Horn of Africa Piracy Activity Update - 25 Feb

The killing of the 4 US citizens onboard the SV Quest, hijacked February 18 by Somali pirates, has highlighted to the American public the dangers of the situation off the Somali coast and throughout the Indian Ocean. The full story has yet to be released, particularly the circumstances relating to why the pirates fired an RPG at a US warship, killed two of their own and then the hostages. In the light of the 33-year sentence meted out by the US courts to the Somali pirate involved in the 2009 Maersk Alabama incident, threats were made by Somali pirates concerning the treatment of future US vessels and crew that may be hijacked. The SV Quest, unfortunately, became a pawn in that particular power play. 

It has not, however, stopped there. It is now claimed that the pirates have sent additional men and ammunition onto the 30 or so hijacked vessels held off Somalia in an attempt to dissuade any further rescue operations by the international military navies in the region. With 15 pirates captured by the US Special Forces, the stakes continually move upwards. The frustrations of the shipowners and the recent call for more action from the governments has not eased the situation one iota.

The world's focus is on the spread of uprisings across the Middle East region, especially the matter of oil exports, which also affects the ports that handle shipping that transits the Red Sea, Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, backed by the UN peacekeeping troops from the African Union (AMISOM), begins to increase efforts to expel the insurgents in Mogadishu. However, it may appear that there is little bearing on the matter of piracy here, the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, in response to the SV Quest tragedy stated "those members of the international community concerned about stability in Somalia and piracy to contribute to AMISOM by providing material, financial, and logistical support”. The pirate strongholds to the north of the country remain untouched; so far.

Three attempted hijacks occurred on February 25; fortunately, all attacks were unsuccessful. The report is available here.

The piracy events in the Horn of Africa region over the last week are;

Hijacks:

• February 18; US-owned, SV Quest with Jean and Scott Adam from California, Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle from Seattle. Killed by their captors February 22.

• February 19; MV Dalmas Keta, container ship attacked approximately 70nm North of Madagascar by a single skiff firing small arms;
• February 19; MV Lopi Z, bulk carrier attacked South of Djibouti by 3 wooden skiffs outside of the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC);
• February 25; 0530 UTC, Merchant vessel came under attack by a mothership and 1 skiff, with 6 pirates onboard, approximately 192nm Southeast of Salalah, Oman;
• February 25; 0829 UTC, Merchant vessel came under attack by a pirate skiff, with 5 pirates onboard firing small arms and RPG, approximately 300nm Southeast of Salalah, Oman;
• February 25; 0952 UTC, Merchant vessel came under attack by 2 pirate skiffs approximately 280nm Southeast of Socotra Island, Yemen.

Suspect Pirate Activity:

• A Pirate Action Group consisting of 3 skiffs and a possible mothership was reported only 15nm off the Omani coast.

The OCEANUSLive situational map below provides a visual summary of the hijacks and pirate attacks that have occurred between 18 to 25 February 2011.

Vessels are reminded that the coalition forces' warships may not be in the vicinity of a pirate attack, subsequently, it is emphasised that seafarers can greatly reduce their chances of being pirated if they follow precautions as recommended in the Best Management Practices, increasing speed and carrying out evasive manoeuvres is a proven deterrent to piracy attacks.

Vessels are advised to exercise extreme caution when navigating in the vicinity of any reported positions of attacks and maintain maximum CPA with any ship acting suspiciously. Additionally, registration of vessel movement with MSC(HOA)prior to transiting the region is recommended.