishu International Airport (MIA).
This is the second [...]
November 13, 2014
Yemeni Coast Guard, Royal Saudi & US Navy Join in Pakistan-Led Maritime Anti-Terrorism Focused Operation
by Combined Maritime Forces
NAVAL SHIPS from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United States have taken part in an exercise under the Command of C [...]
November 12, 2014
Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - October 2014 ReCAAP Report
ReCAAP ISC states there has been an increase in the number of incidents reported in October 2014 (18) in Asia, the bulk of which were petty thefts (60%).
A total of 18 incidents [...]
November 12, 2014
Damage Control Equipment and Training for Djibouti Navy
IN A ceremony on 6 November, EUCAP Nestor Head of Mission, Etienne de Poncins, handed over “Damage Control Equipment” for fire and flood handling to Colonel Cher, the Commande [...]
November 3, 2014
Seychelles Minister Morgan Pleased with 4th Anti-Piracy Conference in Dubai Results
MINISTER Joël Morgan, Minster for Home Affairs and Transport, has returned to the Seychelles with his delegation following successful meetings at the just completed a [...]
October 23, 2014
EUCAP Nestor Trains, Mentors Somaliland Coast Guard Young Officers
ON 21 October, the European Union’s Maritime Capacity Building Mission in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean (EUCAP Nestor) celebrated the successful completion of a two mon [...]
October 20, 2014
Superintendent Maxime Tirant, Seychelles Prison Service, Visited Somalia as Part of the IMC
In a recent visit to Somalia Mr Maxime Tirant, Superintendent of the Seychelles Prisons, visited the UNODC-mentored prisons in Garowe (Puntland) and Hargeysa (Soma [...]
October 17, 2014
EUCAP Nestor Launches Second Basic Maritime Training Course for Seychelles Coast Guard
ON 16 October, 21 new personnel were received by LtCol Simon Dine, Commanding officer of the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG), to commence their basic maritime training. Th [...]
October 13, 2014
EU Naval Force Supports EUCAP Nestor-Led Training Course for Somali Coast Guard and Port Police in Djibouti
ON 8 October, Somali Coast Guard and Port Police Forces participating in a training course held by EUCAP Nestor in Djibouti had the opportunity to [...]
October 13, 2014
ReCAAP ISC Summary of Q3 Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships
ReCAAP ISC reports there has been significant change of the trend in terms of the number of incidents within the nine-month period from January to September 2014 with a 33% decrease in the [...]
October 10, 2014
Vietnamese Tanker Captain Tells of Harrowing Pirate Ordeal
The Vietnamese diesel tanker crew that was taken by masked pirates off the coast of Singapore believe the men were Indonesians.A Thanh Nien reporter reached Captain Nguyen Quyet Thang of the Sun [...]
October 3, 2014
UNSOM Somali Police Force Training
More than 30 officers of the Somali Police Force completed training tailored to boost their skills and knowledge.
The two-week long comprehensive training targeted the Professional Standards Unit of the SPF and covere [...]
September 24, 2014
Seafarer Welfare Discussed as Piracy-Related Violence Increases off West Africa
A JOINT forum, organised by Oceans Beyond Piracy and the International Maritime Bureau, to discuss the human cost of West African maritime crime was held on September 23rd at [...]
September 16, 2014
Delegates Meet in Bahrain to Discuss International Counter-Piracy Efforts
REPRESENTATIVES FROM around the world have come together in Bahrain to discuss the ongoing fight to counter the piracy threat to shipping posed by criminal gangs from Somalia.
[...]
September 12, 2014
To Stop Impunity on High Seas, Drug Traffickers Must Be Prosecuted, Says UNODC Chief
UNODC hosted a special event to discuss the rise of the maritime southern route for narcotics trafficking and the prosecution of drug traffickers caught in international [...]
September 11, 2014
Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships At Sea in Asia - ReCAAP August 2014 Report
ReCAAP ISC report that the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia continues to improve in August 2014 with a total of 11 incidents.
Of those 11 inciden [...]
September 9, 2014
Danish-Seychellois Meeting Prior to Trial of Suspected Pirates
Prior to the trial of nine suspected pirates in the Seychelles courts, a meeting was held between the head of a regional organization to combat piracy and the Danish comma [...]
September 5, 2014
Somaliland Coast Guard Training by EUCAP Nestor
EUCAP Nestor Somalia Office Maritime and legal experts conducted mission activities in Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa and the city of Berbera 25 to 30 August.
Maritime
In the framework of the Mentorin [...]
August 29, 2014
Local Maritime Capacity Building Training for Seychelles Coast Guard & Air Force During FGS Berlin Visit
ON AUGUST 25/26, two Local Maritime Capacity Building (LCMB) activities have taken place during FGS Berlin port visit to the Seychelles.
L [...]
August 25, 2014
EUCAP Nestor Head of Mission Visited Seychelles for Closing Ceremonies and High Officials Meetings
EUCAP Nestor’s Headquarters in the Seychelles welcomed the Head of Mission Etienne de Poncins ahead of the closing ceremonies of the training that wer [...]
August 21, 2014
Seychelles Govt Welcomes Arrest of Somali Pirate Chief; Step Ensures Security in the Region
THE Seychelles government has commended the effort of the Somali government following the arrest of one of Somalia’s most notorious pirate chiefs, Mohamed Ga [...]
August 19, 2014
Two French Yachtsmen Rescued in Pirate Waters, Twice
TUESDAY, August 12, while on counter piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden, the flagship of EU NAVFOR Atalanta - Italian frigate Andrea Doria - assisted a French yacht with two crew in distress.
[...]
August 14, 2014
Empowering Seychelles Police Women
FEMALE officers of Seychelles Police have learned how to build solid contacts and networks and share ideas in a supported environment, which took place through a workshop held yesterday under the theme ‘Raisin [...]
August 13, 2014
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - ReCAAP July 2014
ACCORDING TO ReCAAP ISC, the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia has decreased from 21 incidents reported in June 2014 to 14 incidents in July 2014.
The [...]
August 9, 2014
UN Seeking Release of Four Thai Crew Held by Somali Pirates for Over 4 Years
CREW MEMBERS of the Taiwanese fishing vessel, Prantalay 12, have been held by Somali pirates since 18 April 2010. Of the original 25 crew, six died when the ship capsized in July [...]
July 29, 2014
Mariners’ Safety Gets Big Boost with Navtex Fitted in Seychelles
SEYCHELLES has become the second island nation in the Western Indian Ocean to have a Navtex (navigational telex) broadcasting station.
Navtex is an international automated medium fre [...]
July 29, 2014
US Navy Rescues Nine Crew in the Gulf of Oman
USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4), a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship, rescued nine crew members from a Yemeni-flagged cargo vessel that had lost power, was taking on water and was adrift in the Gulf of Oman, [...]
July 28, 2014
32-year-old Seychelles Patrol Ship, Andromache, Heads to Sri Lanka for Major Refit
By: Sharon Uranie
(Seychelles News Agency) - THE Seychelles Coast Guard will be short of one of the archipelago’s main patrol vessels engaged in the protec [...]
July 24, 2014
ReCAAP Special Report on Incidents of Siphoning of Fuel/Oil at Sea in Asia
THE TREND of incidents involving siphoning of fuel/oil from product and oil tankers at sea is not new. Statistics for Jan - Jul of 2014 reveal that the occurrence of such incident [...]
July 23, 2014
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - ReCAAP Half Yearly Report 2014
A TOTAL of 73 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-June 2014, of which 18 were piracy incidents and 55 were armed robberi [...]
July 22, 2014
EUCAP Nestor Extended to December 2016
THE COUNCIL today extended the mandate of the EU mission on regional maritime capacity building in the Horn of Africa (EUCAP Nestor) until 12 December 2016.
This civilian mission forms part of the EU's comprehensive [...]
July 19, 2014
Covering 5 - 11 July 2014 No. 28/14
Militants abscond with ship crew; SE Asia tanker hijack confirmed ; Road building to combat piracy; Suspect pirates handed to Interpol -
Somali militant group, Al-Shabaab, have reportedly absconded wi [...]
July 18, 2014
Seamanship Training for MPPU and Criminal Investigation Training for SCG Concludes
TODAY [18 July], the EU’s maritime capacity building mission in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean, EUCAP Nestor, celebrated together with its Seychelles par [...]
July 16, 2014
Armed Robbery At Sea Strikes in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
AN ARMED robbery occurred on board the Panama-flagged LNG Tanker, Virgo Gas, on 28 June 2014 at 2200 hours LT around two and half nautical miles off the Port of Spain docks in the Port o [...]
July 15, 2014
First Basic Training Course for Seychelles Air Force Commences
ON MONDAY 14 July, the first basic training for Seychelles Air Force (SAF) started in the SAF facility at the Mahe’ Airport with assistance from EUCAP Nestor Surveillance Aerial Maritime [...]
July 12, 2014
Covering 28 June - 4 July 2014 No. 27/14
Indonesian Ghost Pirate Ship; Ghana picks up attacked ships; Pirate prison near closure; S Korean CG officials arrested
An Indonesian tanker has been found drifting in the South China [...]
July 10, 2014
Covering 21 - 27 June 2014 No. 26/14
Somali Piracy is Over; US Office - Counter piracy not assessed; EU Council endorsement of strategy; Kidnap, torture, release, book then film -
A French Gener [...]
July 9, 2014
UPDATED: Product Tanker Hijacked in South China Sea for Fuel Cargo; Second Boarding in Less Than A Year
HONDURAS-FLAGGED, Singapore-operated product tanker, Moresby 9, was boarded and hijacked by nine armed pirates at about 2015 LT, 4 July, approximately [...]
July 9, 2014
Covering 21 - 27 June 2014 No. 25/14
Somali Piracy is Over; US Office - Counter piracy not assessed; EU Council endorsement of strategy; Kidnap, torture, release, book then film -
A French General commanding French forces in the Southern Indian Oc [...]
July 2, 2014
Crewless Tanker Found in South China Sea, Piracy Ring Suspected
Galuh Pusaka, a product tanker registered in Indonesia, has been found drifting with navigational lights and engine off in South China Sea. The vessel had neither crew nor cargo, but its gall [...]
July 2, 2014
EUCAP Nestor in the Seychelles
EUCAP NESTOR HAS been operational in the Seychelles since January 2013. During this time, the EUCAP Nestor Country Office in the Seychelles has established itself as a key provider of capacity-building for local agencies wor [...]
July 1, 2014
Record Hash Seizure for Combined Task Force 150
FRESH FROM setting the record for the largest maritime heroin seizure, HMAS Darwin, operating in support of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) has set another record in the fight against drug smuggling a [...]
July 1, 2014
Covering 7 - 13 June 2014 No. 24/14
Hostages escape to freedom; Hijack W Africa & SE Asia; China, Vietnam boat squabble; Syria like Somalia? Sewol ferry crew on trial -
Eleven crew members of MV Albedo, held for 3 years and 7 months, [...]
June 30, 2014
EUCAP Nestor to Begin 2-Week Training in the Investigation of Crime Scenes in Zanzibar
EUCAP Nestor provides Crime scene investigation and evidence handling training to 16 officers of the Maritime Police of Zanzibar.
ON 30 June, the European Union mariti [...]
June 29, 2014
Covering 31 May - 6 June 2014 No. 23/14
Greek tanker missing off Ghana; Thai tanker confirmed hijacked/released; Video Vietnamese boat sinking; Sewol ferry body found -
Another tanker reported missing, this time off Ghana, believe [...]
June 23, 2014
The Work of UNODC Maritime Crime Programme
THE UNODC Maritime Crime Programme has produced a March 2014 bulletin which focuses on the UNODC’s existing work in addressing maritime crime in East Africa and also launches a new programme in West Africa. [...]
June 22, 2014
Prosecuting Pirates: Lessons Learned and Continuing Challenges
SINCE 2005, there has been growing consensus and frequently recurring calls in the international community for the leaders, financiers, and land-based facilitators of modern maritime piracy to [...]
June 20, 2014
Port State Measures Agreement, Ratifiy it Now and Stop Illegal Fishing
ILLEGAL FISHING accounts for up to $23.5 billion worth of seafood per year, or one-in-five wild-caught marine fish. To get to market, all of those stolen fish must come through a port [...]
June 19, 2014
Pakistan Passes Command of CTF-151 to the Republic of Korea
by Combined Maritime Forces
COMMODORE ALI Abbas of the Pakistan Navy has handed over command of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counter-piracy operations in the Middle East to Rear Admir [...]
June 19, 2014
EUCAP Nestor and Somaliland Solidify Successful Partnership with Cooperation Agreement
ON 18 June, the Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Behi Yonis, and EUCAP Nestor Head of Mission, Etienne de Poncins, signed an Agreement to set out the bas [...]
June 18, 2014
Pirates Evade Enforcement Agencies After Boarding Tanker in SE Asia
ON 14 Jun 14, the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) issued an Incident Alert 05/2014 following a report from a shipping company that an unknown number of pirates had boarded the pro [...]
June 15, 2014
Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - ReCAAP May 2014
ACCORDING TO ReCAAP ISC, in May 2014, there were a total of 15 incidents reported. Although there has been an increase in the number of incidents reported in May 2014 compared to May 2013 [...]
June 15, 2014
Covering 24 - 30 May 2014 No. 22/14
Thai tanker missing; Djibouti suicide bombs; Nigerian IS winning; Iran intercepts Somali oil smuggler, China-Vietnam boat-barging; Another Sewol ferry diver dies.
A Thai tanker has [...]
June 10, 2014
The Hijacking of Tanker, Orapin 4
RECENT hijacks of commercial tankers in the Southeast Asia region has raised concerns of an increase in piracy, which had been considered reduced in recent years, ReCAAP ISC issued an update on the hijack of Thai-register [...]
June 10, 2014
32 Nations Meet at the 32nd SHADE Conference
by Combined Maritime Forces
THE SHared Awareness and DEconfliction (SHADE) conference convened for its 32nd sitting in Manama, Bahrain on 4 June.
Hosted in Bahrain by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), [...]
June 9, 2014
OBP Statement on Release of MV Albedo Hostages
Colorado, USA - 9 June 2014: Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) welcomes the release of the 11 remaining hostages of MV Albedo. We particularly commend the work of the UNODC Hostage Support Programme as well as the M [...]
June 7, 2014
Release of MV Albedo Seafarers Welcomed by MPHRP
MPHRP (The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme) has welcomed the release and safe return of the remaining crew from the MV Albedo.
Commenting on their arrival into Kenya on 7 June 2014 MPHRP ch [...]
June 6, 2014
Owners Confirm Lost Contact With Tanker “Fair Artemis” in Gulf of Guinea
In a statement by Fairdeal Group Management S.A. today, it was confirmed that they have been unable to contact their managed vessel MT “Fair Artemis” sin [...]
June 5, 2014
Marlins MCA Approved Security eLearning Goes Global
THE UK MCA have granted approval to Marlins for their new STCW eLearning courses, resulting in further expansion of Marlins’ international Approved Test Centre network.
The 2010 Manila amendments [...]
June 4, 2014
Seychelles Carries Out Oil Spill Exercise With EU Missions
A MAJOR exercise in implementing the national contingency plan for anti-pollution, search and rescue, and fire fighting was held in the waters off Mahé, Seychelles, on 4 June - Joint Press [...]
May 31, 2014
Covering 17 - 23 May 2014 No. 21/14
Pirates kill fisherman; Nigerian successes but not winning; Boko Haram sanctions, Yacht search suspended; Bounty on Sewol ferry owner.
An Indian fisherman was shot and killed during an armed robbery at sea [...]
May 29, 2014
EUCAP Nestor Concludes First Basic Training Course For Somali Coast Guard and Port Police
THE EU’s maritime capacity building mission in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean, EUCAP Nestor, celebrated together with its Somali and Djiboutian pa [...]
May 25, 2014
Covering 10 - 16 May - 20/14
Pirate kingpin amnesty - DENIED; Somali pirates sentenced in USA; Seychelles co-chair role, Migrant shipwreck; Kenya terror attacks -
Puntland's government offer of amnesty to pirate kingpin Isse Yusuf [...]
May 23, 2014
HMAS Darwin Continues to Challenge Drug Smugglers
HMAS Darwin intercepted a suspected drug smuggling dhow in international waters on 19 May 2014, seizing 786 kilograms of hashish. HMAS Darwin is currently deployed on patrol under tasking to the Com [...]
May 20, 2014
Bowline Defence Ltd Awarded ISO PAS 28007 Certification
Bowline Defence Ltd formally received its ISO 28000 certification scoped to ISO/PAS 28007:2012 from RTI Forensics at an awards presentation in London recently. ISO/PAS 28007 is the fast growing bench [...]
May 20, 2014
Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia Sixteenth Plenary Session, United Nations Head Quarters, 14 May 2014 - Communiqué
Summary - The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) held its Sixteenth Plenary Sess [...]
May 18, 2014
ReCAAP Piracy & Armed Robbery At Sea Against Ships in Asia - April 2014
ReCAAP ISC states a total of nine incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea were reported in April 2014, of which, five were incidents of piracy and four were incidents of arme [...]
May 16, 2014
Seychelles Elected as Co-Chair of UN’s Contact Group on Piracy
SEYCHELLES, JAPAN and the UAE have been elected as co-chairs of Working Group 3 on Maritime Operations and Coordination of the Contact Group on Piracy off t [...]
May 16, 2014
Pirate Kingpin Amnesty Offer Denied by Puntland Government
THE NEWS that only the second pirate kingpin was to be offered amnesty in Somalia made big news and was eagerly tweeted and Facebooked earlier this month. Now, however, that offer of amnesty to th [...]
May 16, 2014
Covering 3 - 9 May 2014 No. 19/14
Pirate kingpin amnesty; Assassination attempts; Ferry diver dies, other arrests; Somali piracy 50% reduction; MV Iceberg-1 Officer 4 years later.
Puntland's government offers amnesty to pirate kingpin Isse Yusuf [...]
May 14, 2014
Troubled Waters - Exploring the Emerging Dynamics between Navies and Private Security Companies in Anti-Piracy Operations
By Riddhi Shah - Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
THE PAST decade has seen countless studies carried out o [...]
May 13, 2014
Finding New Bearings - Facts & Figures About PMSCs
by Dirk Siebels
THERE HAS been a lot of talk about regulating the private maritime security industry. So far, however, nobody has asked ship-owners or captains about the performance of armed guards o [...]
May 12, 2014
The World’s Most Violent Pirates
by James Bridger
WEST AFRICA is home to the world’s most violent pirates—who are now capable of overwhelming armed guards. Last month pirates killed a crewmember during an attack on German-owned oil tank [...]
May 7, 2014
The State of Maritime Piracy 2013 - Oceans Beyond Piracy Annual Report
THE LATEST Oceans Beyond Piracy report notes factors behind 50% reduction in cost of Somali piracy. The report, for the first time, documents both the economic and human cos [...]
May 5, 2014
Prosecuting Pirates - UNODC and Seychelles Sign $300 Thousand Agreement
THE UNITED Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is providing financial support to Seychelles, worth around $300 thousand this year that will pay for costs involved in prosecuting [...]
May 3, 2014
French Sailor Spent 3 Weeks on Sailboat Drifting in Seychelles Waters
THE OWNER of the sailboat Allegro, French sailing enthusiast David Mal, spent three weeks drifting in Seychelles waters after the mast of his boat broke. He was rescued by a merchant sh [...]
May 1, 2014
Global Piracy & Armed Robbery At Sea - April 2014
APRIL 2014 saw the majority of boarding incidents reported in SE Asia including two instances of hijack for the fuel cargo.
West Africa, whilst having the most severe piracy incident with shots fired [...]
April 29, 2014
China Donates Patrol Vessel to Seychelles Coast Guard
THE SEYCHELLES Foreign Minister welcomed the donation of a purpose-built patrol vessel from the People’s Republic of China Ambassador to Seychelles on behalf of China.
Foreign Minister, Jean-Pau [...]
April 29, 2014
Lethal Mix of Heroin and Alcohol Caused Deaths of 2 Former US Navy SEALs on Maersk Alabama
(Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles police have reported that recently completed toxicology reports show a mixture of heroin and alcohol w [...]
April 25, 2014
Seychelles High Level Committee on Piracy Discusses Approach to Maritime Security
Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport PRESS RELEASE 25 April 2014
High Level Committee on Piracy meets. Reviews maritime security measures and onward cooperation with Japa [...]
April 23, 2014
ReCAAP Quarterly Report 2014 on Piracy & Armed Robbery At Sea Against Ships in Asia
THE OVERALL improvement in the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia continues into the 1st Quarter of 2014 (January- March) for a third consecut [...]
April 23, 2014
Oil Tanker Hijacked, Three Indonesians Kidnapped in Malacca Strait
A SINGAPORE-managed, St Kitts & Nevis-flagged oil tanker was boarded by armed robbers in the Malacca Strait off Port Klang. Three crew were kidnapped during the theft of part of the fu [...]
April 22, 2014
UNOSAT Global Report on Maritime Piracy - A Geospatial Analysis 1995-2013
FOLLOWING A five year engagement by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to conduct applied research and geospatial analysis on piracy activit [...]
April 15, 2014
United Kingdom Assumes Command of CTF 150 from Australia
THE ROYAL Australian Navy has handed over command of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Force 150 to the Royal Navy at a formal change of command ceremony held in Bahrain on 10 April [...]
April 11, 2014
Port2Port West Africa - Contractors Released
PORT2PORT West Africa is pleased to announce that two of its contractors were released 9 April 2014 on bail, on the order of Justice Akpomiemie of the High Court of Bayelsa State, Yenagoa, Nigeria, after 19 day [...]
April 4, 2014
EUCAP Nestor Enhances Capacity of the Seychelles Air Force in Maritime Domain Awareness
ON 2 April, a ceremony was held at the Seychelles Air Force base to mark the donation by EUCAP Nestor of flight planning and imagery analysis software and the successf [...]
March 31, 2014
ReCAAP ISC - Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Feb 2014
A TOTAL of 13 incidents were reported in February 2014, of which 11 were robberies against ships and two were incidents of piracy.
Of the 13 incidents, six were Category 2 (moderate [...]
March 31, 2014
Two Sailors Dead After Fire on Fishing Vessel in the Indian Ocean
THE BODIES of two sailors, who died aboard a Taiwan-flagged fishing vessel, were transported to the Seychelles mortuary Friday night and a third sailor suffering from burns was admitted to [...]
March 31, 2014
Nine Convicted Somali Pirates Transferred to Puntland
NINE CONVICTED Somali pirates were repatriated back to Puntland yesterday to serve out the remainder of their sentences in Garowe prison, the state’s capital.
A special chartered flight operated [...]
March 29, 2014
Port2Port West Africa Denies Wrongdoing Following Arrest of 2 Contractors in Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria: IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Port2Port West Africa can confirm that two of its contractors were arrested yesterday by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Bayelsa State, N [...]
March 27, 2014
Piracy: FAO, Puntland President Launch Somali Fishermen Database
President, EU Envoy hail move as crucial to managing sea resources
March 27, 2014, Bossaso, Somalia - THE UNITED Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Puntland authorities hav [...]
March 21, 2014
Seychelles Coast Guard Receives Basic Seamanship Training on NATO Warship
EUCAP NESTOR Press Release
ON FRIDAY 21 March, 17 trainees, who are part of the Basic Training Programme for the Seychelles Coast Guard, received training in seamanship skills on b [...]
March 20, 2014
REFLECS3 - Fighting Transnational Organised Crime
Regional Fusion and Law Enforcement Centre for Safety and Security at Sea (REFLECS3) is the new incarnation of Seychelles-based Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecutions and Intelligence Coordination Centre (RAPPI [...]
March 17, 2014
Seychelles Visit of ‘Child Soldiers Initiative’ Representative
‘Somali youths held in Seychelles well taken care of’
Juvenile Somalis implicated in piracy activities and being held at the Montagne Posée prisons are being we [...]
March 13, 2014
31st SHADE Conference Held in Bahrain
THE 31st counter piracy Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) conference was held in Manama, Bahrain, on 11 March.
Established in 2008 and held quarterly, the conference aims to coordinate and de-conflict activi [...]
March 5, 2014
Seychelles Coast Guard Trainees Receive Electronic Navigation Equipment Training
ON 4 March, 20 trainees from the Basic Training course for the Seychelles Coast Guard took part in a training on the use electronic na [...]
March 5, 2014
Seychelles Video Shows 2 Americans on the Town Before Deaths
Source: CNN by Drew Griffin and Mary Rogers
(CNN) -- POLICE IN the Seychelles investigating the deaths of two former U.S. Navy SEALs have video surveillance showing the private security gu [...]
March 4, 2014
Five Suspected Pirates Charged in Seychelles
THE SEYCHELLES Police have reported that the 5 suspected Somali Pirates arrested by French ship Siroco on high seas on 20 January and then handed over to the local authority nine days later have formally been c [...]
March 4, 2014
Swift and Bold: A Piracy Alert Response
ON FRIDAY 28 February, at 12:18pm, lookouts on board the Thailand-flagged merchant cargo ship, MV Tateyama, saw two small motor-powered skiffs carrying several men behaving oddly around a mile away. Suddenly ac [...]
March 3, 2014
CNN’s Mary Rogers to Produce Segment on Navy SEALs’ Death
SEASONED CAMERAWOMAN and producer Mary Rogers of the CNN (Cable News Network) is in Seychelles to produce a segment on last month’s untimely death of two security personnel, ex-US [...]
March 1, 2014
Seychelles Montagne Posée Inmates to Portray Prison Experience in Film
INMATES AT Montagne Posée prison in the Seychelles are working on a film about their experience in prison, the transition they have made as prisoners, accepting their sit [...]
February 27, 2014
RAPPICC One Year Into Combating Piracy
THE FIRST anniversary of the opening of the Seychelles Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecution and Intelligence Coordination Centre (RAPPICC) was marked Tuesday, February 25. It is located at what is now known as the Nation [...]
February 24, 2014
Autopsy of US Security Officers Completed in Seychelles
IN THE latest press release by the Seychelles Police, the cause of death of two US Security Offices is reported to be respiratory failure, with suspicion of heart attack.
The autopsy reports i [...]
February 22, 2014
Autopsy on US Security Officers Planned for Early Next Week
Press Release
THE SEYCHELLES Police have reported that the autopsy on Jeffrey Reynolds and Mark Kennedy is to be carried out early next week. It is expected to establish the cause of death of th [...]
February 19, 2014
2 US Security Officers Found Dead on Maersk Alabama
THE SEYCHELLES Police confirmed that Jeffrey Reynolds and Mark Kennedy, two male US security officers on board container ship Maersk Alabama were discovered dead on the ship moored in Port Victoria late [...]
February 19, 2014
Workshop for Somaliland Coast Guard Concludes in Hargeisa
Hargeisa, Somaliland, February 18,
A THREE day workshop for 28 senior members of the Somaliland Coast Guard, including the Commander, Deputy Sector Commanders from all 3 regions, as well as repre [...]
February 18, 2014
UN Somalia and Eritrean Monitoring Group met with Combined Maritime Forces
By Combined Maritime Forces
PERSONNEL FROM the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) met with representatives from the United Nations Somalia and Eritrean Monitoring Group (U [...]
February 14, 2014
ReCAAP ISC Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - January 2014 Report
Source: ReCAAP ISC
THERE HAS been a reduction in the number of incidents of armed robbery against ships reported in Asia in January 2014 compared to the same period in past [...]
February 13, 2014
Hellenic Navy Chief of Defence Visits HNS PSARA Ready for EU Task Force Deployment
ON WEDNESDAY, February 12, 2014, the Chief of Staff, General Michael Kostarakis accompanied by the Chief of Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis Navy, vi [...]
February 13, 2014
HMAS Melbourne Interdicts Second Heroin Shipment in 48 Hours
By Combined Maritime Forces
COMBINED MARITIME Forces (CMF) ship Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Melbourne has seized another 190 kilograms of pure heroin in the Indian oc [...]
February 13, 2014
Ecuador Navy Strengthens Controls Against 'Piracy' on the High Seas
MORE THAN a dozen ships, including a submarine, participate in the operational controls carried out by the Ecuadorian Navy at sea as part of an emergency declared in three ports. "Is [...]
February 12, 2014
Fight against piracy Indianocéanie
12-February-2014
Captain Phillips movie captivates guests IOC Commission in the Indian Ocean has received many distinguished guests Monday night at Bagatelle, Mauritius to the projection of American film Captain [...]
February 10, 2014
Neptune Maritime Security Announces Certification to ISO PAS 28007
Press Release
Neptune is pleased to announce that it has been certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) to ISO PAS 28007.
From L to R: Mike Richards, Ron Bisho [...]
February 6, 2014
Africa Devises a Plan to Stop Piracy
by Mayka Jimenez
IN THE January 22nd Ordinary Session of the developed African Union (AU) meeting concluded with the adoption of a series of measures by the Heads of State and Government of the region. Among them is t [...]
January 30, 2014
French Navy Transfers Five Suspected Pirates to Seychelles
FIVE SUSPECTED Somali pirates were transferred to the Seychelles police late last night by the French EU Naval Force (EU Navfor) Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship FS Siroco.
The arrival [...]
January 27, 2014
Seychelles Committee on Piracy Discusses 2014 Piracy & CGPCS Involvement
THE HIGH level Committee on Piracy (HLCP) has resumed its work for the new calendar year, with a meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chaired by the Minister for Home [...]
January 27, 2014
"Kerala" - Release from Hijacking
IN A press release issued by Dynacom Tankers Management, the managers of the 'missing', then confirmed hijacked tanker, Kerala, state that the vessel and crew are safe, however, one crew member was wounded. A large amount [...]
January 24, 2014
Basic Training for Seychelles Coast Guard Commences
ON FRIDAY 24 January, the Basic Training Programme for the Seychelles Coast Guard was officially inaugurated by the Chief of Staff of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, Colonel Clifford Roseli [...]
January 24, 2014
Dynacom Tanker Confirmed Missing
A DYNACOM tanker is feared hijacked off Angola in an incident which has created fears surrounding the spread of piracy off West Africa.
The 74,998-dwt Kerala (built 2009) vanished while fully laden with gas oil and was la [...]
January 23, 2014
EUCAP NESTOR Donates Equipment to the Seychelles Coast Guard, Judiciary, and Attorney-General’s Office
“IT IS my pleasure to hand over this high-tech equipment to our partners in the Seychelles,” said Etienne de Poncins, the Head of Miss [...]
January 21, 2014
Sunken Bitumen Tanker Has Troubled Past
IHS MARITIME 360 reported on the sinking of a Bitumen tanker in South China Sea on 20 Jan 2014. The recent history of the tanker is founded in Somali piracy.
The details of the incident state that:An asphalt/bitume [...]
January 21, 2014
Shipping Industry, Hit By Somali Pirates, Meets In London to Boost Jobs In Somalia
Press Release
LONDON, UK: 21st January, 2014: Per Gullestrup, whose Danish--operated ship was hijacked by Somali pirates for several weeks, is to be joined this [...]
January 21, 2014
Seychelles Seafarers' Association Recieves Contributibutions From Special Screening of "Captain Phillips" Movie
ON THE evening of 14th of November 2013, the Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport held a special screening of the Hollywood blockb [...]
January 20, 2014
First Somali Pirate Attack in 2014 Ends in 5 Arrested
ON SATURDAY 18 January 2014, the French EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship, FS Siroco, in cooperation with Japanese assets, released the crew of a Dhow that was suspected to have been used a [...]
January 20, 2014
HMCS Toronto Interdicts Heroin Shipment off Tanzania
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Canadian warship, HMCS Toronto, has seized approximately 280kg of high-grade heroin off the coast of Tanzania, close to Zanzibar Island.
HMCS Toronto
The [...]
January 19, 2014
Pirates Kidnap Crew & Release Spanish-Owned Vessel in Gulf of Guinea, Confirms Spanish Navy
The Spanish-owned 'San Miguel' vessel under Guinean-Spanish flag, which was hijacked on January 3 and subsequently released in the Gulf of Guinea after being h [...]
January 15, 2014
Global Piracy Drop Due to Clampdown on Somali Pirates; IMB
Piracy at sea has reached its lowest levels in six years, with 264 attacks recorded worldwide in 2013, a 40% drop since Somali piracy peaked in 2011, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) In [...]
January 10, 2014
European Union and Seychelles Carry Out Counter-Piracy Exercise
Press Release
On Friday 10 January, the Seychelles Coast Guard, Air Force and Police Force, together with the EU Naval Force Somalia 'Operation Atalanta' and EUCAP Nestor, carried out a coun [...]
January 9, 2014
3 Crew Kidnapped from "Disappeared" Ship
THE EQUATORIAL Guinea-flagged cargo ship, San Miguel, owned by the company Martinez Hermanos, had been hijacked by pirates who still retain three kidnapped crew, states Equatorial Guinea's Press and Information Off [...]
January 7, 2014
Canadian Naval Officer Andrew Webster Died of Asphyxia
The Seychelles police have reported that postmortem carried out on Lieutenant Andrew Webster, the 32-year-old Canadian navy officer who passed away on January 2, 2014 at a small tourism establishment [...]
January 3, 2014
Canadian Sailor’s Body Found in Seychelles Hotel
THE DEATH of a Halifax sailor while off duty in the Seychelles is being investigated.
The body of navy Lt. Andrew F. Webster was discovered Thursday in his hotel room in Victoria, the capital city of [...]
December 31, 2013
EUNAVFOR Force Commander Visits Seychelles Palais De Justice And Montagne Posée Prison During Port Call
During a recent port visit of the EU Naval Force flagship, FS Siroco, to The Seychelles, the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Hervé Bl& [...]
December 16, 2013
When Olga Fell in Love With Maersk
Sometimes it happens suddenly, lightning fast, with overwhelming force; sometimes it just simmers. One day is a look, a word another day, another day a gesture, and then suddenly you wonder, is this love? Today I woke up [...]
December 10, 2013
Introducing MONALISA 2.0 – Taking Maritime Transport into the Digital Age
MONALISA 2.0 is a European project including 39 partners from 10 countries. It is a Motorways of the Sea project which aims at giving a concrete contribution to the effic [...]
December 10, 2013
Captain Facing Piracy Charges in Togo; Plea for Compassion to Bury His Son
MPHRP Media Release
The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) has today on behalf of the unfortunate family of Captain Sunil James written to the President [...]
December 6, 2013
EUNAVFOR Op Atalanta Extended to 2016
REAR ADMIRAL Bob Tarrant, Operations Commander of the EU Naval Force Somalia (EUNAVFOR), has said that following a recent strategic review exercise, the EU has decided that “Operation Atalanta” would be ex [...]
December 3, 2013
EUNAVFOR Reaffirms Commitment To End Scourge Of Piracy
Office of the President of Seychelles Press Release
President James Michel met with Rear-Admiral Bob Tarrant, Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia (ATALANTA) at State H [...]
December 2, 2013
EUCAP Nestor Experts Receive Medals for Service
ON 2 December, three experts from the EUCAP Nestor team in the Seychelles were decorated with medals for their service to the mission.
The experts to receive the medals were Agatha Bouten, Court Administra [...]
December 1, 2013
Nine Suspected Pirates Transferred to Seychelles for Trial
THE SEYCHELLES Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that of Home Affairs have agreed to accept the transfer to Seychelles for prosecution of nine suspected Somali pirates captured on the high seas by t [...]
November 18, 2013
Captain Phillips: A true story of Somali piracy
Special premiere screening highlights Seychelles’ role in the fight against the scourge
THE MINISTRY of Home Affairs and Transport, in collaboration with Deepam Cinema, hosted the Seychelles premiere [...]
November 17, 2013
Global Piracy - an Overview of Recent Developments
PIRACY in high risk regions remains as threat and as a reminder for continued vigilance by merchant shipping and naval authorities alike. A brief overview of some developments over the last few weeks supp [...]
November 16, 2013
ReCAAP Piracy & Armed Robbery At Sea in Asia - October 2013
A TOTAL of 16 incidents, comprising of 15 actual incidents and one attempted incident, were reported in October 2013.
Of the 16 incidents, two were piracy incidents and 14 were robberies aga [...]
November 12, 2013
Exercise Cutlass Express 2013 Commences
By Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs
PORT VICTORIA, Seychelles (NNS) -- Maritime forces from the United States, 10 East African and two European nations, along with several i [...]
November 10, 2013
Danish Ship Attacked in the Indian Ocean, Suspect Pirates Detained
by Nicolas Gros-Verheyde
(B2) A Danish-flagged oil tanker, Torm Kansas, has been attacked in the middle of the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and the Seychelles Coast on Saturday, November 9 [...]
October 30, 2013
Spain Convicts 6 Somalis of Piracy, Arms Possession for Attack on Spanish Warship in 2012
Source: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADRID - Spain's National Court has convicted six Somalis of piracy and arms possession for attacking a Spanish warship in 2012 off the [...]
October 24, 2013
ReCAAP ISC 3rd Quarter Report on Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia
Source: ReCAAP ISC
ReCAAP ISC reports that there has been improvement in the piracy and armed robbery situation in Asia during January-September 2013 compared to the sa [...]
October 24, 2013
Seychelles Special Communiqué for a Special Evening
A premier and very special screening in the Seychelles of a new Hollywood block buster film based on real life events is to happen shortly. And for the Seychelles a ‘frontline’ state w [...]
October 24, 2013
Seychelles and Denmark Sign Host Nation Support Agreement
Source: Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Republic of Seychelles and the Kingdom of Denmark signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Host Nation Support (HNS) and its underlying T [...]
October 18, 2013
CTF 151 Apprehends Somali Pirates and Destroys Their Skiffs
Source: Combined Maritime Forces October 18, 2013
The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Counter Piracy task force, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, successfully apprehended a group of Soma [...]
October 17, 2013
Asia Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships - August 2013
Source: ReCAAP ISC
ReCAAP ISC reports a total of 12 incidents of robbery against ships in August 2013. No piracy incident was reported. All were actual incidents. The number of i [...]
October 14, 2013
Seychelles Welcomes Arrest of "Pirate Kingpin" Mohamed Abdi Hassan in Belgium
Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport PRESS RELEASE 14 October 2013
MR JOEL MORGAN, the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and as well in his capacity as [...]
October 14, 2013
"Loudmouth" Somali Pirate Kingpin Arrested in Belgium
ON SATURDAY morning, police at Brussels Airport arrested a Somali suspected of being the head of the group of pirates who had taken hostage in 2009, the crew of the Belgian ship "Pompeii" for more than [...]
October 11, 2013
Seychelles Government Transfers Convicted Somali Pirates: They Will Complete Sentences in Their Homeland
Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport PRESS RELEASE 11 October 2013
ON SATURDAY 5 October and Wednesday 9 October 2013 respectively, [...]
October 10, 2013
MPHRP Asks Cinema Goers to Remember That Captain Phillips is Based on a ‘Real Story’
MPHRP Press Release
We know that it is Hollywood, but as the new blockbuster, Captain Phillips, premieres around the globe, MPHRP asks movie goers to remembe [...]
October 9, 2013
SOMALIA: Seychelles Transfers Six Convicted Pirates to Puntland
Bosasso (RBC) SEYCHELLES AUTHORITIES on Wednesday transferred six convicted Somali pirates to the Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland, RBC Radio reports.
The six men were fl [...]
October 4, 2013
SEPEC Arms Its Tankers Against Pirates
THE INCLUSION of armed personnel on board fishing, transport or even passenger ships as a means of combating piracy in the Indian Ocean had long been a heated debate between nations and within the maritime community, [...]
October 3, 2013
Hijackers Sentenced By Seychelles Court After Action by Dutch Frigate, Van Amstel
Source: Netherlands MoD [Translated]
Eleven Somali pirates were sentenced by the Supreme Court of Seychelles to prison terms of between 18 months to 16 years. The hija [...]
September 26, 2013
EU & Seychelles Jointly Carry Out Search And Rescue Exercise
Press Release: Seychelles
ON 26 September, the Seychelles Peoples Defence Force, Coast Guard and Air Force, together with the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta [...]
September 24, 2013
UN Report on Transnational Organised Crime Released in Seychelles
Source: Seychelles Nation
THE latest report by the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC was officially launched in Seychelles yesterday, 23 Sep, and a copy was pres [...]
September 17, 2013
RAPPICC Transition to Seychelles Maritime Centre for Security and Transnational Crime in W Indian Ocean, Approved
Press Release Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport
THE Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Mr. Joël Morgan, in [...]
September 10, 2013
Spain sentences Somali pirates who tried to kidnap Basque fishermen
Source: thinkSpain
SPAIN'S National Court jailed six Somali pirates accused of trying to kidnap the crew on board a tuna-fishing boat from the Basque Country 11 months ago.
The Izu [...]
September 6, 2013
Prosecutors Complete Advocacy Training Delivered by UK High Commission and EUCAP NESTOR
Press Release by UK High Commission and EUCAP NESTOR
Last week a group of prosecutors successfully completed an advocacy training programme run jointly by two British [...]
September 3, 2013
ISPS: US Coast Guard Backs NIMASA on Ports Security
Source: NIMASA Press Release
The United States Coast Guard has declared that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is on the right path to the successful implementation of [...]
September 2, 2013
Seven Somali Pirates Jailed in Malaysia
Source: The Sun Daily
Three Somalia nationals were sentenced to 10 years' jail each, while four others to eight years imprisonment by the High Court here today after they pleaded guilty to firing at Malaysian soldi [...]
August 27, 2013
Asia Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships - July 2013
Source: ReCAAP ISC
ReCAAP ISC reports a total of 11 incidents comprising 10 actual incidents and one attempted incident of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in July 2013
[...]
August 22, 2013
Pirates Move Fishing Vessel Naham 3 To Somali Shoreline
Source: EUNAVFOR
Earlier today, Thursday 22 September [22 August], a Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft from EU Naval Force overflew the pirate controlled fishing vessel FV Naham 3 and observed that t [...]
August 17, 2013
Mauritius: 12 Somalis to be Tried for Piracy
Source: Afrique Jet
Port-Louis, Mauritius - Twelve Somali nationals arrested for alleged acts of piracy in January off their country's coast are to be tried 7-27 October in Mauritius, according to judiciary so [...]
August 8, 2013
Seychelles Investigation into Burnt Out & Abandoned Taiwanese Fishing Vessel Concluded
Source: Seychelles Police Communique
THE Seychelles Police and Seychelles Fire and Rescue Agency have concluded their investigation in the case [...]
August 7, 2013
Desperate Appeal by Families of MV Albedo Crew Still Held Hostage by Somali Pirates
Source: MPHRP
The 'unfortunate' families of the surviving crew of MV Albedo made an appeal on 14 July to the worldwide Somali community to put pressure on the c [...]
August 1, 2013
NATO Counter-Piracy Force Exercises With Seychelles Coast Guard
Source: NATO
Dutch Frigate HNLMS Van Speijk, part of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield, together with the Seychelles Coast Guard, conducted a maritime exercise this week foc [...]
July 30, 2013
PMSC Licensing Up and Running in Germany
Source: Dabelstein & Passehl
THE German Parliament has approved new legislation on the employment of private maritime security companies (PMSC) on German-flagged vessels.
The requirements are mai [...]
July 28, 2013
Spanish Navy's First UAV to Spy on Somali Pirates
By Esteban Villarejo of ABC Spain
The Skeldar V-200 by the Swedish company Saab is the first UAS (unmanned aircraft system) acquired by the Spanish Navy in service delivery contract (leasing), with the ob [...]
July 23, 2013
The Vigo Man, Leading the Fight Against Piracy in the Indian Ocean
Source: Atlantico [Spanish language]
NATO hopes on Admiral Eugenio Diaz del Rio Jáudenes in two operations of the high risks of piracy and terrorism.
On the one hand, in the [...]
July 22, 2013
ReCAAP Report on Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Incidents for 1st Half-Year 2013
Source: ReCAAP ISC
The overall situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia during the first half of 2013 has improved. A total of 57 incidents compri [...]
July 21, 2013
Aid Workers Freed in Somalia Arrive in Spain
Source: ABC (Spain)
Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut two MSF aid workers freed in Somalia yesterday, landed at four in the afternoon at the airbase of Torrejon de Ardoz in Spain, as confirmed by Doctors Wi [...]
July 18, 2013
The Pirate Business Model - Commander EU NAVFOR Comments
Source: Bruxelles2 Interviews Admiral Bob Tarrant of EUNAVFOR
While in Brussels, Rear Admiral Tarrant, Commander of the EU naval mission in Somalia (EUNAVFOR Atalanta), took a moment to answe [...]
July 18, 2013
Released; Two MSF Aid Workers Freed in Somalia
Original Source: MSF.org & MSF Spain [Spanish language]
Doctors Without Borders - Medicos Sin Fronteras (MSF) confirms the release of two Spanish aid workers Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebau [...]
July 18, 2013
Suspect Pirates Aim Weapons as EU Helicopter Overflies MV Albedo & FV Naham 3
Original source: eunavfor
EUNAVFOR confirmed that the Malaysian-flagged, MV Albedo, held by armed pirates at an anchorage close to the Somali coast since November 2010 [...]
July 14, 2013
Albedo Families ask Somalia Families for help to release their loved ones…
Source: MPHRP Media release
Indian, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka families sent out a joint message to the Somalia people living worldwide who can have influence on their clans [...]
July 14, 2013
Somali Pirates Are Biding Their Time, Major Maritime Security Briefing Hears
Original Source: Writer/Journalist/Broadcaster Mary Harper
“Somali pirates are ‘sleeping’, they have not gone away”, said Mary Harper, BBC Africa Editor, [...]
July 13, 2013
MV Myre Seadiver Russian Crew Case Update
A Nigerian court has postponed until October 8 the trial of the remaining seven of the 15 Russian sailors who were arrested near the West African country’s coast in October 2012 on arms smuggling charges.
I [...]
July 11, 2013
Crafting a Counter-Piracy Regime in the Gulf of Guinea
By James M. Bridger, Delex Systems Inc.
The winds of global piracy have shifted, as attacks by West African pirates now exceed those of their Somali counterparts. The Nigeria-based pirates may not ye [...]
July 10, 2013
The Big Business of the 'Fight' Against Piracy in Somalia
Source: Canalsolidario [Spanish Language]
On October 2, 2009, a group of pirates hijacked the tuna boat Alakrana Basque off the coast of Somalia. The ship and the crew, consisting of thirty-s [...]
July 7, 2013
Piracy May Be Reinvented After the Fall to Zero in Kidnappings
Source: Lavoz Digital [Orig Spanish Language]
THIRTEEN months and there has not been a hijack in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean areas where pirates operate. Military pressure, the presence [...]
July 7, 2013
Update: Pirate-Held MV Albedo is Sinking, Extreme Situation
Source: Lavos Digital [Orig Spanish Language]
"The depth of the bow and stern is further depressed and increasingly raising concerns. The pump cannot cope and increasingly more water is embarked [...]
July 5, 2013
Fire-Damaged Fishing Boat Reaches Port Victoria with 15 Crew Unaccounted
Source: Seychelles Police Press Release
The [Seychelles] Police have reported that a fishing vessel bearing the name of Chun-Ying, which reportedly caught fire on the 19 Ju [...]
July 4, 2013
Seychelles in Talks to Develop Somalia’s Blue Economy - 04.07.2013
Original source: Seychelles Nation
Seychelles is taking part in talks to help Somalia develop its fisheries sector, according to Home Affairs and Transport Minister Jo&eu [...]
July 4, 2013
Maritime Security Ops with France, Djibouti, Yemen and Saudi Arabia
Source: Combined Maritime Forces
Warships from six international navies are currently operating as part of the French led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), conducting mariti [...]
July 1, 2013
After the Pirates, Smugglers Claims EU Senior Commander
Source: Bruxelles2
The questions on the post-Atalanta operation have arisen. Speaking at the SecDef13, Rear Admiral Eric Dupont, Deputy Commander of EUNAVFOR Atalanta, looks bac [...]
June 29, 2013
Taiwanese Fishing Vessel Fire Sees Crew Missing After Abandon Ship
An alert was issued on 26 June when the owners of a Taiwan fishing vessel, Chun Ying, reported they had lost contact with their ship at 0110 local time. By the end of the day the report ch [...]
June 28, 2013
“Somali Money Transfer Services Disruption”
Press Release by Shuraako
Recently, some global financial institutions have announced that they will withdraw their support from Somalia’s money transfer (SMT) businesses, citing [...]
June 26, 2013
Australia Joins RAPPICC and signs with Seychelles on Cooperation to Prosecute Suspected Pirates
Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport Press Release
In the presence of the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Mr. Joël Morgan, th [...]
June 25, 2013
Salvage Tugs Reach Split-in-two Container Ship, MOL Comfort
Adapted from original source: gCaptain
The salvage of the stricken MOL Comfort is underway as tugboats arrive on scene to tow the sections of the container ship.
Approximately 1 week after the [...]
June 25, 2013
Chinese navy commander in talks with minister, defence chief - 25.06.2013
Source: Seychelles Nation
The chief commander of Escort Task Group 112, Chinese PLA Navy, Admiral Yuan Yubai, has held talks with the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport J [...]
June 23, 2013
Indian Coast Guard Ship Varuna Rescues Fishermen Left Stranded by Somali Pirates
Original Source: The Times of India
A fishing vessel with 16 crew, left stranded by Somali pirates, is rescued by the Indian Coast Guard ship, Varuna in rough weather condit [...]
June 23, 2013
EUNAVFOR Strengthens Cooperation With Mozambique
Source: eunavfor
Between 17- 21 of June 2013, the EU Naval Force Portuguese flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral, visited the port of Pemba in Mozambique. Given the strong relations that exist between [...]
June 23, 2013
Turkish Tanker, Nazo S, Ablaze in the Adriatic, 12 Crew Rescued
Original source: SeaNews Turkey
Turkish tanker NAZO S, with twelve crew onboard, at around 18:30 21 June, went up in flames. The fire, according to the first indicated information, came abou [...]
June 21, 2013
Maritime Security Operatives Qualification - City & Guilds, SCEG presentation at IMO
Source: 3RG Media Release
Last week, the UK delegation at IMO led a presentation by the UK’s Security in Complex Environments Group (SCEG) and Cit [...]
June 21, 2013
ReCAAP Piracy & Robbery Against Ships Report - May 2013
Source: ReCAAP
ReCAAP reports a total of four actual incidents of robbery against ships were reported in May 2013. No piracy incident was reported. Compared to the same month of 2012 (eigh [...]
June 18, 2013
Launch of Report on The Human Cost of Maritime Piracy 2012
Press Release: Oceans Beyond Piracy
A report highlighting latest details of the human cost of maritime piracy was released in London on Tuesda [...]
June 17, 2013
Chinese Navy Vessel Graces Port Victoria, Seychelles
Original Source: The Syechelles Nation- 17.06.2013
Chinese navy escort vessel CNS Harbin with over 300 crew members docked in Port Victoria yesterday morning, and will take part in the Seychelles [...]
June 14, 2013
ReCAAP, Piracy & Sea Robbery Conference 2013 - 'Counter Piracy: Challenges, Responses and Lessons Learned'
Source: ReCAAP
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre jointly organised the ReCAAP ISC Piracy & Sea Robbery Confe [...]
June 12, 2013
Where Are the Arrested Somali Pirates Held?
Original Source: ABC.es by Eduardo S. Molano (Twitter @ EDUARDOSMOLANO); Correspondent in Nairobi
Despite the media neglect, at present, nearly 1,200 buccaneers are being held in prisons i [...]
June 11, 2013
Re-opening of the Offshore Petroleum Prospective Acreage in Seychelles
Press Release Government of Seychelles
The Republic of Seychelles announced today the reopening of the offshore acreage for oil prospection. During the last two years, applicati [...]
June 7, 2013
Released pirate hostage: We got beaten up before contact with the Danish media
Source: Information DK [Danish Language]
The former hostage of the Danish ship [MV Leopard] held in Somalia, Captain Eddy Lopez, for the first time recounts his version of the [...]
June 6, 2013
Twelve Somali Pirates Prosecuted by the State of Mauritius
Source: French People Daily [French Language] 06.06.2013 at 13:55
Mauritius - Twelve Somalis arrested earlier this year off the coast of Somalia for alleged piracy are prosecuted by the Stat [...]
June 6, 2013
EU Warship Forces Pirates to Abandon Hijacked Dhow
Soure: EUNAVFOR
Fourteen Indian sailors are now safe, after pirates, who took control of their cargo vessel yesterday morning (5 June) in the Gulf of Aden, abandoned the attack hours later after EU [...]
June 6, 2013
An invitation on behalf of the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme www.mphrp.org
An exclusive charity screening of the hit movie
‘A HIJACKING’Friday 14th June5.30 - 8.30pmThe Athenaeum, Church Alley, L [...]
June 5, 2013
Peace and stability for inclusive growth for Africa says Seychelles President
Source: For Immediate Release
(Forimmediaterelease.net) “Peace and stability are the platforms on which we can build truly inclusive growth for Africa, and we salute th [...]
June 4, 2013
Piracy and Robbery Against Ships At Sea - April 2013
April Showings - Incidents of piracy, robbery at sea and in ports, whether successful or failures is widely reported. OCEANUSLive research and crowdsourced information brings those incidents together in [...]
June 3, 2013
British patrol vessel "escaped" port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife due to lack of supervision
Original Source: Cadenaser by Pedro Murillo [Spanish Language]
The detained British patrol vessel, Defender, fled Tenerife port early Friday
The Can [...]
May 31, 2013
What to do After Operation Ocean Shield?
Original Source: Bruxelles 2
What to do after Operation "Ocean Shield" in the Indian Ocean? The question arises within the Alliance.
Russian and NATO Italian Warships Meet Photo: Bruxelles2/NAT [...]
May 29, 2013
EUNAVFOR Portuguese Flagship, EUCAP NESTOR and Seychelles Coast Guard Working for Maritime Security
Source: EUNAVFOR
Whilst alongside Port Victoria in the Seychelles, naval staff from EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Flagship NRP Álvares Cabral and the [...]
May 28, 2013
[UPDATED] Pirates Kidnap Five Pakistani Crew off Nigeria
On the day that the release of four kidnapped crew of the German container ship, Hansa Marburg, is announced, Nigerian pirates attack and board an oil products tanker off the southern coast of Niger [...]
May 27, 2013
AU Summit Described As 'Victory for Seychelles'
Press Release: The Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles
Seychelles President James Michel has described African Union (AU) summit and its 50th anniversary in Addis Ababba, Ethiop [...]
May 26, 2013
Foreign Minister says Oceanic Resources Key to Africa’s FutureSource:
The [Seychelles] Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jean-Paul Adam, has called for a focus on the inclusion of Africa’s oceanic resources when planning for the future.
[...]
May 25, 2013
Four Crew Kidnapped from German-Operated Container Ship, Released by Nigeria Pirates
Original Source: Leonhardt & Blumberg of Hamburg
Shipmanagers Leonhardt & Blumberg of Hamburg, Germany operators of container vessel "HANSA MARBURG", is pleased [...]
May 21, 2013
EU to provide over €37 million to fight piracy in Eastern and Southern Africa
Source: European Commision Press Release
The EU will provide some €37 million to strengthen the fight against piracy in several Eastern and Southern African cou [...]
May 21, 2013
Somali Piracy Business Model and the 'Costs'
Original source: Op Ocean Shield (via Facebook)
The Somali piracy business model hinges on the ability to securely anchor hijacked ships along Somalia's coastline during negotiations for the release of cargo a [...]
May 19, 2013
Seychelles cells: The Somali pirates jailed in paradise
Source: BBC News By Anthony Denselow in Seychelles
There are more than 1,000 convicted Somali pirates in prisons around the world. Some of them end up in a UN-funded jail on the tiny island nat [...]
May 16, 2013
Fire Sees 6 Crew Killed, Japan
Original Source: World Huanqiu
According to Japan's "Yomiuri Shimbun" reported on May 16, at 1:00 in the morning, a Cambodian freighter, Taigan, moored in the port of Wakkanai, Hokkaido, Japan, caught fire. A total of six p [...]
May 16, 2013
ReCAAP Piracy & Robbery Against Ships Report - April 2013
Source: ReCAAP
A total of 14 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in April 2013, of which 13 were actual incidents and one was an attempted incident. Of the 1 [...]
May 14, 2013
Transfer of 8 Convicted Somali Pirates to Puntland
Source: Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport Press Release
As part of the continuing programme to return Somalis convicted of piracy in the Seychelles back to Somalia where they contin [...]
May 13, 2013
Five Kidnapped Crew Released Freed Unharmed by Nigeria Pirates
Original Source: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russian Language version)
The Russian Foreign Ministry website states, through the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry of [...]
May 13, 2013
3 Out of 10 Pirates Released Due to Lack of Evidence, Says Spanish Admiral
Source: Lainformacion.com (Spanish Language Translation)
The forces of the EU deployed in the Indian Ocean as part of Operation Atalanta are forced to release aroun [...]
May 13, 2013
For MV Leopard Crew, Finally, A Familiar Face...
Source: Shipcraft Press Release
Managing Director Claus Bech of Shipcraft has now visited the six seamen from MV Leopard, that were released on April 30. Their health is better than anticipated, they [...]
May 10, 2013
Seychelles Offers Support to Efforts to Rebuild Somalia - 09.05.2013
Source: Seychelles Nation
Seychelles has offered to support war-torn Somalia in its rebuilding efforts.[Our] offer was made on Tuesday, 7 May, before global partners seeking [...]
May 7, 2013
The International Somalia Conference - London
FINAL COMMUNIQUE
7 May, 2013
The Somalia Conference took place at Lancaster House in London on 7 May 2013, co-hosted by the UK and Somalia, and attended by fifty-four friends and partners of Somalia.
But [...]
May 6, 2013
International Meeting held on “Creating Economic Opportunities for Somalia”
Source: Shuraako & One Earth Foundation Press Release
On Thursday, May 2, 2013, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) and One Earth Fu [...]
May 4, 2013
Freed MV Leopard Hostages Meet Danish Soldiers
Source: Maritime Denmark
The Admiral Danish Fleet has published the first pictures of the Danish special forces who assisted the six released sailors from MV Leopard on the beach in Somalia.
Images have b [...]
May 2, 2013
UN Approves Funding to Support Anti-Piracy Efforts in Somalia and Affected States in the Region
Source: UNPOS
New York, 30 April 2013 – The United Nations Trust Fund for the Fight against Piracy today approved a package of projects in support of [...]
May 2, 2013
UN Secretary-General Appoints Nicholas Kay of United Kingdom as Special Representative in Somalia
Source:UNPOS
New York, 29 April 2013 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Nicholas Kay (United King [...]
April 30, 2013
MV Leopard Danish, Filipino Sailors Released in Somalia
Original Source: Shipcraft.dk
After more than two years of captivity, the six sailors who were kidnapped by Somali pirates in the hijacking of the Danish cargo ship MV Leopard in January 2011, relea [...]
April 30, 2013
SAF Dornier Aircraft Arrives
Press Release: The Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles
President James Michel, the Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles People's Defence Forces, attended the welcoming ceremony of the new Seychelles Ai [...]
April 29, 2013
ReCAAP Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Quarterly Report
Source: ReCAAP ISC
Among the 28 incidents reported in Asia during January-March 2013, three incidents involved robbers armed with guns and knives, and 10 incidents involved robber [...]
April 28, 2013
Container Ship Boarded by Pirates Off Nigeria, Further Five Crew Kidnapped
An Antigua & Barbuda-flagged, German-owned container ship was attacked and boarded by 14 heavily armed pirates off Nigeria which resulted in five crew members being kidnapped. [...]
April 28, 2013
Pirates an expensive business for shipowners
Source: SvD Corporate [Swedish Language Version]
Actions against pirates give shipping companies exorbitant additional costs. A single pass through the dangerous waters now costs about a million doll [...]
April 28, 2013
Seychelles and the European Union Reaffirm Their Commitment to Maritime Security
Press Release: The Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles
President James Michel received, on Thursday 25 April 2013, Admiral Jacques Launay, head of th [...]
April 25, 2013
RAPPICC Plays Key Role as Rapid Response Nets Major Drug Seizure in Mediterranean
Press Release: Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport
The newly-established Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecution Centre, RAPPIC [...]
April 20, 2013
Know Your Fishermen from Pirates in Horn of Africa HRA
Source: NATO Shipping Centre
NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) warns that it is imperative that merchant vessels remain vigilant at all times in transit and/or at anchorage and fully implement protecti [...]
April 17, 2013
Under-Reporting Blurs the Threat in the Gulf of Guinea
Original source: Soefartens Ledere (Danish Maritime Officers)
Somali pirate attacks quickly find their way into the news, the pirate attacks in the West African Gulf of Guinea are often not reported [...]
April 16, 2013
No Hiding Place For Suspect Pirates Says EUNAVFOR
Source: EUNAVFOR
Having joined the EU Naval Force just over a week ago, the crew from Swedish Ocean Patrol Vessel HSwMS Carlskrona has been busy conducting counter piracy patrols.
Pirates launch [...]
April 15, 2013
Australia Hands Over Combined Maritime Forces Task Force to French Partners
Source: CMF Bahrain
The Australian commander of one of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) task forces in the Middle East has handed over command to the French Marine Nationa [...]
April 15, 2013
'Insurance for kidnappings by pirates gives access to the best negotiators'
Source: FARO de Vigo (Spanish Language)
Having a special policy for cases of kidnapping is key, as insurers, to ensure that the problem is solved as soon as possible, someth [...]
April 12, 2013
UK Home Office guidance to applicants to possess firearms to protect UK registered ships
Source: Gov.UK
The UK Government Home Office provides the latest guidance for the authorisation process on the use of armed guards on UK registered ships.
The polic [...]
April 9, 2013
OBP Releases Updated Report on Economic Cost of Somali Piracy
Press Release
A report detailing the overall economic cost incurred worldwide from Somali piracy was launched in Denmark on Tuesday 9 April by Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP), a project of On [...]
April 7, 2013
Egypt Releases Weapons Ship After Investigation
Source: Reuters
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian authorities released a ship loaded with heavy weapons and its crew three days after they were seized for entering Egyptian territorial waters in the Red Sea, two s [...]
April 5, 2013
SPDF Officer's Assistance on Drug Seizure Commended
CMF Partnership Nets Positive Results
Press Release: Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport
A communiqué released by the Office of the Public Affa [...]
April 4, 2013
[UPDATE] Egypt seizes ship carrying arms, questions crew - Conflicting information
Source: Reuters/Israel International News
(Reuters) - Egyptian navy forces seized a ship carrying heavy weapons as it entered Egyptian territorial waters in the Red Sea la [...]
April 3, 2013
CMF Ship in Huge High-Seas Heroin Haul
Press Release
The multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) successfully disrupted a massive heroin shipment on Friday as part of a highly-focused counter-terrorism operation.
Canadian warship HMCS Toronto& [...]
April 2, 2013
Shuraako Spring Newsletter - Investing in Somalia
Shuraako are pleased to share their first edition of the Shuraako newsletter; a collection of updates, events, industry analyses, videos, and blog posts on investing in Somalia.
The newsletter includes de [...]
April 1, 2013
Brand New Tug Attacked by Pirates Off Singapore
Original source: Wort.lu
A vessel flying the Luxembourg flag has been attacked by pirates 50 nautical miles from Singapore.
According to the Luxembourg government, the Bourbon Liberty 308, an offshore anch [...]
March 28, 2013
Seychelles, Sri Lanka Expand Indian Ocean Co-operation
Source: Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Sri Lanka
Given the shared priorities and objectives, there is immense scope for collaboration between Sri Lanka and the Seychelles, and there is eve [...]
March 27, 2013
India has given Seychelles a maritime patrol aircraft for war against pirates
Source: iHLS
IN RECENT years, Somali pirates began operating further than the shores of Somalia. Most of the action has been moved to the East Indian Ocean region – Seych [...]
March 26, 2013
An Unlikely Alliance: Ukraine and NATO in the Battle Against Maritime Piracy
Original source: The Atlantic Council of Canada
Aaron Willschick examines the unlikely partnership between Ukraine and NATO on maritime piracy, but warns that the former Soviet [...]
March 25, 2013
Ghana to Commence Police Marine Academy
Source: SPY Ghana
by Emmanuel Opoku, Ellembelle
The Minister of the Interior, Kwesi Ahwoi, last Friday cut the sod for work to begin on administrative and academic blocks for the Marine Police Academy at Aiyi [...]
March 21, 2013
ReCAAP Piracy & Robbery At Sea Report - February 2013
Source: ReCAAP
A total of 12 incidents, comprising 11 actual incidents and one attempted incident, were reported in Asia in February 2013.
Of the 11 actual incidents, one was an incident of pirac [...]
March 21, 2013
Piracy, Private Security Companies and Best Management Practice on the Table at 27th SHADE Conference
Original Source: CMF
Representatives from 31 nations met in Bahrain on Tuesday to discuss the future of international anti-piracy operations i [...]
March 21, 2013
Aid Worker Kidnappings Rise, Fuelling Debate Over Ransoms
Source: IRIN News
LONDON, 21 March 2013 (IRIN) - Aid workers have experienced a rise in kidnappings over the past 10 years, from seven in 2003 to a high point of 95 in 2011, according to Humanitar [...]
March 20, 2013
French Frigate Courbet Trains Seychelles Coast Guard
Source: French Ministry of Defence
The French frigate Courbet, engaged in Operation Atalanta against piracy has led a training for the benefit of Seychelles coastguard.
Training Seychelle [...]
March 19, 2013
NATO Flagship Trains With Tanzanian Navy
NATO News Release
The NATO counter piracy flagship, ITS San Marco has held a successful training exercise with the Tanzanian navy. Last week, ITS San Marco was in Dar Es Salaam for a port visit and while there, to [...]
March 18, 2013
Herd Immunity
Source: Ince & Co | By Stepehn Askins
Under BMP, ships transiting the HRA off east Africa should register with MSCHOA and fill in a comprehensive registration form. A recent update from the military provided an interesting breakdown of [...]
March 18, 2013
Concern over West African piracy
Original source: Soefartens Ledere (Danish Maritime Officers)
Developments in piracy off West Africa worries Danish Maritime Officers. The organization calls on the equal protection of seafarers and ships as i [...]
March 18, 2013
West African piracy problem without solution
Original source: Soefartens Ledere (Danish Maritime Officers)
Pirate situation in the Gulf of Guinea is becoming very serious, and even though the international community has become aware of the problems, [...]
March 18, 2013
West Africa piracy can be divided into 4 types
Original source: Soefartens Ledere (Danish Maritime Officers)
As the pirates' declining success in the waters off the Horn of Africa, the focus is increasingly on the often very violent piracy in the [...]
March 18, 2013
Nigerian presidential elections in 2015 could escalate piracy
Original source: Soefartens Ledere (Danish Maritime Officers)
Militants, former rebels in Nigeria involved with piracy in the Gulf of Guinea support Nigeria's incumbent President Goo [...]
March 16, 2013
Piracy & Armed Robbery At Sea - February 2013
February Takings - The Horn of African/IOR continues to see less activity across the HRA , but West Africa has growing voilence and kidnap against seafarers. Asia incidents increased to 17, however, the ma [...]
March 15, 2013
Maritime Hotspots: Final Report
Source: Nederland Maritiem Land (Dutch Language version)
The Dutch maritime sector maintains excellent relationships with the major maritime regions in the world. Maritime knowledge is widely developed, and there is k [...]
March 11, 2013
The Project, World Premieres At Tribeca Film Festival
Source: Tribeca Film Festival
Featuring 21 narratives and 12 documentaries from across the globe, the Spotlight section of TFF 2013 focuses on films that blur the lines between independent and mainstr [...]
March 11, 2013
Pilot For ISO PAS 28007 (Maritime) Audit Takes Place
Press Release
The first two Private Maritime Security Companies begin the Pilot Audit of the ISO PAS 28007
London: Tuesday 12 March 2013: MSS Global, a UKAS Accredited Certification Body, has announ [...]
March 11, 2013
MT Smyrni and 26 Crew Released By Somali Pirates
The owners and managers of MT Smyrni are delighted to report that the MT Smyrni has been released after ten months in the captivity of Somali pirates.
MT Smyrni and 26 Crew Released by Pi [...]
March 11, 2013
Officers from Hijacked Ship “Esther C” Released by Nigerian Captors
Source: gCaptain
A spokesperson from Carisbrooke Shipping has reported today [11 March] that the 3 kidnapped officers from their cargo ship “Esther C,” have [...]
March 9, 2013
Tankers Royal Grace and Smyrni Released By Somali Pirates
In a largely unexpected move by Somali pirates, a double-release of hijacked tankers, Royal Grace and Smyrni, was announced. Both vessels are now heading for Salalah, Oman.
The ships and the 22 an [...]
March 9, 2013
EU Flagship Assists Released MT Royal Grace
Source: eunavfor
The EUNAVFOR flagship, ESPS Méndez Núnez, provided much-needed assistance to the crew of chemical tanker MV Royal Grace after the vessel was unexpectedly released by Somali pirate [...]
March 8, 2013
Five Indians freed from Somalian pirates’ captivity
Original Source: NDTV India
Five employees of Dubai-based 'Royal Grace' ship, who were held captive by Somali pirates for the last one year, have been released along with the remaining 17 crew, in [...]
March 8, 2013
Regional Maritime Safety Against the Threat of Piracy - 08/03/2013
Source: Seychelles Nation (French Language)
The first meeting of Focal Points Program Maritime Safety (MASE) East and South Africa held in Seychelles.
Representatives of countries i [...]
March 8, 2013
Keeping Somali Pirates away from a ‘Floating Bomb’
Source: Soldier of Fortune Magazine featuring V Montgomery
From a mariner safety standpoint, it simply is unacceptable if even one LPG carrier is threatened with an RPG [by pirates] [...]
March 7, 2013
Region seeks closer synergy against piracy - 07.03.2013
Source: Seychelles Nation
Representatives of Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) countries will hold their first regional piracy focal point meeting in Seychelles today and tomorrow.
The mee [...]
March 7, 2013
Puntland justice minister happy with Seychelles’ handling of Somali prisoners - 07.03.2013
Source: Seychelles Nation
Puntland Minister for Justice Abdikalif Sheik Hassan has expressed his government’s appreciation in the way Seychelles i [...]
March 5, 2013
ReCAAP Piracy & Armed Robbery At Sea - January 2013
Source: ReCAAP
There has been an improvement in the armed robbery situation in Asia in January 2013. A total of seven incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in January 2013.
Compare [...]
March 2, 2013
Pirates May Still Be At Large
Back in mid-December 2012, it was reported that the Danish-flagged MV Torm Kristina was sailing to Muscat, Oman, in order to perform a quick logistical port visit, when she was approached by 2 suspect pirate skiffs. The MV wa [...]
March 2, 2013
EU Flagship Boards Suspected Pirate Vessel of Interest
Original source: eunavfor
On 27 February 2013, during a patrol in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta flagship , ESPS Ménd [...]
March 1, 2013
German Accreditation of PMSC - New Deadline 1 December 2013
Several things happened in the field of German accreditation of Private Maritime Security Companies since December last year, writes Michael Karschau.
First, and most decisive: The deadline for [...]
February 28, 2013
Pirates sentenced to long-term imprisonment 28 February, 2013
Source: Pak Tribune via OCEANUSLive
Islamabad: A court in the Seychelles has convicted and handed down long prison sentences to four pirates, accused of taking Pakistani fisher [...]
February 27, 2013
NATO and Russian Federation in Counter Piracy Exercise At Sea
NATO News Release
A boarding team comprising Italian marines from the NATO flagship ITS San Marco, in charge of Operation Ocean Shield, and assault forces of the Russian Federation ship Severo [...]
February 27, 2013
Sri Lankan Illegal Fishing Vessels To Arrive in Mauritius Port Thursday
Source: The Independent Daily (Mauritius)
The fight against illegal invasion of Mauritian waters was stepped up after two Sri Lankan vessels were found illegally fishing in the Nazar [...]
February 26, 2013
Six Sailors Seized off Nigeria Released - Moscow
Original Source: RIA Novosti
Six sailors including a Russian national seized off the Nigerian coast two weeks ago have been released and will soon go home, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
&n [...]
February 26, 2013
New anti-piracy coordination centre opens - 26.02.2013
Source: Seychelles Nation
Seychelles’ leadership role in the fight against piracy got a major boost yesterday with the official launch of a new coordination centre based at the site [...]
February 26, 2013
CTF 150 Commander Visits Seychelles
Source: CMF
Commodore Charles McHardie visited the Seychelles recently as part of a regional engagement program to improve maritime security in the Combined Maritime Forces operational area.
CDRE McHardie [...]
February 25, 2013
Nine Suspected Pirates Transferred To Seychelles by Dutch Warship
Original Sources: eunavfor/Seychelles Nation
EU Naval Force frigate HNLMS De Ruyter transferred nine suspected pirates to the Seychelles authorities for prosecution 25 Feb.
EU Dut [...]
February 25, 2013
Anti-Piracy Centre Open for Business in Seychelles
Source: GOV.UK
Foreign Office Minister, Alistair Burt, today [25 Feb] welcomed an important milestone in the fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Alistair Burt, UK Foreign Office Mini [...]
February 22, 2013
Counting the Cost of Piracy in 2012 - Infographic
Infographic Source: IHS Safety At Sea
Following the release of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) annual piracy report for 2012, IHS Safety at Sea Magazine has put together an infographic to sho [...]
February 22, 2013
Russian seamen, seized by pirates off Nigeria’s coast, safe and sound
Source: The Voice of Russia
The Russian seamen, who have been taken hostage by sea pirates off the coast of Nigeria, are alive and kicking.
The abductors demand a ransom, [...]
February 22, 2013
Kidnapped Ukrainians freed from Nigerian pirates, says Foreign Ministry
Source: NRCU.gov.ua
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reports the release from captivity of three Ukrainian citizens captured by pirates off the coast of Nigeria.
The ministry’s [...]
February 22, 2013
Survey > Reputation Management in Private Maritime Security Sector
As discussion continues in the Private Maritime Security sector over the Rules for the Use of Force, the issue of Reputation Management is also being explored.
Image: Courtes [...]
February 20, 2013
Piracy & Armed Robbery At Sea - January 2013
January Sails - The Horn of African/IOR maintained a low register of activity across the HRA throughout January. West Africa has seen a spread of incidents beyond Nigeria and immediate neighbouring states w [...]
February 19, 2013
EU Dutch Warship De Ruyter Apprehends Nine Suspected Pirates
Source: eunavfor
HNLMS De Ruyter, on 19 February, stopped the activities of a group of suspected pirates approximately 120 nautical miles east of Eyl off the coast of Somalia. Nine suspected pi [...]
February 19, 2013
[UPDATED] Tug Attacked off Nigeria, Six Crew Reported Kidnapped
Original Source: Fleetmon.com
Armada Century-managed offshore tug was attacked off Brass, Nigeria. Six crew were reported kidnapped.
An offshore tug Orcus reportedly intercepted VHF distres [...]
February 18, 2013
Seychelles Coastguard and Judiciary in Anti-Piracy Exercise - 18.02.2013
Source: Seychelles Nation
The Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) and the Judiciary, supported by EUCAP NESTOR, carried out a joint exercise at the weekend on combating piracy i [...]
February 17, 2013
UK Peers warn sea security firms must be accountable
Source: BBC Democracy Live
Guidelines for private security firms guarding ships against pirates must be made clearer or people will get into "very, very serious difficulties" by breaking international [...]
February 15, 2013
Nigerian Supply Ship Attacked off Nigeria; 2 Crew Kidnapped
WALVIS-7, a Nigeria-flagged offshore supply ship of the Nigerian company Sea Tracks Group, was attacked by the pirates near Bonny River, Nigeria on 10 Feb. The Master and Chief Engineer were repo [...]
February 15, 2013
Somali pirates appeal Japan jail sentence
Source: AFP/Global Post
Two men who attempted to hijack a Japanese tanker off the coast of Oman have appealed against their 10 year jail sentence, reports said Friday.
The two Somali nationals, who were convicte [...]
February 14, 2013
UK Admiral Takes Over NATO’s New Maritime Command
Source: NATO News Release
Earlier today [Feb 14], Vice Admiral Peter Hudson CBE (UK Royal Navy), took over command of the NATO Maritime Headquarters during a brief ceremony in Northwood, Londo [...]
February 14, 2013
Turkish Parliament Extends Mandate of Turkish Naval Ships in Gulf of Aden
Source: TIMETURK / News Center
Turkish parliament approved Tuesday [Feb 6] a government motion extending for one more year the mandate of Turkish Naval ships to [...]
February 13, 2013
Children and Youth in Marine Piracy: Causes, Consequences and the Way Forward
Source: Childsoldiers.org
According to the Failed States Index Data 2011, created by the Fund for Peace Organization, 6 countries most affected by piratical activity fall withi [...]
February 11, 2013
Maritime Piracy: Strengthening the EU Response (Ten/496)
Source: European Economic and Social Committee by Dr Bredima
On 12 July 2012, the European Economic and Social Committee, acting under Rule 29(2) of its Rules of Procedure, decided to dra [...]
February 8, 2013
West Africa Pirates Kidnap 3 From UK Ship
Original Source: Herald Sun
PIRATES off the coast of Nigeria and Cameroon have attacked a ship and kidnapped three sailors in the increasingly dangerous waters of the Gulf of Guinea.
MV Esther C Attacked [...]
February 8, 2013
ReCAAP: Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia - Annual Report 2012
Source: ReCAAP
There has been a marked improvement in the situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia in 2012.
A total of 132 incidents (123 actual and nine att [...]
February 7, 2013
MV Blida Crew Wins in Somali Pirate Ship Case
Source: AllAfrica
THE stranded crew of an Algerian ship, MV Blida, have obtained a court order stopping the owners from receiving payment from its sale.
MV Blida Crew Win Against Shipowners. Photo: S [...]
February 6, 2013
One Dead in Another Tanker Attack Off Nigeria
Original Source: Maritime Executive
One Filipino crewman has been fatally shot by a Nigerian pirate aboard the chemical tanker, PYXIS DELTA.
Pyxis Delta Attacked - Photo: MarineTraffic.com
T [...]
February 5, 2013
A New Start for Released Hostages
Source: UNPOS
Mogadishu, 04 February 2013 - “It was truly like being born again. We had given up hope and suddenly we were brought back to life,” one of the surviving crew members of the MV ICEBERG 1 sa [...]
February 4, 2013
Another Tanker Hijacked Off Ivory Coast
Original Source: gCaptain
A French-owned tanker with 17 crew members that went missing off Ivory Coast over the weekend has been confirmed by port officials from the port of Abidjan to have been hijacked.
MT [...]
February 1, 2013
Re-examining the Gulf of Guinea: Fewer Attacks, Better Pirates
By James M. Bridger, Delex Systems Inc.
Along with the release of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB)’s 2012 piracy report come the onslaught of analysts seeking to explain why the [...]
February 1, 2013
Somali pirates’ hearing begins 7 February
Original source: The Independent Daily
12 suspect Somali pirates appeared in Mauritius Intermediary Court on Thursday.
Somali pirates' hearing begins Feb 7 - Photo: Independent Dail [...]
January 30, 2013
NATO and CHINA: Cooperation off the Horn of Africa
NATO Press Release
On Monday, Rear Admiral Antonio Natale, commander of NATO’s counter piracy task force played host to the commander of the Chinese task force, Rear Admiral Li Xiaoyan on board the [...]
January 29, 2013
Seychelles Vice President Calls on Africa to Continue to Combat Piracy & Bring Stability to Somalia 29 January 2013
Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release
Speaking at the 20th Assembly of the African Union, Seychelles Vice Pr [...]
January 29, 2013
Somali pirates in Mauritius court on Thursday
Source: The Independent Daily
The [Mauritius] police inquiry of the 12 Somali pirates will take a new turn this week as the suspects will be assigned lawyers to aid in their interrogation.
[...]
January 28, 2013
12 Somali pirates temporarily charged in Mauritius
Source: The Independent Daily
THE 12 Somali pirates were temporarily charged with ‘committing act of piracy in high seas, armed with offensive weapons’ under the Piracy and Maritime Violence [...]
January 27, 2013
90,000 Euros in compensation paid after acquittal in 2008 du Ponant hijack case
Original Source: 20 Minutes (French language) by Vincent Vantighem
JUSTICE - Acquitted last June, two Somalis were granted 90,000 euros in compensation for having s [...]
January 26, 2013
Kidnappers release 5 Indians taken in Nigeria
Source: AFP
LAGOS — The five Indian crew members of an oil tanker who were kidnapped last month after heavily armed pirates stormed their vessel off Nigeria's coast have been released, their employer sa [...]
January 25, 2013
Piracy & Robbery At Sea Incidents - December 2012
Continuing the overall downward trend in pirate attacks and robbery at sea across all HRAs over the last quarter of 2012, December reports indicate that one hijack and twenty attacks and robberies occu [...]
January 25, 2013
Germany Takes Command of NATO Group
NATO Press Release
Yesterday, 24 January 2012, after a successful year as Commander of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) Commodore Ben Bekkering (Royal Netherlands Navy) handed over command of the Group to [...]
January 24, 2013
Mauritius: Trial of 12 Somali Pirates Opens Friday
Source: Afrique Jet
Justice Mauritius - The trial opens in Port-Louis on Friday of 12 Somali pirates captured by US forces on 5 January, official sources told PANA on Wednesday In Port-Louis.
[...]
January 24, 2013
Governments Should Not Shirk From Piracy Protection For Mariners, Warns Union
Source: Nautilus International
Nautilus International has welcomed a reported global fall in piracy for 2012, but cautions that attacks on seafarers in Indone [...]
January 23, 2013
Ex-pirates launch anti-piracy campaign
Source: Bar Kulan
A group of former pirates in central Somalia regions have launched an anti-piracy campaign in their regions in order to pursue colleagues still in the field to renounce piracy and give up their a [...]
January 23, 2013
Gunmen Release Hijacked Tanker After Siphoning $5 Million in Cargo
Source: Maritime Executive
Gunmen, who hijacked a fuel-laden tanker off Ivory Coast, have released the vessel today after stealing about $5 million of the ship’s cargo.
[...]
January 21, 2013
Ivory Coast: ITRI oil tanker 'seized off Abidjan'
Sources: BBC News/OCEANUSLive Correspondent
Armed men have seized an oil tanker off Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, officials say. The Panamanian-flagged vessel, ITRI, was attacked as it prepared to dep [...]
January 21, 2013
Seychelles Minister Morgan Meets Danish Naval Forces Team
Source: Seychelles Nation
Existing bilateral cooperation against piracy between Seychelles and Denmark got a boost last week with the visit of a high level delegation from the Royal Danish [...]
January 17, 2013
IMO, shipping industry bodies urge continued application of anti-piracy measures
Source: IMO.org
The International Maritime Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO, the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), the Inte [...]
January 17, 2013
Global Punishment For Somali Piracy
Source: Combined Maritime Forces
Just as piracy is not a victimless crime then neither is the criminal gifted with impunity as the last month has seen a number of successful advances in piracy prosecution around the wo [...]
January 15, 2013
Two Somali Pirates Admit to Charges in Japan's First Piracy Case
Source: The Peninsula (Qatar)
TOKYO: Two men accused of the attempted hijacking of a tanker off the coast of Oman admitted their crimes in a court on Tuesday, reports said, in the fir [...]
January 13, 2013
Somali pirates release Syrian hostages after two years
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - Somali pirates have released three Syrian hostages held in captivity since 2010 without payment of any ransom, government officials said on Saturday.
The three were [...]
January 9, 2013
Pirate Horizons in the Gulf of Guinea
By James M. Bridger
This article, published via OCEANUSLive, is the second installment of a three part series on the evolution of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. The initial background piece can be found here, while an [...]
January 9, 2013
MSC Jasmine slightly damaged in pirate attack - 12 pirates captured
On Jan 5, 2013, the "MSC Jasmine" was attacked by Somali pirates while enroute between Salalah-Mombasa. Twelve suspected pirates were detained.
A merchant ship was attacked by a pirate [...]
January 9, 2013
Trial of 11 alleged pirates begins - 09.01.2013
Original Source: Seychelles Nation
The trial began on Monday of 11 suspected Somali pirates who were arrested by the Dutch Navy on high seas after they allegedly fired a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) [...]
January 7, 2013
First-Ever Greek-Built Satellite To Track Shipping To Be Launched 2013
Source: isxys Blog [Greek language]
Lambdasat: The first Greek satellite, built by Greeks, will launch in the summer of 2013 from Cape Canaveral with a "donation" from NASA. [...]
January 6, 2013
Void, Evade, Avoid - East Africa Piracy Overview & Information Sharing
Featured in the latest edition of the VIOAS magazine (The Voice of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea) established by Sir James R. Mancham, Chairman of Mahe Publications Ltd [...]
January 4, 2013
Seychelles President’s New Year visit to the L’Exile army camp - 04.01.2013
Original Source: Seychelles Nation
During his traditional New Year visit to the different units of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, President James [...]
January 4, 2013
‘We must be a step ahead in the fight against piracy’ - 04.01.2013
Original Source: Seychelles Nation
As a business model, piracy is too lucrative to give up completely and countries countering the scourge should always be one step [...]
January 2, 2013
Shipping industry urged to boost security against piracy, armed robbery
Source: SeamanOnlinePHClub (Facebook)
For the year 2013, the shipping industry should continue to boost efforts to counter piracy and armed robbery, which will continue to [...]
December 30, 2012
Belgian frigate Louise-Marie arrests three alleged pirates
Original Source: Belgian Ministry of Defence
On Thursday 27 December at 11:30 local time (8:30 Belgian time), the Belgian frigate Louise-Marie again intercepted a skiff and three suspected [...]
December 26, 2012
Djibouti A Base, Two Bases, Bases
Original Source: Burxelles2 By Nicolas Gros-Verheyde
In Djibouti, there is, of course, the ancestral French base, and more recently, the US base, camp Lemonnier. Americans are increasing their p [...]
December 26, 2012
Belgium involves Seychelles more in anti-piracy drive - 24.12.2012
Source: Seychelles Nation
A Seychellois coastguard will soon board Belgian frigate Louise-Marie for a month and learn how that country’s forces deal with piracy and relat [...]
December 24, 2012
Four Kidnapped Following Nigerian Pirate Attack
Four sailors have been kidnapped off the coast of Nigeria’s oil-rich southern delta, writes the Washington Post.The International Maritime Bureau said the kidnapping happened Sunday night on an offshor [...]
December 24, 2012
MPHRP Welcomes Release of Crew of Iceberg 1 - 24 December 2012
The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) and its partners in the industry-wide coalition established to assist seafarers and their families with the humanitarian aspect [...]
December 23, 2012
UPDATED: Puntland Forces Safely Rescue 22 Hostages of MV Iceberg 1
Puntland Government Press Release 23 December 2012
Original Source: Laasqoray Net
Puntland government forces conducting a humanitarian rescue operation have safely rescued 22 hostag [...]
December 20, 2012
Piracy and Armed Robbery At Sea Incidents - November 2012 (Updated)
During November, global piracy-related incidents numbered 32 across all the high risk areas (HRA), according to OCEANUSLive aggregated records.
Asia, once again, saw the majority of at [...]
December 20, 2012
'Hijacked' North Korea-Flagged Ship Returning to Bosasso Port
Source: AllAfica
Bossaso, Somalia — An impounded North Korean ship captured dumping cement into Puntland waters last month, was hijacked and is heading back to Bossaso port, Garowe Onlin [...]
December 19, 2012
Soldiers turn hijackers of N.Korea ship in Somali port
Original source: Reuters
NAIROBI, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A dozen soldiers guarding a North Korean ship impounded in Somalia's autonomous Puntland region for maritime violations have hijacked the vessel a [...]
December 19, 2012
U.S. drones suspended flight to Djibouti
Source: BRUXELLES2, exclusive by Nicolas Gros-Verheyde
The dozen U.S. drones (Predator and Reaper) based at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti were banned from flying in the small republic in the Horn of Afric [...]
December 17, 2012
Somalia: Puntland on Humanitarian Rescue Op to Free Suffering Hostages from Pirates
Source: Garowe Online Press Release 15 December 2012
Puntland Government’s anti-piracy force the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) is attempting [...]
December 17, 2012
Naval Security Guard Killed in Pirate Attack Off Nigeria
Original source: Sea-Web
A FIERCE firefight between pirates and security guards off the coast of Nigeria has left one man dead and two wounded.
PM Salem Attacked By Pirates Photo: Sh [...]
December 16, 2012
UPDATED: NATO Warship Iver Huitfeldt Frees Danish Ship After Pirate Attack
Source: NATO Press Release
Late yesterday [15 Dec], the Danish MV Torm Kristina was sailing to Muscat, Oman, in order to perform a quick logistical port visit, when she [...]
December 16, 2012
Belgian Warship Arrests Five Suspect Pirates Off Somali Coast
Original source: RBTFInfo
The Belgian navy frigate "Louise-Marie", participating for the third time in the European operation Atalanta against piracy in Somalia, on Satuday [15 Dec] after [...]
December 12, 2012
Greece to prosecute first maritime piracy case with evidence gathered by Interpol team
Source: The Sofia Globe
Evidence gathered by an Interpol Incident Response Team (IRT) following the release of the hijacked oil tanker Irene SL in April 2011 is to be [...]
December 12, 2012
Malaysia Maritime Enforcement nab eight pirates looting ship
Source: The Star
JOHOR BARU (11.12.12): Eight pirates were arrested by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) while they were in the midst of robbing a ship off the coast of Tanj [...]
December 4, 2012
East African military officers discuss peace support operations - 04.12.2012
Source: Seychelles Nation
Officers of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) are joining military officials from several states of the region this week f [...]
December 4, 2012
Doing more with less, what next for Maritime Security?
Contributor: Paul Gibbins - PGC Global
This month witnessed the first transit of a Russian LNG vessel via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) from Norway to Japan. This kind of vessel, capable of a ca [...]
December 3, 2012
Transfer of Somali Prisoners From Seychelles To Somaliland And Puntland
Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport Press Release 3.12.2012
The first of two transfer flights of Somali prisoners back to Somaliland and Puntland successfully too [...]
December 1, 2012
South Korean Sailors Released By Somali Pirates After Ransom Paid
Source: AFP/News Republic
Four South Korean sailors held hostage by Somali pirates for nearly 19 months were freed Saturday, Seoul's foreign ministry said after a ransom was reportedly pai [...]
December 1, 2012
Higher Standards of Private Security – How The ISO Will Benefit The Seafarer
Source: PGC Global - Paul Gibbins
The International Standards Organisation (ISO) will present its draft standard for the selection and use of Armed Guards on commercial ve [...]
November 30, 2012
Italian court sentences eight Somali pirates
Source: AFP
An Italian court on Friday sentenced eight Somali pirates to between 16 and 19 years in prison for attempting to hijack an Italian-flagged cargo ship in 2011 after one of Europe's biggest piracy tr [...]
November 30, 2012
Armed Guards Seen by EU Navy Contributing to Somali Piracy Drop
Source: Bloomberg By Michelle Wiese Bockmann
Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Pirates attacks on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean fell 81 percent this year as the u [...]
November 29, 2012
Belgium wants to allow private guards; Unions and military reluctant
Courtesy of: Bruxelles2
The project of the Belgian government to allow private military companies on board merchant vessels transiting through the Indian Ocean does not [...]
November 29, 2012
Seychelles Court Sentences 3 Pirates to 21 Years in Prison
Original Source: Seychelles Nation
Seychelles police have reported that three Somalis that were being held, were tried in court and sentenced to 21 years in prison each for pirate activity. [...]
November 25, 2012
Somali pirates sentenced to five years hard labour
Source: Lexpressmada.com (French language original) - 19.11.12
Fourteen Somali pirates arrested and detained temporarily in Antsiranana prison since March 5, 2011, were tried by the Criminal C [...]
November 25, 2012
Combined Task Force 151 pledges greater cooperation with SPDF
Source: Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release
The Commander of Combined Task Force 151 , Rear Admiral Oguz Karaman, and his delegation met the Principal Secretar [...]
November 25, 2012
Indian naval ship on surveillance mission - 24.11.2012
Source: Seychelles Nation
Indian naval ship INS Brahmaputra, a guided missile destroyer of the Indian navy, has been undertaking exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surveillance off Seychelles s [...]
November 23, 2012
We must isolate piracy's ringleaders and financiers, says UNODC Chief as counter-piracy mission ends in Mauritius
Source: UNODC Press Release
Counter-piracy mission reinforces regional cooperation, but future work is to focus on Somalia by working with l [...]
November 23, 2012
Vietnam Arrests 11 Pirates on Hijacked Malaysian Vessel
Source: Channel News Asia
KUALA LUMPUR: Vietnamese authorities have arrested 11 suspected pirates aboard a chemical tanker after the first such hijacking in the waters around Malaysia in years [...]
November 21, 2012
Combined Maritime Forces Interdicts Suspected Pirate Skiff
Source: CMF (CTF 151)
Turkish Navy warship TCG Gemlik, the flagship of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) has successfully interdicted a sus [...]
November 20, 2012
Coordination helps achieve counter piracy results
Source: Op OceanShield (Facebook)
Counter piracy operations around the Horn of Africa are an international effort and are helped by good co-operation and co-ordination, says NATO's Commodore Ben Bekkering [...]
November 19, 2012
Piracy & Robbery At Sea Incidents - October 2012
A round up of piracy and robbery at sea incidents occurring during October 2012. In total, 25 incidents were reported.
West Africa grabbed the piracy front pages in October. Hijack for oil cargo is one [...]
November 16, 2012
Head of UNODC visits Montagne Posée Prison where Pirates are held
Source: Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport And Ministry of Foreign Affairs Joint Press Release
The Executive Director of the United Nations [...]
November 16, 2012
UNODC Chief Meets Seychelles' President on Counter Piracy Mission Tour of East Africa VICTORIA, Mahé, November 16, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)
Source: PR Newswire
UNODC Chief meets Seychelles' President, visits prison on f [...]
November 16, 2012
NATO Fights Somali Piracy Nearer the Coast
Source: Op Ocean Shield (Facebook)
This week, the ships of NATO’s counter piracy task force have been busy visiting local and regional mariners. Using their rigid hull inflatable boats, boarding teams from [...]
November 16, 2012
UN Secretary General Visit to Seychelles Unfortunately Cancelled
Source: Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets to inform that the planned visit of the United Nations Secretary General, H.E Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, [...]
November 15, 2012
First Visit of UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon to Seychelles 15.11.12
Source: Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release
The Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the unique pleasure of announcing the first visit of the Secretary [...]
November 7, 2012
Somalis who ‘fired rockets at a ship for fun’ jailed - 07.11.2012
Source: Seychelles Nation
The Supreme Court presided over by judge Mohan Burhan on Monday found 15 Somalis guilty of piracy and jailed them for up to 18 years.
Mr B [...]
November 7, 2012
Seychellois Fishermen Were Liberated, Not Just Freed’ - 07.11.2012
Source: Seychelles Nation
Seychellois fishermen Rolly Tambara and Marc Songoire who were held in Somalia by pirates were liberated – not just freed – and no r [...]
November 6, 2012
Pirates who fired weapons at Dutch marines are to stand trial in the Netherlands
Original Source: Netherlands MoD
Four Somalis are set to be tried for piracy and violence against Dutch troops. The suspects arrived at Eindhoven Air Base, in the Neth [...]
November 5, 2012
Two Former Hostages Return To Seychelles
Source: Office of the President of Seychelles - Press Release
The two Seychellois former hostages, Rolly Tambara and Marc Songoire, have arrived safely in Seychelles, and were greeted by President James Mich [...]
November 4, 2012
Seychellois Hostages Freed After Year Held By Pirates
Original Source: Office of the President of the Seychelles Press Release
The Office of the President of Seychelles has confirmed that, following extensive efforts by President James Michel, Mr. [...]
November 2, 2012
Cutlass Express 2012 Kicks-Off Throughout East Africa
Source: US Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Sailors and civilian maritime professionals from eight nations officially kicked-off exercise C [...]
November 1, 2012
Innovative Global Initiative, ‘Shuraako,’ Launched to Create Jobs and Economic Growth in Somalia
Source: Shuraako.org Press Release
COLORADO, USA – November 1, 2012 – An innovative initiative was launched today in Colorado, USA, t [...]
November 1, 2012
Kidnapped Crewmembers of Bourbon Liberty 249 Released In Nigeria
Source: Bourbon
BOURBON confirms that the seven crew members, 6 Russians and 1 Estonian, abducted during the boarding of the Bourbon Liberty 249 off the coast of Nigeria, on October 1 [...]
October 31, 2012
First Italian Judgment in a piracy Case: Public Prosecutor of Rome Condemns Four Somali Pirates
Source: Il Denaro
For some years piracy has once again become a global problem. Concentrated in Somali waters, pirates are a serious threat to inter [...]
October 30, 2012
Experts seek to cut flow of money from piracy
Source: Seychelles Nation
Experts from the region and beyond are discussing possible ways of stopping the flow or laundering of money from piracy, in the first such workshop to be organised by the Indian Ocea [...]
October 24, 2012
Dutch Warship in Firefight With Pirates in Dhow and From Somali Shoreline [UPDATED]
Original source: Netherlands Defense
A boarding team from HNLMS Rotterdam was reported to have been shot at twice during the NATO mission off Somalia. Gunfire is ex [...]
October 22, 2012
EU German Warship Rescues Iranian Dhow From Suspected Pirates (Suspected Pirates Released) - UPDATED
Source: EUNAVFOR
On Saturday, 20 October, the EU NAVFOR German frigate FGS Sachsen located a dhow after receiving a distress signal, saved 20 Iranian sai [...]
October 20, 2012
MV Orna Released After Nearly 2 Years Held By Pirates [UPDATED]
Original Source: AP
A pirate commander in Somalia says that a cargo ship, MV Orna, was freed after being held captive for nearly two years. Six crew remain in captivity.
MV Or [...]
October 16, 2012
Seychelles Counter-Piracy Efforts Commended in New York
Seychelles Office of the President Press Release
The role of international collaboration in the fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa as well as the remarkable example of Seychelles [...]
October 16, 2012
Nigerian pirates demonstrate range with attack off Ivory Coast
Source: IMB
Maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is not a new phenomenon and in many ways has been over shadowed by Somali piracy in recent years. A recent attack in the region illustrates a [...]
October 14, 2012
Piracy & Robbery At Sea Incidents - September 2012
Piracy and Robbery at Sea in September saw a rise in incidents in South East Asia, whilst the monsoon-hit East Africa remained relatively incident free until the latter part of the month. West Af [...]
October 13, 2012
NATO Shipping Centre Appeals For Merchant Shipping Support in Identifying HRA Local Ships
NATO Shipping Centre has made an appeal to the merchant community for any and all information reports on local shipping that may be considered suspicious activity in [...]
October 12, 2012
MV Free Goddess Released By Somali Pirates - UPDATED
Sources: gCaptain & Reuters
Somali pirates have released the M/V Free Goddess that has been held hostage since being hijacked in the Arabian Sea back in February, Tradewinds News has repo [...]
October 12, 2012
NATO Warship Rotterdam Intercepts Suspect Pirate Skiff
Source: Netherlands Ministry of Defence (Dutch Language)
Dutch warship HNLMS Rotterdam, on the morning of 11 Oct, put an end to the activities of a group of suspected pirates from Somalia. The [...]
October 11, 2012
EU Italian Warship Quickly Captures Pirate Skiff
Source: EUNAVFOR
Last night [10 Oct] EU Naval Force flagship, ITS San Giusto stopped and apprehended a skiff with 7 suspect pirates onboard.
EU Italian warship disrupts pirate skiff - Ph [...]
October 10, 2012
A Comprehensive Approach For Maritime Security
Source: NATO Op Ocean Shield Blog
In a blog by the Dutch Commander of NATO's Task Force 508, the counter piracy mission off Somalia, Commodore Ben Bekkering states, the flagship of TF 508, HNLMS Rotterdam, h [...]
October 9, 2012
Maritime Security Operator (MSO) Training Provision
Source: 3RG Security
There continues to be a great deal of disagreement and uncertainty as to just what constitutes effective training for personnel looking to work in the Maritime Security sector [...]
October 5, 2012
Seychelles Anti-Piracy Efforts Recognised - Joins Combined Maritime Forces
Seychelles Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport Press Release
The Republic of Seychelles has become the newest member of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), this following meeti [...]
October 5, 2012
Contributing to Maritime Security Beyond Counter Piracy
Emerging markets – how can private maritime security companies contribute to maritime security beyond counter piracy?
At a recent gathering at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in Lon [...]
October 3, 2012
Seychelles Minister Alain St.Ange meets with press at Embassy in Abu Dhabi
October 2, 2012 in Travel Related
(Forimmediaterelease.net) - As the World Routes aviation forum 2012 in Abu Dhabi closed its doors, Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister fo [...]
October 1, 2012
The Flagship Of Romanian Navy, Regele Ferdinand, Joins EUNAVFOR Task Force
Original sources: EUNAVFOR and Wikipedia
Romanian frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand today joined the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) – Operation ATALANTA, combating piracy [...]
September 30, 2012
‘The Police will act on any case of unjustified use of force...’ Seychelles Min. Morgan
Source: The People Seychelles
Seychelles Minister Joel Morgan answers The People newspaper’s questions on issues relating to his ministries, rangi [...]
September 26, 2012
British Envoys Say Seychelles Waters Safe For Tourists
Source: Seychelles Nation
British high commissioner Lindsay Skoll yesterday said our [Seychelles] waters are safe and tourists need not keep away in fear of pirates.
Mrs Skoll was speaking in an i [...]
September 26, 2012
Mancham Optimistic Of Return Of U.S. Ambassador To Seychelles
Press Release
Following discussions with the US Congressman from Georgia, the Honorable Jack Kingston in Savannah, Georgia, USA, where he was attending the annual meeting of the Savannah Ocean [...]
September 24, 2012
High-level delegation visits Somali Pirates in Montagne Posée Prison
Source: Seychelles Nation
A high-level delegation visited the Montagne Posée Prison last Wednesday where they were apprised of the detention conditions of the Somali pirat [...]
September 21, 2012
Sri Lanka Changes Procedures For Floating Armoury Off Galle
Source: Sri Lanka MOD & Urban Development
Effective from 15 October 2012, the deployment of a Floating Armoury in the international waters off Galle, South Sri Lanka, will affect all Private [...]
September 18, 2012
EUNAVFOR Pledges To Remain Committed To Anti-Piracy Effort
Office of the President of Seychelles Press Release
Rear Admiral Duncan Potts, EUNAVFOR Operation Commander for the European Union Naval Forces anti-piracy mission paid a courtesy call on Preside [...]
September 18, 2012
Tanzania Maritime Security Surveillance System Handed Over
Source: IMO.org
A ceremony attended by senior US and Japanese diplomats, Tanzanian Government officials and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the IMO for Maritime Security an [...]
September 17, 2012
OSINT Gets Some Respect
Source: Strategy Page
Last July the U.S. Army issued a manual (Army Techniques Publication 2-22.9) on using open source (mainly searching the Internet) intelligence. Also called OSINT, the troops have been using the Internet for i [...]
September 17, 2012
Piracy & Robbery At Sea - August 2012
17 incidents of piracy and robbery at sea occurred during August 2012. There were reports of hijacks in West and East Africa, with a further 9 robbery incidents recorded in southeast Asia.
Recent claims of a si [...]
September 14, 2012
Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea
Source: Gemini Maritime (appears in Lloyd's List)
It seems so long ago that Lynn Pascoe, the outgoing under-secretary-general for political affairs in the United Nations, told a meeting of the Security Council last [...]
September 13, 2012
Perth Counter-Piracy Conference Focus On Global Piracy & Armed Robbery At Sea Issues
Source: Australia Government Department of Defence
The Perth Counter-Piracy Conference, held 15-17 July 2012, was attended by 108 participants from 59 different coun [...]
September 7, 2012
Suspected Pirates Shoot At Italian Naval Helicopter
Original Source: Corriere [Italian version]
A helicopter of the Italian navy, on anti-piracy patrols off the east coast of Somalia, was hit by shots fired from a boat suspected to be under the control o [...]
September 6, 2012
IMB notes increase in piracy off West Africa
Source: IMB
The ICC International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB-PRC) has recorded a spike in activity off the coast of West Africa.
Gulf of Guinea Hijacks - OCEANUSLive
[...]
September 5, 2012
UPDATE: Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker With 23 Crew Off Nigeria; Navy Rescues Vessel & Crew
Sources: The Maritime Executive/ BBC News
A Singapore-owned oil tanker has been hijacked by pirates off Nigeria’s coast. Two Nigerian Navy vessels and a heli [...]
September 3, 2012
Six Suspect Pirates To Go On Trial In Seychelles Court
Press Release
Six new suspected Somali Pirates have appeared before the Seychelles court today for the offence of acts of piracy on the high seas and have all been remanded for 14 days.
[...]
September 1, 2012
Geo-Political Importance of the Indian Ocean - Sir James Mancham to Address Council
Press Release
It was announced from Glacis-sur-Mer that former President James R. Mancham has accepted an invitation of the Savannah Council of World Affairs to address t [...]
August 29, 2012
Updated: Hijacked Greek-run tanker traced to Nigerian waters
Source: Reuters
A Greek-operated oil tanker seized off Togo was tracked down on Wednesday off the coast of Nigeria under the control of pirates, the ship's operator and Togolese authorities sai [...]
August 28, 2012
Japanese Admiral Hopes Fishing To Return to 'Now Safer Waters'
Source: Seychelles Nation
Japanese fishing vessels will hopefully return to this region as incidents of piracy have dropped owing to the heavy presence of multinational forces fighting buccan [...]
August 27, 2012
EU Naval Force Meets Somali Community Representative
Original Source: EUNAVFOR
A number of influential Somali community representatives were invited to speak with the European Union Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) at Northwood Headquar [...]
August 24, 2012
Seychelles and Sri Lanka Offer Ocean of Opportunity OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF SEYCHELLES PRESS RELEASE 24.08.2012
President James Michel has called on Sri Lanka to join Seychelles in creating ‘a new space for prosperity’ [...]
August 23, 2012
SOS Supports Parliamentary Stance on EU Mission
Press Statement from Alastair Evitt, Chair international anti-Somali piracy campaign, SOS SaveOurSeafarers:
The SaveOurSeafarers (SOS) campaign welcomes the UK House of Lords Select Committee for External A [...]
August 23, 2012
Japanese Training Squadron Historic Visit to Port Victoria
Source: Seychelles Nation
For the first time since it was set up in 1956, the Japanese Training Squadron has called at Port Victoria.
Three naval vessels – flagship Kashima, training shi [...]
August 14, 2012
Work Starts On New Anti-Piracy Centre in Seychelles
Source: Seychelles Nation
A ground-breaking ceremony yesterday marked the start of construction of a new anti-piracy centre.
The centre in Seychelles, called the Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecution and In [...]
August 14, 2012
Somali Juveniles Captured With Suspect Pirates Are Repatriated
Source: Seychelles Nation
Two Somali juveniles who were captured with 12 others of the same nationality on the high seas on suspicion of maritime piracy in January this year have been sent ba [...]
August 14, 2012
Apprehended Pirates to Face Trial in Netherlands; Captive Crew Freed
Source: NATO/Op Ocean Shield
After a three day hunt by EU and NATO counter piracy forces, HNLMS Rotterdam, in close cooperation with EU unit FGS Sachsen, has successfully disrupted a pi [...]
August 13, 2012
Piracy & Robbery At Sea Stats - July 2012
In all, there were 19 reported incidents of global piracy and robbery at sea in July 2012. Of those, one hijack occurred, 16 attacks and/or robberies and 2 suspicious activities were recorded.
In the [...]
August 10, 2012
Hijacked Tug Boat & Barge Found and Recovered off Philippines
Source: ReCAAP
Following a report from a shipping company that contact with his tug boat, Woodman 38 towing barge Woodman 39 had been lost, the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) [...]
August 6, 2012
Seychelles Govt Increases Efforts For Hostages Release
Source: Seychelles Nation
Efforts to secure the early release of the two Seychellois fishermen – Rolly Tambara and Marc Songoire – being held captive by Somali pirates received a further [...]
August 4, 2012
Nigeria Pirates Attack Oil Vessel, Killing Two and Kidnapping Four
Early this morning, Aug 4, report of an attack on an oil industry barge stationed approximately 30 nautical miles off Bonny Fairway Buoy, Nigeria. The attack resulted in 2 deaths and 4 peo [...]
August 3, 2012
Minister Morgan meets families of Seychellois hostages
Source: Syechelles Nation
The chairman of the high-level committee on piracy, Joel Morgan, met the families of the two Seychellois hostages in Somalia – Rolly Tambara and Marc Songoire – [...]
August 1, 2012
Seychelles Sets New Global Rule For Pirates’ Cases; Sentences Pirates
Source: Seychelles Nation Online
Seychelles has established a new principle that can be used by courts around the world to convict suspected pirates even when they have not been [...]
July 31, 2012
Late Reported Violent Pirate Attack Off Nigeria
In a report released over 11 weeks after it occurred, pirates armed with guns approached a landing craft doing 7 knots at 1845 UTC on 17 May in position 04:39.2N – 004:45.2E, approximately 45nm Offshor [...]
July 30, 2012
Seychelles Government Issues International Warrant of Arrest
By Sarah J of TODAY.sc
Targets pirates involved in the capture of two Seychellois fishermen held hostage in Somalia and also changes legislature which empowers the judiciary to prosecute a [...]
July 25, 2012
The Challenge Of Survival As A Pirate Hostage
By Martin Kufus
'The merchant seafarer does not go out to sea … properly trained' for piracy-hostage survival — Report
The Filipino mariner left Iraq bound for the United States, but Somali pira [...]
July 25, 2012
Penalties For Piracy
Penaties for piracy is a discussion paper by Professor Eugene Kontorovich prepared for Oceans Beyond Piracy - a Project of One Earth Future Foundation
By Eugene Kontorovich, Professor, Northwestern University School of Law.
EXE [...]
July 25, 2012
Pirate-Held China Hostages Arrive Home
Source: China Daily
Chinese fishermen recount their 19-month ordeal at the hands of Somali pirates
With his weather-beaten face creasing in [...]
July 17, 2012
President Appeals For Rapid Release of Seychellois Hostages
Source: Seychelles Nation
Seychelles President James Michel has made a plea for the rapid release of the two Seychellois hostages – Rolly Tambara and Marc Songoire -- still being held in S [...]
July 13, 2012
Suspected pirates demand new mattresses in jail
Source: Seychelles Nation
Fourteen suspected Somali pirates being tried for attacking a ship in the Gulf of Oman have made a string of demands including one for new mattresses at Montagne Posée [...]
July 11, 2012
Piracy & Robbery At Sea Stats - June 2012
A clear reduction in piracy and robbery at sea is noted during June 2012, according to OCEANUSLive, 24 incidents took place in June. Whilst this is a reduction on the same period in 2011, which saw 32 [...]
July 9, 2012
Landmark Somali Pirate Trial Climaxes As Task Force Commander Gives Evidence
Source: The Italian Insider by Enzo Mangini
ROME- A dramatic turning point took place in the Rebibbia courtroom bunker during the third hearing of the trial against the alleged [...]
July 3, 2012
One Earth Future Foundation Launches ‘Investing in Somalia’ Program, backed with $1 million to support Job Creation in Somalia
COLORADO, USA – July 3, 2012 – One Earth Future Foundation (OEF) has announced the launch of its I [...]
July 2, 2012
Dutch Warship Hands 7 Pirate Suspects to Omani Navy
Source: Netherlands Ministry of Defense
HNLMS Evertsen, the flagship of the NATO counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield, today, handed 7 of Somali piracy suspects over to the Navy of Oman. The suspects a [...]
July 1, 2012
NATO Dutch Flagship Farewell to Released Hijacked Dhow After Two Day Hunt
Source: Ocean Shield
Two days after HNLMS Evertsen released a hijacked dhow, the small ship sailed home today [July 1]. Very grateful, the saved seafarers said goodbye to the flags [...]
June 24, 2012
16 - 22 June 2012
Joy & sadness; talk is cheap but lives are not - Happy to get their freedom back, South African couple released after 20 months, but desparation for 7-crew dhow hijacked this week. Joint report on Humanitarian Cost of Som [...]
June 22, 2012
Human Cost Of Somali Piracy Report Released
A report highlighting latest details of the plight of seafarers at the hands of Somali pirates launched on Friday 22nd June at a press conference in London. The report, The Human Cost of Piracy 2011, is wri [...]
June 21, 2012
South African Couple Released by Somali Pirates
Original sources: The Republic & IOL.co.za
Somalia's defense minister says that two South Africans who were taken by Somali pirates in late 2010 have been freed.
Defense Minister Hussein Arab Isse [...]
June 20, 2012
Piracy & Robbery At Sea Stats - May 2012
Reports have indicated a reduction in piracy and robbery incidents at sea recently, however, May 2012, according to OCEANUSLive records, show that 31 incidents took place in May 2012, the same amount as [...]
June 18, 2012
Cyber-Spies Target MARSEC Secrets; 'Sputnik' Moment Ahead?
Contributor: ESPADA Marine Services
African pirates and their foreign underworld backers will use any technological means—including Internet hacking—to defeat mariti [...]
June 16, 2012
Safety At Sea Awards - 2012 Winners Announced
Original article: Safety At Sea
The 6th annual Safety at Sea Awards took place on 14 June and was hailed a success by industry figures. The evening celebrated the role that safety managers and manufacturers p [...]
June 10, 2012
2 - 8 June 2012
Free at last - Greek tanker released after several months; 21 Filipinos crew freed. Monsoon weather keeps activity at low level but on land Puntland forces carry out aerial attack on pirate leader. Two hijacked MTs reportedly si [...]
June 8, 2012
MT Liquid Velvet & 21 Crew Released By Somali Pirates
Original Source: Sun Star
A Greek-owned chemical tanker, with 21 Filipino sailors onboard, was released from captivity by Somali pirates earlier this month, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) [...]
June 5, 2012
26 - 1 June 2012
All quiet on the Eastern Front - Minor activity on the Horn of Africa side of the continent, however, Greek tanker boarded off Lagos, Nigeria - crew safe in citadel. Puntland forces raid nets second in command pirates. Iran naval [...]
May 29, 2012
Dutch Frigate Evertsen Prepares For NATO Counter Piracy Operations
Source: Netherlands Ministerie van Defensie
Under cover of darkness, masked Netherlands marines in a small fast dinghy approach alongide the merchant vessel held hostage. With rope l [...]
May 29, 2012
Dutch Resupply Protection Team on WFP Vessel
Source: EUNAVFOR
On Sunday 27 May EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Dutch frigate Van Amstel [conducted a] rendezvous at sea with World Food Programme (WFP) chartered ship MV Caroline Scan to re-supply the Dutch [...]
May 26, 2012
19 - 25 May 2012
See full report HERE
Rescued, or not rescued - Iranian Navy rescue declared a false alarm in some quarters, others that they did not actually carry out a rescue. More attacks occurring in Gulf of Oman than any other area. Nort [...]
May 25, 2012
Controlling Piracy
By Paul Gibbins
It’s business as usual for the shipping industry following the recent EUNAVFOR raid on Somali soil. It’s timing can’t have been accidental, to coincide with the opening of the IMO session in Lon [...]
May 21, 2012
See The Full Version HERE
12 - 18 May 2012
Land Ho! - The EU has not landed but makes a statement. Dutch and Turkish forces nab pirates in separate rescue missions. Without a citadel or armed guards on hijacked vessel, the chase is given up to m [...]
May 18, 2012
High Risk Areas Piracy Incident Maps - April 2012
OCEANUSLive provides situational mapping of pirate activity throughout the month of April 2012.
Piracy and robbery at sea incidents throughout April 2012 shows a decrease in hijacks by Somali pirat [...]
May 16, 2012
IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu's opening address to the High-level segment on arms on board ships
Source: IMO
In a series of opening addresses given by Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General IMO, at the International Maritime Organisation & [...]
May 16, 2012
IMO Conference on Capacity Building to Counter Piracy off the Coast of Somalia
Source: IMO
In a series of opening addresses given by Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General IMO, at the International Maritime Organisation conference held in the London headq [...]
May 15, 2012
EU Naval Force Delivers First Blow Against Somali Pirates On Shoreline
Source:EUNAVFOR.eu
Earlier today, May 15, following the decision taken on 23 March 2012 by the Council of the European Union to allow the EU Naval Force to take disruption action agai [...]
May 12, 2012
Dutch Navy Rescues 17 Iranian Hostages; Arrests 11 Suspect Pirates
Source: MiNews26
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (BNO NEWS) -- A Dutch Navy vessel on Friday rescued seventeen people who were being held hostage on a suspected pirate dhow off the coast of So [...]
May 10, 2012
Greek-owned Tanker Hijacked in the Arabian Sea
Following a relatively quietened period at sea, a Liberia-flagged tanker was reported hijacked in the Arabian Sea by pirates.
MT Smyrni Hijacked - Photo: Marinetraffic.com
The Greek-ow [...]
May 3, 2012
UK Joins the ReCAAP
Source: ReCAAP.org Press Release
UK Joins ReCAAP
On 2 May 2012, the United Kingdom (UK) became the eighteenth Contracting Party to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against [...]
May 1, 2012
Updated: Tanker Hijacked off Lome, Togo Reported Released
Source: AFP
BW Rhine Reported Hijacked - Photo: Marinetraffic.com
KUALA LUMPUR — A Singapore-managed product tanker with valuable gasoline cargo went missing and was s [...]
April 30, 2012
IMO Secretary General Speech on Safeguarding Seafarers and the Shared Responsibility
Source: IMO
In a speech at the ReCAAP ISC Piracy and Sea Robbery Conference 2012 by Koji Sekimizu, the subject of Safeguarding Seafarers: A Shared Respons [...]
April 24, 2012
The Impact of Somali Piracy - an Infographic
Source: Travel Insurance
The impact of Somali piracy is presented graphically by the Travel Insurance blog. The figures from 2011 shown in this manner demonstrate the huge impact the crime of piracy at sea has [...]
April 23, 2012
Somali Pirates Free Italian Tanker After 118 Days
Source: Bangkok Post
An Italian chemical tanker captured by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman in December with 18 crew members has been released, the foreign ministry in Rome said on Monday.
[...]
April 23, 2012
EU Warship Rescues Sri Lankan Fishermen But Suspect Pirates Released
Source: EUNAVFOR
EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Spanish warship, ESPS Infanta Elena rescued 6 Sri Lankan fishermen and their fishing vessel from 7 suspected pirates. The fishing vessel had [...]
April 22, 2012
13 - 20 April 2012
Slight hiatus: More disruptions than attacks. Bombs over Bargal, but by whom? Yemeni fishermen kidnapped. Tanzania arrests 5 pirates in the vicinity of a mothership near its gas fields. 6 Sri Lankan fishermen lat [...]
April 22, 2012
David Cameron anti-piracy operation hits a South African snag
Source: Telegraph.co.uk
By Aislinn Laing, Johannesburg
David Cameron's plans to allow British ships travelling around Africa to carry private armed guards to combat the threat of pi [...]
April 20, 2012
Suspect Somali Pirates Detained Near Tanzania Gas Fields; Dhow Freed
Source: Reuters
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Tanzania has arrested five suspected Somali pirates on an island close to its natural gas reserves in the southern part of the east Africa [...]
April 16, 2012
7 - 13 April 2012
Kingpin falls: Crew deaths and injuries as vessels released. 'Local' vessel released. Pirates surrender to Danish warship. Rumoured political support to pirates. Escalating piracy off West Africa, including motherships use, sees ca [...]
April 12, 2012
MV Leila Reported Released by Somali Pirates
Source: Reuters
Somali pirates have released a Panama-flagged vessel they seized two months ago allowing it to continue on its way to the breakaway enclave of Somaliland, the ship's agent and a government offi [...]
April 10, 2012
Lost in Translation? The Emergence Of Regulation To The Maritime Security Sector
Source: Safety4Sea Contributed by Paul Gibbins - PGC Global
Number of successful hijacks continues to fall
As pirate attacks on commercial vessels continue to rise, [...]
April 8, 2012
31 March - 6 April 2012
Bad Good Friday: Chinese cargo ship hijacked off Iran but rescued on the same day as China asks for Iran's help. NATO states 60 percent reduction in piracy. Iranian commandos arrest 12 pirates after ship rescue. Galmudug plan [...]
April 8, 2012
UPDATED: 17 April 2012
High Risk Areas Piracy Incident Maps - March 2012
OCEANUSLive provides graphic illustrations of pirate activity throughout the month of March.
Piracy and robbery at sea incidents throughout March 2012 show an increase [...]
April 8, 2012
Crew of Freed Chinese Freighter Recall Hijack By Pirates
Source: Ching.org.cn
"It is the most scary moment in my life when the Iranian navy was exchanging fire with the Somali pirates," Meng Qingchang, the second mate of the rescued freighter Xianghuamen [...]
April 7, 2012
Iranian Navy Rescues Chinese Cargo Ship At China's Request
Sources: AFP/IMB/SomaliaReport
BEIJING: The Iranian navy has freed 28 Chinese crew members less than a day after their cargo ship was hijacked by Somali pirates off the Islamic Republic’s s [...]
March 30, 2012
17 pirates transferred to Somaliland - 30.03.2012
Source: Seychelles Nation The Seychelles government has transferred 17 convicted Somali pirates aged between 17 and 60 years to prisons in Somaliland where they will complete their 10 to 24-year sentences [...]
March 30, 2012
24 - 30 March 2012
Hard-hitting Week: Seafarers hit hard as four vessels hijacked in two days, including the first hijack in Maldivian waters. EU forces disrupt two pirate groups whilst Iran Navy claims shoot out with pirates. Somaliland law cha [...]
March 29, 2012
Hand in Glove: Security Standards And Contracts
Source: SAMI Media Release
The Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI), which represents over 150 maritime security companies worldwide, welcomes the launch of the Baltic and Internationa [...]
March 29, 2012
EU French Warship Halts Pirate Action Group
Source: EUNAVFOR.eu
EU Counter Piracy Naval Forces have tracked down and stopped a group of suspected pirates who were believed to have tried to attack a Hong-Kong flagged tanker approximately 400 nautical mile [...]
March 28, 2012
EU Warship Frees Suspect Mothership from Pirate Captors
Source: EUNAVFOR
On 26 March 2012, the EU Naval Force Flagship ESPS Patino located a Yemeni registered dhow that was suspected of being involved in acts of piracy off the Somali coast.
[...]
March 26, 2012
Iran-bound Brazilian sugar ship hijacked off India
UPDATED: 26 March
(Reuters) - An Iranian bulk carrier of Brazilian sugar was hijacked in the eastern Indian Ocean early on Monday with 23 crew on board, international shipping monitors said.
[...]
March 26, 2012
17 - 23 March 2012
Upping stakes: EU demonstrates intent by extending its mandate and permitting strikes on Somali soil. NATO op also extended as more pirates disrupted. EU considers pooling resources as USA to refocus European-facing pol [...]
March 19, 2012
NATO disrupts suspected pirate group in the Gulf of Aden
NATO Press Release
On 17 March, in the Gulf of Aden, the Turkish Navy Ship (TCG) Giresun, acting as part of NATO’s counter-piracy (Operation OCEAN SHIELD), successfully disrupted a group of p [...]
March 19, 2012
Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent Joins Oceans Beyond Piracy
COLORADO, USA– March 15, 2012– Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent KCB, CBE, formerly of the Royal Navy and current director of Orchard Leadership, has joined the Oceans Beyon [...]
March 19, 2012
10 - 16 March 2012
Numbers game: Focus on the figures relating to the reduction of piracy raises a few eyebrows. Pirates attack Somali police commander. Reformed pirate tells his tale. Ransom negotiations stall. Ghana Navy arrests tanker [...]
March 17, 2012
Guns seized from oil tanker docked at Milford Haven
Source: BBC News
The tanker's crew failed to declare there were firearms on board
Three shotguns and ammunition have been seized from the crew of an an oil tanker which docked in Milford Haven.
Offi [...]
March 12, 2012
High Risk Areas Piracy Incident Maps - February 2012
Attacks by pirates and robbery at sea over the last month are illustrated below. The positions on the situational maps are representational.
In all, 44 incidents are shown, including the position [...]
March 12, 2012
9 March 2012
Hijack swap: Pirates seek ship swap for freedom of imprisoned colleagues; dhow, hijacked, released due to mechanical problem, but tanker confirmed by owners to have been captured. Nigerian piracy set to worsen as soldiers k [...]
March 8, 2012
Standards Squabble in Private Maritime Security
Source: Shiptalk
Private maritime security standards appear to be a bit like buses – you wait for years for one to turn up and then two arrive almost at once.
There appears to be some confusion in th [...]
March 4, 2012
2 March 2012
Increasing violence: Not to be left behind, West African piracy proves just as deadly. Hijacked dhow, more attacks and notably in the Strait of Hormuz. Hostages die following Danish disruption op. Negotiations to release vessels near [...]
March 3, 2012
EU Warship Disrupts Pirate Action Group & Releases Hostages
Source: EUNAVFOR.eu
EU NAFVOR warship FGS Berlin has successfully engineered the release of an Indian flagged dhow and crew, disrupting a Pirate Action Group and destroying two attack skiffs [...]
February 29, 2012
Pirates Treated Iranian & Pakistani Hostages as Steering Slaves: Danish Navy
Source: AFP
COPENHAGEN - The Iranian and Pakistani crew of a hijacked cargo ship were treated like slaves by Somali pirates before their release in a deadly rescue operation [...]
February 28, 2012
UPDATED - Costa Allegra Change of Navigation Plan to Port Victoria
Source: Seychelles State Gov
Stranded Costa Allegra - (Phot:Shipspotting.com)
In a statement by Costa Cruises concerning the the sistership to the ill-fated C [...]
February 27, 2012
24 February 2012
Conference: London the centre of all things Somalia this week, piracy & seafarers fade a little into the background. Hijacked MV Leila fooled by pirates looking for assistance. Late report of hijack and assault off Nigeria. A [...]
February 26, 2012
Somalia TFG Ministry of Defence: The Somali Solution to the International Piracy Problem: Anti Piracy Task Force (APTF) Coastguard Initiative
Press Release: Halliday Finch
The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia recognises the importance of securi [...]
February 24, 2012
Seychelles President Winning For Indian Ocean
Source: The People
President James Michel has outlined five areas of intervention to rescue Somalia and curb the piracy threats in the Indian Ocean region. The Seychelles Head of State has also thanked the UK [...]
February 23, 2012
Seychelles Committed to Counter Piracy But Two Fishermen Remain Hostage
Original Source: Afrique-Asie.fr [French language]
The Seychelles is committed to the fight against piracy with limited means but with great will and courage.
The article below [...]
February 23, 2012
Anti-Piracy Film Scoops Accolade
Source: IFW.Net
An anti-piracy film produced for the international SaveOurSeafarers (SOS) campaign, scooped the top prize at the Royal Television Society (RTS) North-East and Border awards.
The short film, produced by Yo [...]
February 23, 2012
Royal Navy Helps Reduce Somali Piracy
Following his posting as Commander of the UK Counter-Piracy Task Group, Captain Gerry Northwood, Royal Navy, has written in The Times newspaper about how concerted efforts are helping reduce attacks on merchant vessel [...]
February 23, 2012
EUNAVFOR Welcomes the President of Seychelles & Senior Visitors
Source: EUNAVFOR.eu
On 21 February, Rear Admiral Duncan Potts welcomed His Excellency President James Michel of the Seychelles; Mr Joel Morgan, his Minister for Home Affairs, Environme [...]
February 22, 2012
Hijacked MV Leila Arrives off Somali Coast
Source: Somalia Report
The Panama flagged roll on/roll off (Ro/Ro) vessel, MV Leila, hijacked by Somali pirates near Oman last Thursday, arrived off the coast of Bargal in Bari region of the semi [...]
February 20, 2012
17 February 2012
Murder at Sea: Captain and Chief Engineer killed off Nigeria, innocent fishermen killed off Kochi, India; news of MV hijack confusing in being reported; attacks in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean with numerous PAGs operatin [...]
February 20, 2012
International Maritime Experts Call for Better Coordinated Counter-Piracy Messaging
Source: Oceans Beyond Piracy
Press Release: International Maritime Experts Call for Better Coordinated Counter-Piracy Messaging
LONDON, UK - February 20, 2012 - [...]
February 19, 2012
Chemical Tanker Hijack At Anchor in Lagos, Nigeria
In the early hours of January 16, a Bahamas-flagged chemical tanker, at anchor in Lagos, Nigeria, was hijacked by heavily armed pirates, or depending on the definition within territorial waters, heavily a [...]
February 18, 2012
MV Leila Hijacked by Pirates Off the Omani Coast
Original Source: Neptune Maritime Security
MSCHOA has confirmed the hijacked vessel as being MV Leila. The Panama-flagged Ro/Ro cargo vessel, with a crew of 24, is owned and operated by New Port Cargo &a [...]
February 15, 2012
Vessels Attacked in Southeast Asia Region - Jan 2012
Date
Area
Flag/Ship Type
Vessel Name
Position
1 Jan
SCS
Liberia bulk carrier
Grace One
03:44S - 114:27E
3 Jan
SCS
Liberia Co [...]
February 15, 2012
Communicating The Armed Deterrent
Armed deterrent is making an impact, but at a price
By Paul Gibbins - PGC Global
In the fight against piracy, it is widely accepted that the armed deterrent is making an impact, but at a price. With the recent [...]
February 12, 2012
Captain and Chief Engineer Killed During Pirate Attack Off Nigeria
Pirates fired on a drifting Panama-flagged bulk carrier off the coast of Nigeria, killing the captain and chief engineer, a maritime watchdog body said as it warned shipping to stay clear [...]
February 12, 2012
10 February 2012
Back with a vengeance: MVs hijacked in Arabian Sea and off Nigeria; attacks in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean whilst Iran thwarts attack. Study shows where piracy has influenced shipping, insurance and security industry costs. Somali [...]
February 10, 2012
Vessels Attacked in Horn of Africa/indian Region - Jan 2012
Date
Area
Flag/Ship Type
Vessel Name
Position
4 Jan
GoA
Marshall Islands bulk carrier
Delfa
13:10N - 049:12E
4 Jan
GoA
[...]
February 9, 2012
MV Free Goddess Confirmed Hijacked by Pirates
Source: Neptune Maritime Security
Following days of confusion and concern, Greek-owned MV Free Goddess has been confirmed as hijacked by pirates some 520nm Northeast of Socotra Island, Yemen, and is now [...]
February 9, 2012
Somali Piracy's Impact on Global Economy Nears $7 Billion
Source: Oceans Beyond Piracy
February 8, 2012 - Oceans Beyond Piracy released a report that raises concerns about the cost of Somali Piracy to the world economy. Approximately 80% of all costs a [...]
February 5, 2012
A brief hiatus. Poor weather deterrent as minimal attacks occur. Motherships prepared. UK involvement in Somalia increases, including a new Ambassador, as conference nears. Seychelles shoulders the burden, again as campaign seeks greater prosecutions. Ir [...]
February 4, 2012
FCO Minister hears from NGO’s on Somalia
3 February 2012 Source: FCO - UK in Somalia
Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham has held discussions on Somalia with leading NGO’s and academics ahead of the London Conference on Somalia on 23 F [...]
February 2, 2012
2011 Record of Vessels Hijacked by Somali Pirates.
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Annual Piracy Report has been extensively quoted in the maritime media since its publication.
For the first time in five years there is a discernible red [...]
February 1, 2012
Hired guns can help to tackle threat of piracy, says minister
Carol Huang for The National
Feb 1, 2012
ABU DHABI // Private security contractors could play a valuable role in countering maritime piracy, the British minister for [...]
January 31, 2012
International cooperation between Seychelles, UK and Denmark takes tough stance on piracy
January 30, 2012 source: ForimmediateRelease.net
International cooperation to counter the increasing threat of piracy has led to the successful detention of 1 [...]
January 29, 2012
Presidential seal of approval. Daring rescue, kidnapped US writer, panicked pirates and napping guards as dhows hijacked. Claim of mutilation. Nigeria's maritime security in the hands of ex-militant. Pirates released, jailed, rights waived and in jurisdi [...]
January 29, 2012
“We Are Safe”
Piracy attacks have reached an all-time high. The success rate in hijacking vessels, however, has dropped significantly during 2011. Attributed to three main causes; Best Management Practices (BMP), intensified naval actions and [...]
January 25, 2012
US Navy SEALs Rescue Hostages Held by Somali Pirates
Source: World News MSNBC.com
Jessica Buchanan & Poul Thisted Rescued (Pic: SR)
In a daring nighttime raid Tuesday, U.S. Navy SEALs rescued two hostages, including one American, w [...]
January 22, 2012
Under pressure. Counter piracy forces continue to force the piracy issue by deterring mothership operations. More pirates detained and Puntland accelerates efforts. Hijack story debunked but aid workers remain pawns. Piracy figures show a decline but war [...]
January 20, 2012
Dutch Marines Hit Back Against Pirates Attack
Original source:Netherlands Ministry of Defense 17 Jan 2012
The Dutch military security team aboard the fall pipe rock dumping vessel Flintstone in the Arabian Sea repulsed a pirate a [...]
January 20, 2012
German EU Warship Pressures Pirates Into Releasing Dhow and Crew
Source: eunavfor.eu
Indian dhow used as mothership
After three days of persistent pressure, FGS Luebeck has forced Somali pirates to release an Indian dhow with 15 [...]
January 20, 2012
Pirate Negotiatior's Plea for Pre-trial Release
An insight into the problem of Somali pirate court cases is not often seen in a public forum, however, on that rare occasion an individual is accused of being a pirate negotiator, the difficulty in proving t [...]
January 18, 2012
Neptune Maritime Security to Attend MARLO’s 2012 Annual Seminar
By David Rider, Neptune Maritime Security
Neptune Maritime Security is delighted to announce that Nigel Booker, one of the company’s directors, will be present at MAR [...]
January 15, 2012
Plunder, Politics, Presumption and Puntland
Is Piracy Driving Growth in Puntland?
By Robert Young Pelton of Somalia Report
British Professor Anja Shortland recently presented her latest report on piracy in Somalia at Chatham House. Like many recent pira [...]
January 13, 2012
Unlucky for many. Counter piracy forces success continues as pirates detained, mothership operations curtailed and MV Fairchem Bogey released, but aid workers sold to pirates. Nigeria and UN discuss progress, as Singapore and Japan consider cooperation. [...]
January 13, 2012
Pirates Attack EU NAVFOR Flagship
At first light on 12 January 2012, having just completed the escort of a World Food Programme ship carrying food-aid into Somalia and while operating close to the Somali port of Mogadishu, the EU NAVFOR Flagship, the ESPS [...]
January 11, 2012
Belgiums First Piracy Prosecution - but right to bear arms remains controversial
Source: International Law Office - January 11 2012
The International Maritime Bureau reported in October 2011 that the number of attacks by Somali pirates reached an all [...]
January 9, 2012
Maritime crime in Nigeria is alive and well
Source: Risk Intelligence
Nigerian piracy has not declined in 2011; it has merely moved elsewhere, according to analysis by the Denmark-based maritime security intelligence company Risk Intelligence [...]
January 8, 2012
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
Drama! Iranian crew freed by US Navy; Indian crew freed by NATO and EU; Indonesia rescues tugboat and crew; MV Olib G released. Protests against pirates as Puntland welcomes EU mission expansion. Nigeria cla [...]
January 8, 2012
Malta MV Olib G Released by Pirates for $3 Million
Source: Somalia Report
MV Olib G (Source: EUNAVFOR)
Somali pirates released MV Olib G, a Maltese-flagged tanker for $3 million early on Sunday morning, according to pirates in Garacad, [...]
January 6, 2012
Soldiers of Fortune?
In an open letter responding to an article - 'MPs' report asks for pirate-killing guide' by the UK paper, Morning Star, in which it contains the words “British mercenaries need better regulatory guidance when it comes to killi [...]
January 1, 2012
Spare A Moment For Victims of Piracy
The humanitarian tragedy caused by the blight of Somali piracy received increasing attention during 2011 with international political figures calling for action. Seafarers' trauma of being held in captivity, threats an [...]
December 29, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
Tanker hijacked the main news. Pirates seized in local operations but civilians killed in crossfire. Ransom share causes rift among pirates. Unconfirmed EU to extend naval mission mandate, however, grant giv [...]
December 27, 2011
Italian Tanker, Enrico Ievoli Hijacked by Pirates Off Oman
In the early hours of December 27, off the coast of Oman, the Italian-owned chemical tanker, Enrico Ievoli, was reported attacked and hijacked by pirates.
Italian MT Enrico Ievol [...]
December 23, 2011
CEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
No successful attacks but a successful disruption in Gulf of Aden. MV Savina Caylyn is released for over $11 million. $8million demanded for Liquid Velvet. S Korea upholds life sentence. India calls for citad [...]
December 22, 2011
Festive Greetings and Happy Holidays
As we reach the end of 2011, we look back on a dramatic year in the maritime world where freedom of the seas and right to safe passage have been challenged once more by unscrupulous and unconscionable acts of piracy. H [...]
December 21, 2011
U.S. Navy Stops Pirate Attack
Source: MarineLink | by Ensign Elizabeth Kandt, USS Pinckney Public Affairs
Guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91), assigned to Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, disrupted a group of suspected pirates close [...]
December 21, 2011
Italian Tanker, Savina Caylyn Released by Somali Pirates for $11.5 million
Source: Somalia Report
Somali pirates have just released the Italian-flagged oil tanker MV Savina Caylyn for a ransom of $11.5 million, according to pirate sources. The 22 crew me [...]
December 20, 2011
Merchant Ship Crews Held Hostage in Somalia
Source: EUNAVFOR
While the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia has received significant coverage over the past 4 years, with the exception a number of high-profile individuals, the fate of the merchant cre [...]
December 20, 2011
Somali Pirates Demand $8 million for Greek Vessel MT Liquid Velvet
A ransom demand of $8 million was made for MT Liquid Velvet 49 days after it was hijacked by Somali pirates.
Exclusive by Somalia Report
MT Liqu [...]
December 15, 2011
CEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
No pirate attacks as the northeaset monsoon kicks in. Pirate activity halted ashore but alarming target shift. Prison funded by locals opened in central Somalia. US court hands out life sentences. Bangla [...]
December 9, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
Pirate attacks remain at low intensity as UN Secretary General visits Somalia; states in Somalia look to step up anti-piracy efforts. Disruption of pirate groups continues, whilst African Union calls for por [...]
December 7, 2011
Freed MT Gemini & Crew Arrive in Mombasa
Pirates Released 21 of 25 Crew, Still Holding South Koreans
By Andrew Mwangura of Somalia Report
The Singaporean flagged oil products tanker MT Gemini safely anchored at “O” anchorage at the port [...]
December 6, 2011
UK Dept for Transport Guidance on Measures to Counter Piracy
Source: DFT.gov.uk
The UK Department for Transport has today published guidance on the measures to counter piracy, armed robbery and other acts of violence against merchan shipping. In light [...]
December 5, 2011
EU NAVFOR Figures Confirm Value of Armed Security Teams
By David Rider, Neptune Maritime Security
Figures released December 1st by EU NAVFOR list just 12 attacks for the month of November in their area of operation. Whilst some sources h [...]
December 2, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
Few attacks; MT Gemini is released but 4 South Koreans kept behind. 3 kidnapped oil workers freed in Nigeria. British navy captures 7 pirates. Somali Ambassador declares piracy can be ended by May 2012 [...]
December 2, 2011
Russia Ready To Assist Seychelles In Anti-Piracy Initiatives
Source: Seychelles State House
December 01 2011 -- President James Michel has met with the Head of Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Serge [...]
December 2, 2011
British Royal Navy Thwarts Pirate Attack
Source: Somalia Report
Seven Pirates Arrested Using 2 Speedboats, Mothership Escapes
Somali pirates in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland told Somalia Report that the British Navy thwarted th [...]
December 1, 2011
Somali pirates jailed in France for kidnapping couple
For the first time France has prosecuted Somali pirates who seized French citizens (BBC/AFP)
Source: BBC News
A French court has jailed five Somali men for between four and eight [...]
November 26, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
In a very quiet week for piracy in all regions, this week has seen good news prevail. Rosalia D'Amato is released and the Captain of Samho Jewelry is honoured by the IMO. A recording of VHF call of a pirate [...]
November 25, 2011
Italian Vessel, Rosalia D'Amato Released by Pirates
And so it ends after more than seven months in captivity, Rosalia D'Amato, is reported to have been released by Somali pirates. We do not know the conditions of seafarers on board. The ne [...]
November 23, 2011
IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea 2011 goes to hijacked ship Master Captain Seog Hae-gyun of the Republic of Korea
Source: IMO.org
Captain Seog Hae-gyun of the Republic of Korea, Master of the chemical tanker Samho Jewelry, has been presented with [...]
November 22, 2011
Somalia: Security Council urges comprehensive global response to maritime piracy
Source: UN.org
Pirates off Somalia
22 November 2011 – The Security Council today reiterated its condemnation of maritime piracy and armed robbery at sea off [...]
November 21, 2011
Held hostage by Somali pirates, after 18 months, 13 Mynamar sailors return home
By Aye Sapay Phyu Mynamar TimesNovember 21 - 27, 2011
Pic: Aye Zaw Myo
A GROUP of 13 Myanmar sailors held captive by Somali pirates in appalling conditions for about 15 mont [...]
November 19, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
No successful attacks in the week off Somalia once more, but hijack off Nigeria with 3 kidnapped. Pirate disruptions continue. SE Asia sees more vessels boarded as conferences call for greater collaboration [...]
November 18, 2011
Pirates hijack Chevron vessel off Nigeria: sources
Source: Reuters
Eight armed men boarded an oil supply vessel contracted by U.S. energy company Chevron off the Nigerian coast early on Friday, shipping and security sources said.
This would be the secon [...]
November 18, 2011
Another one to celebrate - gift of a Naval Base
Source: The People
President James Michel has, on behalf of the people of Seychelles, thanked the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and his government for the beautiful gift he has given to the [...]
November 17, 2011
The Netherlands to Host the 10th Plenary of the CGPCS on 17 November
Source: CGPCS
Chaired by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) will hold its 10th Plenary Meeting on November 17, 2011, [...]
November 15, 2011
Captain who took on pirates awarded an OBE
Source: The News - Portsmouth
THE former captain of the Portsmouth-based warship HMS Lancaster has been awarded an OBE for fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia.
Commander Rory Bryan, 42, scooped the hon [...]
November 15, 2011
Piracy; Costs More Than Just a Ransom
“At the moment of the attack there were 78 people onboard and 1 million barrels of crude oil. I cannot imagine what could have happened if we did not surrender to the pirates. Human lives endangered and disastro [...]
November 13, 2011
UN Piracy Resolution Faces Significant Hurdles
Writing as JURIST Guest Columnist Raymond Gilpin, Director of the Center for Sustainable Economies at the United States Institute of Peace, says that the UN piracy resolution will only have a meanin [...]
November 12, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
No successful attacks in the past week; late reported hijack of FV off Seychelles and an astonishing recapture by vessel’s crew. EU disruption but suspects are released. Mistaken pirates released. [...]
November 11, 2011
President Michel Pressures International Community Over Piracy
Source: The People
President James Michel cannot allow any more Seychellois fishermen to be taken hostage by Somali pirates, when this happens it affects him, the families, the Seychellois na [...]
November 10, 2011
Modern Piracy Tactics and Challenges
Op-ed by Allison Maykuth of Beowulf Defense And Security
Following on in a series of op-eds submitted by BDS, Allison Maykuth discourses on the maritime security-related issue of evolving tactics of pir [...]
November 9, 2011
Solar-powered catamaran skirts the Somali pirate zone
by Raphaël Domjan/Sail-World Cruising
'Planet Solar - newly maintained and rearing to go. Next, the Indian Ocean and its pirates' .
[...]
November 6, 2011
Crew recapture Taiwan ship from Somali pirates (AFP)
Source: Khaleej Times
Taipei — The crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel fought against armed Somali pirates to retake their ship after it was hijacked off East Africa, Taiwan authorities said Sunda [...]
November 5, 2011
Pirates release oil tanker Halifax off Nigeria
Source: BBC News
An oil tanker seized by pirates off the coast of the Niger Delta last week has been released, officials in Nigeria say.
The vessel - MT Halifax - was attacked near the oil city of [...]
November 5, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
MV Blida released, attacked but escapes and pirates abandoned hijacked ship. That’s the good news. Bad news – three hijacks drive home that piracy threat remains high, despite Puntland arresting [...]
November 5, 2011
Somalia Report EXCLUSIVE
US to Promote Use of Armed Guards on Vessels
Sec of State Hillary Clinton Orders Embassies to Promote the Use of Contractors
By ROBERT YOUNG PELTON 11/04/2011
Somalia Report has obtained an unclassified docum [...]
November 3, 2011
"To Sail the Gulf of Aden is Like Playing Russian Roulette"
Source: EUNVAFOR
Christian Colombo, a former French Navy sailor and his wife were on their way to fulfil their dream. They were sailing to see the world in their yacht, the SY Tribal Kat u [...]
November 3, 2011
Greek Tanker Hijacked Off Nigeria; Third Hijacking in 7 Days
UPDATED: The Greek-owned tanker, MT Halifax, has failed to report its position off Nigeria over the last few days. Having lost communications with the ship, the vessel has since been reported as [...]
November 3, 2011
Algerian vessel, MV Blida and 25 Crew Reported to be Released by Somali Pirates
Source: Somalia Report
After 11 months in captivity, MV Blida and her crew of 25 have been freed by Somalia pirates after they agreed to accept a US$2 ransom from the shipown [...]
November 1, 2011
Greek Tanker, Liquid Velvet, Hijacked in the Gulf of Aden
The Greek-owned tanker, Liquid Velvet, was reported to have been hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden at the western end of the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor (IRTC), the first in t [...]
October 30, 2011
Somali piracy: Armed guards to protect UK ships
Source: BBC News
Ships sailing under a British flag will be able to carry armed guards to protect them from pirates, the prime minister has announced.
David Cameron says he wants to combat the risks [...]
October 29, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
A quiet week at sea – Puntland pirates arrested; aid workers kidnapped and confusion over the fate of MV Iceberg 1. Pirates go missing and Yemeni fishermen are confused with Somali pirates. Contra [...]
October 26, 2011
Maritime Security - "Who's Watching The Watchers?"
Op-ed by Michael Durao of Beowulf Defense And Security
In a series of op-eds relating to maritime security, Beowulf's Michael Durao underlines the need to ensure that the maritime security fiel [...]
October 26, 2011
ITF - A Welcome Response From SACEUR
Source: Shiptalk
The ITF has welcomed the latest statement of determination to prevent piracy from the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, US Navy Admiral James Stavridis.
The organisation was responding to an exchan [...]
October 24, 2011
Paul and Rachel Chandler: Police should have led rescue bid
Source: BBC News
A couple kidnapped by Somali pirates have criticised the government for putting the Foreign Office in charge of their case, rather than police.
Paul and Rachel Chan [...]
October 24, 2011
Sisulu Condemns Piracy
Source: Defence Web
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu has again spoken out against the scourge of piracy. Addressing the 10th South African-Botswana Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security she lame [...]
October 22, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
New low from pirates after death of captive tourist; four pirates detained as mothership is freed. A Yemeni pirate is sentenced to life; fewer successful hijacks but record level of attacks in 9 months. [...]
October 20, 2011
Russia offers help in fighting sea piracy in Gulf of Guinea
Source: Ria Novorsti
Russian UN Ambassador, Vitaly Churkin (Photo; RIAN)
Russia is ready to join international efforts to curb sea piracy in the Gulf of Guinea where about 30 [...]
October 20, 2011
Ban calls for integrated strategy against maritime piracy in Gulf of Guinea
Source: UN.org
The issue of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea was raised by several West African officials at the 66th General Assembly annual general debate in New York [...]
October 18, 2011
Ship attacked at Exxon Nigerian oil platform
Source: Reuters
Gunmen attacked a ship supplying an Exxon Mobil oil platform off the Nigerian coast, the company said on Tuesday, less than three weeks after someone was kidnapped from a vessel at one of its f [...]
October 16, 2011
Royal Navy stages daring rescue of ship seized by Somali pirates
Source:Daily Mirror Reporter
THE Royal Navy saved the crew of a ship after it was hijacked by pirates – the second rescue in a week.
HMS Somerset’s Merlin helicopter track [...]
October 14, 2011
OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
Dramatic joint rescue mission and fewer attacks over the week but global attacks at an all time high. Crew safe after tanker released off West Africa. Arming ships and issuing counter piracy policy dominate [...]
October 12, 2011
Tackling piracy: UK Government response
Source: FCO.gov.uk
Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham gave a speech to the British Chamber of Shipping on the UK Government’s response to counter-piracy.
One of the most important duties of a Governmen [...]
October 12, 2011
UK Government announces funding of counter-piracy projects
Source: FCO.gov.uk
Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham has announced funding plans demonstrating the [UK] Government's determination to deliver action in response to the threat from pir [...]
October 11, 2011
British & US special forces storm hijacked ship, Montecristo, off Somalia
British and US special forces have stormed an Italian ship hijacked by Somali pirates, according to an Italian defence ministry spokesman.
MV Montecristo (Photo: Re [...]
October 11, 2011
Captain tied up in dark cabin for 21 days, engineer dipped in water till he fainted.
By Smita Nair of Express India
For 21 days, Mahadeo Makane was tied to a wooden chair in the motorman’s cabin, deep in the belly of the ship he once captained, wit [...]
October 10, 2011
ICS Chairman Addresses India Shipping Summit
Press release featured in MarineLink.com
“We have reached the end of our tether on piracy," ICS Chairman tells India Shipping Summit.
ICS Chairman (Photo Shipmanagementinternational.com)
[...]
October 6, 2011
Gunfight off Tanzania sees pirates detained. 10 attacks over the last week as the Puntland anti-piracy efforts receive resources yet claim piracy can be eliminated in 60 days. Kidnapped, disabled Frenchwoman in Kismayo say pirates. Prison sentences handed [...]
October 6, 2011
Maritime Security - No Room For Complacency
Op-ed by Ryan Pearce of Beowulf Defense And Security
The following op-ed is provided as a cautionary tale in the field of maritime security. Whilst it is acknowledged that a level of success has occur [...]
October 5, 2011
Petrobras Drillship Attacked By Pirates
By John Konrad Source article
Yesterday, just months after arriving on location, the newly built Ocean Rig Drillship Poseidon, was attacked by pirates while drilling off the coast of Tanzania.
In a st [...]
September 30, 2011
A week of high drama in the Red Sea and the shipping community coming together for World Maritime Day and launch of a support organisation for seafarers, MV Eagle and MV Dover are released. However, South African couple remain hostages. The piracy toll in [...]
September 29, 2011
MV Dover and 24 crew released by Somali pirates following $3.8 million ransom payment
By Andrew Mwangura, Somalia Report - Exclusive
MV Dover has finally been released by Somali pirates, officials who spoke to Somalia Report have confirmed.
&ldquo [...]
September 29, 2011
September 29 is World Maritime Day 2011 with the theme Piracy: Orchestrating the Response. The following is a message from the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos
As a manifestati [...]
September 29, 2011
MV Eagle released by Somali pirates after 9 months captivity
Following payment of a ransom, MV Eagle, which was pirated on January17, 2011 approximately 490nm South of Salalah, Oman has been released from pirate control off the coast of Somalia. T [...]
September 28, 2011
Recent pirate activity in the Mozambique Channel has prompted Neptune Maritime Security to issue the following Advisory Notice to shipping partners transiting the area and maritime media outlets, in order to raise awareness of a potential hotspot [...]
September 26, 2011
Indian Navy thwarts Somali pirate attack on two cargo ships in Gulf of Aden
By Economic Times (India Times)
Attacks by Somali pirates on two cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden were thwarted by an Indian Navy [...]
September 24, 2011
The 26 crew members of the Greek-owned and Cypriot-flagged general cargo ship MV Pacific Express docked safely in Kenya's port city of Mombasa Saturday afternoon after surviving a pirate attack and devastating fire aboard the vessel.
By Andrew Mwangura
[...]
September 24, 2011
A Spanish oil tanker that was hijacked by pirates off West Africa 10 days ago was freed Saturday and the 23-member crew is OK, its owner said.
No ransom was paid for the release of the Cypriot-flagged Mattheos I, although pirates who seized it stole as mu [...]
September 24, 2011
Frustrated pirates set ship on fire; British tourist “spotted” in Somalia. Nigerian pirates spreading their reach but not necessarily ‘copycat’; Tanker is released. Convicted pirates appeal in US court. Insurers back private securit [...]
September 21, 2011
Saudi Arabia gives boost to IMO Djibouti Code Trust Fund to combat piracy
By IMO
Saudi Arabia has made a significant contribution to the IMO Djibouti Code Trust Fund, giving a welcome boost to the IMO-led project to implement the Code of Conduct concerni [...]
September 21, 2011
Somali pirates set ship on fire as they were unable to hijack the vessel and kidnap the crew
By Tradewindsnews
Somali pirates hit Cyprus Maritime’s 22,600-dwt Pacific Express (built 1981) yesterday, September 20, and it was feared the shi [...]
September 16, 2011
335 attacks worldwide; private sailor and tourist killed with wives kidnapped by Somali pirates; 23 crew taken by West African pirates but MV released with 24 crew by Somali pirates; EU expects a surge in attacks after the monsoon clears; greater acti [...]
September 16, 2011
Mongolia-flagged bulker, Hoang Son Sun reported released by Somali pirates.
UPDATED
By Andrew Mwangura, Somalia Report
After nine months of captivity, the Mongolia-flagged, Vietnamese-owned bulk carrier MV Hoang Son Sun and her crew of 24 vietnamese sai [...]
September 15, 2011
Pirates put a value on seafarers lives, but what about the governments?
By Davide de Bernardin
Piracy, like most human acts, is all about money. All around the world, ships get pirated in order to steal their cargo, to steal crew property, to renam [...]
September 12, 2011
Piracy continues to threaten seafarers in the South East Asia region.
South East Asia, unlike the East and West coasts of Africa, has seen a reduction in piracy attacks due to increased and more aggressive naval patrols since 2005. However, the scourge [...]
September 12, 2011
Danish strategy in support of the effort in countering piracy off Somalia is issued.
The overall goal of the Danish efforts to combat piracy is to contribute to making the waters off the coast of the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean safe and navig [...]
September 10, 2011
EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta warships stopped and boarded a skiff thought to have been involved in an incident with the French Sailing Yacht Tribal Kat. One member of the crew from the yacht was found safe.
The SY Tribal Kat was located on 8 September, by [...]
September 9, 2011
Just as one ship and Danish hostages are released, another yacht is hijacked. Oman navy thwarts hijack attempt and frees Indian crew whilst arresting pirates. Captives remain in grave danger, some over a year. Private security divides government and shipow [...]
September 9, 2011
Global Shipping Industry Calls for UN Armed Force Against Somali Pirates
By Ship Management International
The global shipping industry (represented by the Round Table of international shipping associations) has called for the establishment of a United [...]
September 8, 2011
One year has passed since 3 Turkish & 15 Georgian sailors were kidnapped on a Greek-owned ship off Somalia.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
While the families say they cannot get any response for their calls, government officials say the situat [...]
September 8, 2011
Following the rescue of a hijacked ship, 2 Indian crew and a Somali pirate die in Oman hospital
By Rejimon K of Times of Oman
IN SAFE WATERS: The rescued Indian ship docked [...]
September 7, 2011
Danish yachting family finally released after reported $3 million ransom is paid
Via Somalia Report
The Danish yachting family held hostage since February have been released, the Danish Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, one day after Somalia Report report [...]
September 7, 2011
The US Maritime Administration issues an advisory of the risk to vessels transiting High Risk Waters, published via AMVER, the USCG blog.
This MARAD advisory provides information on the risk to vessels transiting the high risk waters (HRW) of th [...]
September 6, 2011
Container ship, MSC Panama, released by Somali pirates following $7 million ransom payment
Somali pirates freed the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Panama seized last December after receiving a $7 million ransom on Tuesday, pirates holding the ship to [...]
September 1, 2011
Relative quiet returns to the Horn of Africa region. Fishing vessel taken in preparation for the next 'pirate season'. Gulf of Guinea profile stays on an upward curve, including ransoming a captain. India and Pakistan proxy war. Joint operations put forw [...]
August 30, 2011
Press Release via Neptune Maritime SecurityFigure 1 (double click toenlarge)Further to our previous media releases detailing a potential new trend in pirate tactics in an area of the Red Sea off Eritrea (see Figure 1), Neptune Maritime Security has ha [...]
August 26, 2011
Pirates hijack vessels nearer to ports in Oman and Benin and the amount of attacks set to rise. MT Polar is released and MV Blida crew threatened over ransom payment. U.S. Federal Court sentences pirates to life sentences, whilst S Korea demands similar. [...]
August 26, 2011
Somali pirates release MT Polar after 10 months captivity.By Somalia ReportSomali pirates today released the MT Polar after holding her for ten months. Details of any ransom payment are being kept quiet by official sources, but Bar Kulan&nbs [...]
August 26, 2011
In the realms of Maritime Domain Awareness, threat and risk assessments are the foundation of security, but needs accuracy, completeness and trustworthiness, not just compliance, to be truly useful and effective.By Allan McDougall, Evolutionary Security Ma [...]
August 23, 2011
Hijacked chemical tanker, Fairchem Bogey arrives off the Somali coast.The Marshall Islands flagged chemical oil product tanker, MT Fairchem Bogey, has safely anchored off Garacad in Somalia's Mudug region after it was hijacked by Somalia pirates on August [...]
August 20, 2011
An Indian-owned chemical tanker is hijacked off the Gulf port of Salalah in the early hours.
An Indian chemical tanker was reported to have been hijacked today, August 20 at 0150 UTC off the port of Salalah in Oman.The Marshall Island-flagged tanker, MV F [...]
August 17, 2011
Pirate activity remains at low intensity; two attacks, no boardings. Iranian vessel disputes hijacking claim. MV Sinin released after 6 months and another possible soon, along with Danish hostages. Plea for clemency for SA couple. Somali pirates in-g [...]
August 13, 2011
Four unsuccessful attacks by Somali pirates, including a boarding and a 12-skiff swarm attack. West African piracy shifts international focus. The mystery of the missing crewmember, but pirates clash results in two deaths. Five pirates are jailed in Hollan [...]
August 12, 2011
As the southwest monsoon in the Somali Basin and Arabian Sea nears its end, after creating something akin to a hiatus from piracy, notwithstanding the flurry of desperate attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, there is clear potential for more violent an [...]
August 10, 2011
By David Rider, Neptune Maritime SecurityDespite the best efforts of the world’s navies and EU NAVFOR in particular, piracy in the Indian Ocean/Gulf of Aden and Red Sea areas shows no sign of abating. Quite the contrary, according to a report released by t [...]
August 5, 2011
Quiet during the storm - low pirate activity at sea, but rivals clash ashore. Unheralded hostage release and U.S. once more debates the definition of piracy. West African piracy surges and War Risk alters. Taiwan is willing but limited, whilst the Ir [...]
August 3, 2011
By: Davide de Bernardin; freelance researcher and analyst on maritime economics & international security.Year after year the money spent on ransoms for the return of the pirated ships rises. In 2005, the average ransom was about US$150,000, but in 2010 [...]
July 29, 2011
No hijack and fewer attacks with a vessel released after an usually low ransom payment. Puntland's plea for help and pirates denied by local residents protests; vessels and hostages moved. Dutch prosecutors demand jail term even if hijacks fail whilst susp [...]
July 21, 2011
Pirates hit back with a hijack, numerous attacks, fights amongst their gangs and release of 2,000 goats. Iran Navy disrupts pirates. Accused pirates plead not guilty to US yacht killings; hold MV crew at their mercy whilst crew paraded on video begging for [...]
July 17, 2011
Somali pirates make themselves known after monsoon hiatus. Two merchant vessel evade pirates but UAE oil product tanker is captured with 16 crew on board.Somali pirates have finally had success after failing to capture any merchant vessel in the last few m [...]
July 15, 2011
Puntland forces chase pirates in vain following reported hijack off Bosaso; chemical tanker evades pirates by simply display armed security team. South Korean sailors threatened because of past government actions against pirates. Suspected pirates missing [...]
July 14, 2011
IMB Report: Pirate Attacks at Sea Becoming Bigger and BolderPress Release via Neptune Maritime SecurityAccording to data released today (July 14th 2011) by the International Maritime Bureau, pirate attacks off Somalia and in the GoA/Indian Ocean region cli [...]
July 8, 2011
Attacks remain at low level with a boarding resulting in pirates and crew abandoning the ship following a fire. South Korea blocks suspected pirates but news that Socotra Island is used as a pirate logistics base. Idea of adhoc tribunals in Somalia critici [...]
July 7, 2011
By Somalia Report Maritime correspondent, Andrew MwanguraTanker ablaze after pirate attack now under control and en route to Aden. Crew safe and no pollution occurred.A fire that broke out aboard the Liberian-flagged oil tanker, the MT Brillante Virtuoso, [...]
July 1, 2011
Fewer attacks across the region but one attack off Oman by pirate-held fishing vessel. One vessel evades two pirate attacks in 5 days. More confusion over MV Dover ransom and release. Puntland forces nab pirates but Galmudug President fires cabin [...]
June 26, 2011
Merchant vessel evades pirates as mothership loiters.Somali pirates have journeyed Northeast from Somalia into the the Northern Arabian Sea once more. Defying the poor weather conditions of the Southwest monsoon, the pirate-held fishing vessel,&n [...]
June 24, 2011
Less activity at sea over the last week; two attacks off India's west coast and two attacks in BAM. Suspected pirates picked up off India as dhow runs out of fuel. Somaliland axes 8 judges. Hostage illness reported; India and Pakistan clash over warship ma [...]
June 23, 2011
Arrest of Security Team, Tough Stance on Ransom Could Endanger SeamenFrom Somalia Report - by Abdullahi Jamaa and Andrew Mwangura
The sentencing of a foreign security team to long jail terms for bringing into Somalia $3.6 million for pirates holding hijac [...]
June 19, 2011
Danish warship hands 24 Somali pirates to Kenyan court for trialBy Somalia Report (Mohamed Hassan & Andrew Mwangura) - 19 JuneDanish warship HDMS Esbern Snare of the NATO counter piracy force docked in the Kenyan port of Mombasa on Sunday, carrying 24 [...]
June 18, 2011
Foreign security team are jailed for 15 years.$3.6 million, earmarked for ransom payment, and aircraft are seized by Somali GovernmentBy Somalia Report - 18 JuneTwo British members of a foreign security company have been sentenced to 15 years and four [...]
June 17, 2011
A flurry of activity in the arena of piracy and attacks in Red Sea, Bab al Mandeb Strait and Arabian Sea; warship sinks skiffs but not the mothership; Pirated MV ablaze as released vessel repels an attack. Another vessel is released; a seafarer explains ex [...]
June 10, 2011
Pirates continue to move to the Red Sea and back into the Gulf of Aden; piracy now acknowledged as a year-round capability. Two MVs released, one connected to the ‘failed ransom drop.’ Danish hostages moved, again. Six pirates convicted in Somaliland; stud [...]
June 8, 2011
If Piracy is illegal, why don't we fight it?Written by: Davide de Bernardin; freelance researcher and analyst on maritime economics & international security.The latest news on Somali piracy comes from India: the prospect of jail in the country will no [...]
June 5, 2011
A study into the human cost of Somali Piracy has been carried out under One Earth Future Foundation. The study is to be launched through Chatham House in London.PRESS RELEASE2 June 2011Human Cost of Somali Piracy ReportAs violence against seafarers by So [...]
June 3, 2011
A quieter week in the region as pirates move to the Red Sea. Pirate-held MV patrols the Arabian Sea. Organized crime and financial links to piracy; South Korea jails pirates; “Pirates fought the Law, and the Law lost;” Life as a hostage described but SA ho [...]
May 29, 2011
Captain of hijacked Taiwanese vessel killed by gunfire. Three pirates also killed as ship is sunk in clash with U.S. warship (via Somalia Report).
The hijacked long liner, Jih Chun Tsai 68, operating as a mothership by Somali pirates ran into [...]
May 26, 2011
Release after 4 months captivity; a ransom drop goes wrong; fewer attacks as pirates held in US plead guilty to piracy charges as South Korea sentences pirates; interim guidelines for armed security on ships; Seychelles agrees to accept pirates from Danes; [...]
May 19, 2011
Attacks spread across the length of the region as monsoon season approaches; a new phrase "extended unit self defense" a game-changer; call for armed guards almost sanctioned; naval actions off Somalia free more hostages; international response to piracy, [...]
May 17, 2011
The breadth of pirate attacks throughout Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea demonstrates the dangers faced by seafarers.Following recent successful actions by coalition forces operating off the Somali coast, it seems the pirates are launching desperate bids to c [...]
May 13, 2011
Rumoured releases; attacks but no hijacks over past 7 days. Danish hostages sick; plenty of comment on the big business that is piracy; the take up of arms, call for a dragnet and the use of armed guards at sea; Senator Kirk's trip report to Somalia; UK ac [...]
May 11, 2011
Three MVs attacked by pirates off Oman - all unsuccessful.As Pirate Action Groups continue to operate in the Arabian Sea, 3 merchant vessels evade attacks in the last 48-hour period.Two attacks occurred May 10. At 1117 UTC in positions 1735N - 05756E, appr [...]
May 9, 2011
Merchant vessel evades known pirate Dhow in the Arabian Sea.A Pirate Action Group consisting of a mothership and 2 skiffs was observed operating in the Arabian Sea over the last few days. The PAG launched an attack on a bulk carrier May 8. There are two PA [...]
May 7, 2011
In a breaking news report by SomaliaReport, members of the Danish family captured by Somali pirates are suffering a deterioration in health. Potential move ashore as MV Dover nears possible release.Mother and Daughter Health Detiorating, No Doctors Al [...]
May 6, 2011
Release, hijack and attacks but 4 pirates dead after ransom drop. China and Pakistan in first anti-piracy drill; Yemen and Spain sentence pirates; tension escalates as navies and pirates take off glove; MV Iceberg1 crew pleads for help on video; Senator Ki [...]
April 27, 2011
MV Renaur release confused with MV Eagle; Asphalt Venture limps into Mombasa with half crew; Indian seafarers protest march, and Seychelles Coastguard to the rescue, again. A second Somali man is arrested suspected of piracy. Plus, a late report of a hijac [...]
April 26, 2011
Recent pirate and armed robbery activity in Southeast Asia, India and off the SeychellesA recent spate of piracy and armed robbery at sea in Southeast Asia, India and the Seychelles has seen hostage taking at knife point and with automatic weapons. Reporte [...]
April 24, 2011
Container ship evades pirate attack in the Arabian Sea, 99nm from the position of the hijack of Rosalia D'Amato; the third attack in 24-hours.A Pirate Action Group consisting of a mothership and 1 skiff was observed operating in the Northern Arabian Sea, t [...]
April 24, 2011
Two merchant vessels evade pirate attacks in the Somali Basin in 24-hour period. Whilst MV Eagle is rumoured to be released, ashore, 18 suspected pirates are detained in Bosaso.A Pirate Action Group consisting of a mothership and 2 skiffs was observed oper [...]
April 22, 2011
Italian MV Rosalia D'Amato is hijacked; South Korean MV Hanjin Tianjin initially reported hijacked but was actually saved by the citadel; UAE hosts a counter piracy conference to forge 'a common approach to maritime piracy'; South Africa helps the internat [...]
April 21, 2011
Earlier report stated that pirates had successfully hijacked two merchant ships in the Arabian Sea today. Proved not to be the case as the crew of MV Hanjin Tainjin escape by retreating to a citadel.Updated: After a relatively quiet few days with no attack [...]
April 15, 2011
Thor Nexus, Beluga Nomination and Asphalt Venture released whilst Irene SL makes it way to safety - but its not so straightforward. Royal Australian Navy rescue hostages; the UN considers plans for specialized Somali courts to try pirates; US charges alleg [...]
April 13, 2011
MV Belgua Nomination released from pirate control; assisted to safety by 2 tugs. The German-owned multi-purpose MV Belgua Nomination is reported to have been released from Somali pirate control after 12 weeks captivity. Although the negotiations [...]
April 12, 2011
Pirate Action Group attack on passenger ship deterred by security team in Gulf of Aden.A Pirate Action Group (PAG), the biggest group reported for some time, and likely to include some from the same PAG that have carried out a series of attacks in the Gulf [...]
April 11, 2011
MV Thor Nexus released by Somali pirates following ransom drop. Pirates fight over ransom money ends in death.The Thai-owned general cargo ship, MV Thor Nexus, hijacked by pirates at the end of 2010, has been released by Somali pirates following the ransom [...]
April 10, 2011
Pirate Action Group approach deterred by chemical tanker in Gulf of Aden.A Pirate Action Group (PAG), likely to be the same PAG having carried out a series of attacks in the Gulf of Aden, in and round the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) [...]
April 8, 2011
MT Irene SL released; MV Susan K hijacked; 2 pirates killed, 8 detained by Dutch forces are charged; UAE Special Forces rescue vessel after 30-hour siege; gun battle between pirates and locals; Indian shipowners want armed guards, and military authorities [...]
April 8, 2011
Delight at Irene SL release but piracy crisis in Indian Ocean calls for governments to show political will not political indifference.PRESS RELEASEINTERTANKO is delighted that the Irene SL has been released by the Somali pirates who hijacked this tanker an [...]
April 6, 2011
Pirate distraction tactic fails to net merchant vessel in Arabian Sea.Pirate Action Groups (PAGs) in the Arabian Sea area continue to make their presence felt. A mothership with 2 skiffs is operating in the region and has used the two skiffs to draw attent [...]
April 5, 2011
Crew of the MV Arrilah-I, who were freed over the last weekend after their vessel was hijacked, escaped their attackers by hiding in citadel as pirates repeatedly tried to force them out, including using smoke.
The 21 sailors and 3 unarmed security guards [...]
March 31, 2011
UN Security Council condemns, deplores and re-authorises; US Dept of State considers options for counter-piracy; Indian forces capture 16 pirates and free 16 crew; Somalia's international agreements and Puntland does their own, and crazy notions from pirat [...]
March 30, 2011
Pirates hijack tug and crew off Malaysia, but release hostages in a liferaft with provisions.In an incident report by the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB), an odd departure from the usual story of high seas piracy occurred off Ti [...]
March 30, 2011
OCEANUSLive.org is now open for Beta testing by the shipping industry!The idea behind |O|L| came from the need to share information within the industry to support common issues affecting mariners worldwide. Real-time sharing of information in high th [...]
March 28, 2011
All is silent concerning the pirate-held MV BlidaThe fate of Algeria-flagged bulk carrier, MV Blida, seized by Somali pirates earlier this year, is still unclear as no contact has been established for more than 80 days since it was pirated near Oman, [...]
March 28, 2011
Early morning attack nets pirates a crude tanker in the Arabian Sea.Pirates successfully hijacked a crude tanker in the Arabian Sea near to the locations of suspicious activity and an attack the previous day, outside of the Internationally Recommended Tran [...]
March 25, 2011
The tragic impact of piracy continues to affect seafarers. No hijacks over the last week, but a small rise in attacks with injuries and US Navy interdiction. Conference season is well underway with piracy on every agenda.The news that a merchant vessel, du [...]
March 25, 2011
Pirate action groups in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean continue to menace shipping.Over the past 48 hours, pirates have carried out four attacks spanning a distance of approximately 840nm in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. The first instance was [...]
March 24, 2011
Sanctuary, or Not Sanctuary?
Citadels are becoming one of the de facto measures to avoid pirate capture, but are they properly implemented and how can they be enhanced?
The early successes in the use of shipborne citadels to protect ships' crews, att [...]
March 23, 2011
The plague of piracy continues to strike in other regions than Somalia.Hidden amongst the headline news of the tsunami and earthquakes hitting Japan, the near-civil war in Libya with coalition forces making their presence felt, and the continually increasi [...]
March 22, 2011
After confused reports of a hijack, the target MV evades pirates in the Arabian Sea, just.Following some confused reporting yesterday, when a vessel was reported to have been hijacked by pirates, it later transpired that the vessel had been boarded but the [...]
March 21, 2011
Pirate Action Group foiled yet again in attack on a vessel in the Somali Basin but crewmembers are injuredOn March 21 at 0846 UTC, a tanker, believed to be Liberian-flagged MT Al Nouf, was reported coming under attack by a pirate action group (PAG) co [...]
March 19, 2011
Interview with a pirate; the why, how, where and what of Somali piracyIn an exclusive interview conducted by a Somalia Report correspondent, Ahmed Abdi, a former pirate tells about his life as a pirate. The article by Somalia Report, the premier site for e [...]
March 18, 2011
Main events in pirate activity have been release and capture of vessels, use as motherships; the capture of 61 pirates, including "child pirates" by Indian forces, ransom demand for Danish hostages and Puntland protests to release them.The most surprising [...]
March 17, 2011
MV Hannibal II has been released from pirate control as another MV, Sinar Kudus, is captured and used as a mothershipThe MV Hannibal II was reported to have been released from Somali pirate control after holding it for more than four months. It has been st [...]
March 17, 2011
$15 million ransom demand for Danish hostages; local Elders demand their release(By Ahmed Abdi via Somaliareport.com )Following unconfirmed reports of negotiations being underway between the family of the Danish hostages, kidnapped on February 24 on their [...]
March 16, 2011
Hijacked MV Sinar Kudus, with 20 Indonesian hostages, quickly turns around to mothership operations to carry out further attack
On March 16 at approximately 0730 UTC, it was reported to military authorities that a merchant vessel, the bulk cargo carr [...]
March 14, 2011
Four pirates, alleged connected to the pirates holding the Danish hostages, detained by Puntland ForcesBreaking news from Somalia Report.com Security Forces of the Regional Autonomy of Puntland, nabbed a group of suspected pirates during their land-based, [...]
March 14, 2011
UN Office states Somalia's Government, TFG, will fall short of its taskAn exclusive report from Somalia Report by Abdilatif MaalimAt a time when shipping industry associations campaign for greater action by governments to do more to find a solution to the [...]
March 14, 2011
MV Jahan Moni released by Somali pirates following ransom paymentThe Bangladesh bulk carrier, MV Jahan Moni, hijacked by pirates in December 2010, has been released by Somali pirates following the ransom payment of $4million. The 25 crew and the wife of th [...]
March 13, 2011
Pirated vessel, MV Irene SL, seen South of Socotra Island, possibly conducting mothership operationsOn March 13 at 1010 UTC, the pirated MV Irene SL, possibly acting as a mothership was reported in position 1015N 05339E on a Northeasterly heading at a [...]
March 13, 2011
Recently released MV York, used as a mothership, arrives in MombasaExclusive report courtesy of SomaliaReport.com The LPG tanker, MV York, arrived in Mombasa in Kenya this morning, March 13. She was on of the four motherships used by pirates to extend thei [...]
March 11, 2011
MV Jahan Moni may be released soonAn exclusive report by Andrew Mwangura for SomaliaReport.com (8/3/11)The Bangladesh bulk carrier, MV Jahan Moni, hijacked by pirates in December 2010, may soon be released reports Somalia Report .The average release time f [...]
March 11, 2011
A wide range of piracy related articles published over the last week, notably the failed rescue attempt of the Danish yacht family, the release of two vessels and the indictment of pirates in USA.The Danish yacht family and crew stay as the main news [...]
March 11, 2011
Kenyan police detain 2 British and 1 Kenyan suspect from released MV IzumiIn an exclusive report from Somalia Report (3/3/11), the crewmembers of the MV Izumi, released after 4 months captivity, had to wait a little longer before disembarking the vessel in [...]
March 11, 2011
Pirate Action Groups operating in the Indian Ocean fail to hijack two vesselsAs news of the deaths of several Puntland (semi-autonomous region of Somalia) soldiers during a failed rescue attempt of the Danish yacht family and crew in Northern mountain rang [...]
March 10, 2011
Rescued crew of MV Rak Afrikana, reported sunk, transferred to MV York also released by piratesOriginal report by ANDREW MWANGURA via SomaliaReport.comIt was reported via SomaliaReport.com that a distress call was sent from the MV Rak Afrikana&n [...]
March 10, 2011
Somali pirates release MV Rak Afrikana but vessel begins to sink some time afterwardsIt was reported that marine authorities received a distress call from the MV Rak Afrikana stating that the vessel had a ‘hole in the hull’ and was taking on large amounts [...]
March 6, 2011
Pirates Action Group foiled in attack on a vessel in the Somali BasinPirate Action Group attacks have recently concentrated on the Northern Arabian Sea. This does not indicate that there is any relative safety nearer to the Somali coast. Shipping companies [...]
March 5, 2011
Pirates Action Groups continue to carry out brazen attacks on shipping in the Arabian SeaPirate Action Group attacks have increased in the last few days in the Northern Arabian Sea. In all, 5 attacks have occurred in 48-hours in the Arabian Sea and In [...]
March 5, 2011
Pirates Action Group continue to menace shipping in the Arabian SeaShips are warned of a Pirate Action Groups that continue to operate in the Northern Arabian Sea. So far, the common practice has been the deployment of 2 pirate skiffs to pursue transiting [...]
March 4, 2011
The main news in pirate activity off the Horn of Africa is the Danish yacht crew with 3 children being kidnapped; MV Dover was hijacked off Oman, a new shipping industry campaign is launched, and two vessels are released from pirate control.Seven [...]
March 4, 2011
Pirates continue to attack shipping in the Indian OceanThe menace of piracy in the Indian Ocean continues to threaten seafarers on an almost daily basis. Following 3 attacks in the previous 24-hours, a further 2 attacks occurred today, March 4.The first at [...]
March 3, 2011
Pirates carry out 3 attacks in 24-hours in Gulf of Aden and Indian OceanIn the last 24 hours in the pirate-rich environment of the Horn of Africa, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, 3 attacks and suspicious activity has been carried out. Today, March 3, at 084 [...]
March 3, 2011
Suspect pirate action group operating off Omani coastOn March 3 at 0615 UTC, a Pirate Action Group, consisting of 1 white and black-hulled wooden Dhow and 1 grey-coloured speed boat, was reported in position 1731N 05732E, approximately 200nm North-Eas [...]
March 2, 2011
Pirates abandon sailboat after being engaged by escorting armed security vessel
On March 2 at 0750 UTC, a motor sailboat, the Capricorn, was boarded by 6 armed pirates in position 1211N 06358E in the Indian Ocean, approximately 550nm East of Socotr [...]
March 2, 2011
Somali pirates release German-operated MV Ems River cargo ship and its crew after holding the vessel for more than two monthsAs claimed by Somali pirates, and a regional maritime expert, in a Reuters report that the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged, German-owne [...]
March 1, 2011
Danish family, including 3 children, kidnapped as Somali pirates claim another yachtThe Danish family captured by pirates in the Indian Ocean will suffer the same fate as four American sailors slain last week if any rescue is attempt is made, a Somali pira [...]
March 1, 2011
FV evades hijack attempt in the Somali BasinOn march 1 at 1100 UTC, a fishing vessel was attacked by pirates in position 0224S 04607E in the Somali Basin, approximately 265nm Southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia. The attack was carried out by 2 skiffs with [...]
March 1, 2011
Shipping chiefs call on ‘people power’ to pressure governments to crack down on Somali pirates now throttling vital trade routes
As the threat of violence against seafarers in the Gulf of Aden, Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean grows, OCEANUSL [...]
February 28, 2011
MV Izumi with 20 Filipino crew reported released by Somali pirates on February 26, 2011The Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned, MV Izumi, has been reported by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs as being released from Somali pirate control on Feb [...]
February 28, 2011
MV Dover reported hijacked in the Arabian Sea only 10nm off Oman coastOn February 28 at 0606 UTC, a bulk cargo carrier, MV Dover, was boarded by pirates in position 1848N 05825E in the north Arabian Sean, approximately 10nm East of Madrakah, or 260nm North [...]
February 27, 2011
Merchant vessel attacked by pirates in the Arabian Sea only 85nm off Oman coastOn 27 February, at 0534 UTC, a merchant vessel, a bulk carrier, was reported as coming under attack by 1 skiff in position 2029N 06008E, approximately 85nm off the Oman coast in [...]
February 25, 2011
Pirate activity off the Horn of Africa this past week saw the yet another dramatic change to the already highly charged region. The killing of kidnapped US hostages has only increased tension and frustration.The killing of the 4 US citizens onboa [...]
February 25, 2011
Three Merchant vessel attacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean. All managed to evade hijack.Despite the raising of the stakes in the Horn of Africa region, Somali pirates continue to spread the fear of piracy amongst the seafaring community. On 25 February, [...]
February 25, 2011
Merchant vessel attacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean only 240nm from Quest hijackOn 25 February, a merchant vessel was reported as coming under attack by 1 mothership and 1 skiff in position 1446N 05839E, approximately 192nm Southeast of Salalah, Oman i [...]
February 22, 2011
Crew of hijacked US Yacht killed by pirates as US Navy shadowsThe four US yacht crew kidnapped by Somali pirates on February 18, were shot by pirates whilst two Somali pirates were conducting hostage negotiations onboard a US warship, says US Central Comma [...]
February 19, 2011
Merchant vessel attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden outside the IRTCOn 19 February, a merchant vessel, a bulk carrier, came under attack by pirates in 3 wooden skiffs. The attack occurred in position 1219N 04406E, in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 60n [...]
February 19, 2011
Merchant Vessel evades pirate attack of the North-east coast of MadagascarOn 19 February in the early morning, a merchant vessel was reported as coming under attack by pirates in position 1133S 05045E, approximately 90nm off the north e [...]
February 18, 2011
A US Yacht has been hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean off OmanOn 18 February at 1323 UTC, a yacht, said to be the 58-foot SV QUEST, was reported as coming under attack by pirates in position 1800N 06102E, 240nm off the Oman coast [...]
February 18, 2011
Pirate activity in the Horn of Africa region saw two vessels hijacked; the continued call for greater action from navies; the revelation that hostage crews were used to hijack other vessels to gain release; Norwegian shipowner states 'pirates should b [...]
February 18, 2011
Indian Offshore Tug boarded by pirates in the Singapore StraitsOn 17 February, at or about 0445local time, an Indian-registered offshore tug, POORNA, was under-way, at approximately 6.4 nm southwest of Pulau Nipa, in position 0108N, 10333.16E,&nb [...]
February 17, 2011
Merchant Vessel fires warning to pirates 40 nautical miles off the Indian west coast At 1000 UTC on 16 February, in position 2053.2N – 06939.1E, around 40nm south of Porbandar, India, 3 pirate skiffs were detected at 6.3 nm ahead of an underway c [...]
February 17, 2011
Barge under tow by Tug boarded by pirates in the Singapore StraitsAt 0815 Local on 11 February, in position 0110N – 10335E, around 3nm east of pilot western boarding ground "B" in the Singapore straits, 4 pirates in wooden boat boarded a barge under tow by [...]
February 15, 2011
Fishing Vessel reported hijacked in the Somali BasinIt has been reported that on 13 February, approximately in position 1200N 05302.1E, Around 8nm south of Samhah island, Yemen, pirates attacked and hijacked a fishing vessel, reportedly Yemeni FV [...]
February 13, 2011
MV SININ hijacked 225km from MV IRENE SL hijack in the North Arabian SeaDuring the evening on 12 February at 1931 UTC, a merchant vessel, believed to be Maltese bulk carrier, MV SININ with 23 crew - 13
Iranian and 10 Indian nationals - sent out a distres [...]
February 11, 2011
Pirate activity off the
Horn of Africa saw 2 oil tankers hijacked prompting outrage; Further outrage at treatment of hostages; Call for greater action from navies; India free crew and arrests pirates. The following is a situational
map of the events ov [...]
February 10, 2011
Following the release of FV Golden Wave, the Finnish warship, Pohjanmaa, provides assistanceThe EUNAVFOR warship, FNS POHJANMAA, carried out one of its first counter-piracy tasks when it secured and assisted the fishing
vessel GOLDEN WAVE after a request [...]
February 10, 2011
Merchant Vessel evades Pirate attempted hijack in Bab El Mandeb Strait in the Red SeaA pirate attack on a merchant vessel occurred early in the morning on 10 February. The attack was carried out by pirates from 5 skiffs in position 1251N
04315E in the Ba [...]
February 9, 2011
Anchored Tanker attacked by armed robbers in the South China SeaAt
0315 Local time, in position 0120.8N – 10420.5E, eastern OPL anchorage, Malaysia, 5 robbers armed with guns and knives boarded a tanker at
anchor. The Chief Engineer and the duty AB wer [...]
February 9, 2011
FV Golden Wave, also known as Keummi 305, released from pirate control early 9 FebruaryThe South Korean fishing vessel, FV GOLDEN WAVE, with 43 sailors aboard, including 39 Kenyans, 2 Chinese and 2 South
Koreans, was released after four months of captivi [...]
February 9, 2011
Previously pirated MV ZOULFECAR, acting as a mothership, sighted off Somali coastSighted on 9 February, the previously pirated MV Zoulfecar was reported in position 1122S 05145E, approximately 73km off the Somali coast at a speed of 6kts heading north [...]
February 9, 2011
Greek-flagged MV IRENE SL reported hijacked by pirates in the North Arabian SeaDuring mid-morning 9 February, the Greek-flagged and Panamanian-owned Very Large Crude Carrier, MV IRENE SL, which was carrying
about 2 million barrels of crude oil, worth roug [...]
February 8, 2011
Italian MV SAVINA CAYLYN reported as hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean following sustained attackIn the early hours of 8 February, the Italian-flagged and -owned oil tanker, MV SAVINA CAYLYN, was reported hijacked in position 1210N 06600E, approximat [...]
February 6, 2011
OCEANUSLive.org, Innovation-led Social Collaboration for the Maritime Industry OCEANUSLive.org has been undergoing extensive development to ensure that, once live, the system brings about new levels of social media innovation. The key emphasis is placed on [...]
February 5, 2011
Merchant Vessel evades Pirate attempted hijack off the Indian West coast.A pirate attack, originally reported in position 1004N 07054E stated a merchant
vessel coming under attack. The mid-morning attack has been clarified as an attack by pirates fr [...]
February 4, 2011
Pirate activity off the Horn of Africa spreads farther north; IMO and UN Secretary Generals introduce the new drive against piracy. The following is a situational map of the events over the
last week.The incidence of piracy has pushed further north durin [...]
February 3, 2011
Merchant Vessel evades Pirate Mothership attempted hijack in the Indian Ocean, in which NO weapons were fired.In what may be considered a departure from the normal pirate method of operating, it was reported on 3 February at 1431 UTC, that a merchant vesse [...]
February 2, 2011
Merchant Vessel evades Pirate Mothership attempted hijack in the Indian OceanOn 2 February, in the mid-afternoon, a merchant vessel reported coming under attack by pirates in position 1303N
06330E, in the Indian Ocean, East of Socotra Island, by a pirate [...]
January 31, 2011
Merchant Vessel evades Pirate attempted hijack in the Indian Ocean; Mothership operations continue to spread out in the regionIn the same day that a pirate attack occurred at the fartherst point reported, off the Iranian coast, on 30 January, a merchant ve [...]
January 31, 2011
EU NAVFOR and Finland create famous point in history.The 1st February
sees the beginning of a new era for the Finnish Navy when FNS
POHJANMAA joins EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA to support WFP and the deterrence and disruption of piracy in the Horn of Af [...]
January 30, 2011
Merchant Vessel evades Pirate attempted hijack off the Iranian coastIn yet another development in the growth of piracy, the farthest attack to the North, so far, has been report only 35km off the Iranian coast.Mid-morning on 30 January, merchant vessel was [...]
January 29, 2011
Robberies at sea off Nigeria and Jakarta, Indonesia highlight the continued risk to the seafaring communityTwo incidences of robbery at sea were reported recently by the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre, which resulted in ship and/or p [...]
January 29, 2011
Pirate activity in the Horn of Africa less intense over the last week. Confusion over one hijacked and one released vessel. The situational map of the attacks over the last week...Confusion and acrimony, combined with frustration and determination, s [...]
January 29, 2011
MV evades Pirate Action Group 2nd attempted hijack in the Indian Ocean. Crew holed up in citadel prior to rescue by Dutch warship over 24 hours later On 28 January at 0450 UTC, a merchant vessel was reported as coming under attack by 2 pirate skiffs firing [...]
January 26, 2011
MV Evades Pirate Attempted Hijack In The Indian Ocean Following Exchange of GunfireAt 0630 UTC 26 January, a merchant vessel was reported as coming under attack by 2 skiffs and 1 fishing
dhow, acting as mothership, in position 1114N 06250E, approximately [...]
January 25, 2011
MV BELUGA NOMINATION declared as hijacked by pirates after days of uncertainty
On the afternoon of 22 January 2011, the MV BELUGA NOMINATION was attacked by a skiff with an unknown number of pirates on board. Small arms were used against the v [...]
January 24, 2011
MV employed evasive manoeuvres as vessel chases by adjusting to collision course in the South China Seas At 0300 Local time, in position 1042N 10944E, South China Sea, the Duty officer
onboard a product tanker underway spotted a vessel approaching [...]
January 23, 2011
NATO Shipping Centre Weekly Counter Piracy Assessment 15/1-2011The Nato Shipping Centre, based at Northwood UK, has published the weekly Counter Piracy Assessment for the Horn of Africa region. The overall assessment is that the risk of piracy in the regio [...]
January 22, 2011
Pirate activity increases in the Horn of Africa, following a record year of hostage-taking incidents, the following is a situational map of the events over the last week
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre reports, in its lates [...]
January 22, 2011
South Korean Special Forces kill eight Somali pirates, capture five in the Indian Ocean as MV crew rescuedFollowing the storming of the vessel and rescue of the crew from Somali pirates by South Korean commandoes,
Lt. Gen. Lee Seong-ho, head of combat op [...]
January 21, 2011
MV Evades Pirate Attempted Hijack In The Indian Ocean21
January at 1055 UTC, a merchant vessel was reported as
coming under
attack by a single pirate skiff with automatic weapons fired at the
vessel in position 1237N
06500E, in the Indian Ocean [...]
January 17, 2011
Product Tanker MV MOTIVATOR has been released from pirate control.
The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, MT Motivator, which was pirated in the Southern Red Sea on 4 July 2010 with a crew of 18 Filipino nationals, was released 16 January in the early mor [...]
December 31, 2010
Status Of Piracy and Armed Robbery IncidentsIn 2008, Somali piracy became headline news. In that year alone there were a total of 293 piracy incidents worldwide, an increase of 11% from 2007 which saw 263 incidents, or at least those that were reported.In [...]
November 13, 2010
Citadels; Safe Haven For All?
Recent reports demonstrating the willingness of the shipping industry to adopt simple anti-piracy measures, particularly in the Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean, have seen an increase in the use of 'citadels' or 'safe rooms'. [...]