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 their range into the Indian Ocean. Along with the chemical tanker, MV Hannibal II, MV Polar, MT Motivator and the MV Izumi, they had been called 'game changers'. The MV York was first suspected of being used as a mobile platform for pirate attacks in 2010. Prior to such large vessels being used, the atypical "mothership" was a fishing vessel hijacked for its food and water supply, and the ability to disguise the pirate's skiffs, although these vessels and dhows remain the basis of the pirate mothership fleet.

MV York was received by the Assistant High Commissioner of India, Kenya Maritime Authority officials, German Police officers and TV crew, states the Somalia Report . The ship also transported the crewmembers from the pirate-released MV Rak Afrikana, (see 2nd image) who had been rescued by the EU's Italian warship, ITS Zeffiro and the York, on March 10. The local media, Kenyan Maritime Authority officials and EUNAVFOR were reported as not being permitted to board the vessel.

Meanwhile, the crew of Rak Afrikana were taken to a Mombasa beach hotel after disembarkation prior to being flown home. They also stated that all were safe but they had lost their Tanzanian cook, who died sometime during captivity.

An anti-piracy security source told Somalia Report of a disturbing report in which it was claimed they found themselves being fired down upon from a large tanker over 12 hours as they towed a slow moving barge. Occasionally, these large ships act as floating fuel stations allowing other motherships and pirated vessels to operate for longer and further. The ships', equipment and tools, and crews are placed under duress in order to be utilised to hijack other ships.

The Singapore-flagged tanker, MV York, was hijacked in the Somali Basin October 23, 2010 after leaving Mombasa en route to the Seychelles. Pirates in 2 skiffs seized the 5,076-ton vessel and the crew of 17, witnessed, according to reports, by a Task Force 151 Turkish-manned helicopter. Owned by the Greek shipping company, York Maritime and operated by Bernhard Schulte Ship Management in Germany, the vessel had a Gereman master, 2 Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos. Negotiations for the release of the vessel began in Mid-February 2010. MV Rak Afrikana was hijacked April 11, 2010, and were held for almost a year. On release from captivity, the vessel took on water and the crew then transferred to the York.

Over 120 Pinoy crewmembers are currently held hostage by Somali pirates, reflecting the fact that Filipino seafarers make up approximately 30 percent of the global seafaring population of over a million members.

(Images source: SomaliaReport.com)

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