At least one positive outcome is seen this week. MT Irene SL, was released by Somali pirates believed to be for a hefty payout. The crew are reported to be in good health. Unfortunately, MV Susan K, was hijacked the following morning with 10 crew. Following a gun battle between the Dutch warship, Tromp, and Somali pirates on an Iranian fishing vessel, 2 pirates are killed with 8 detained and being charged in the Netherlands. Another gun battle occurred in Somalia between pirates holding the Danish hostages and MV Dover, and the locals fed up with the behaviour of the pirates. In the meantime, Indian shipowners ask their Government for permission to have armed guards on ships, and Norwegian shipowners are slightly appeased by the promise of a Norwegian maritime patrol aircraft to deploy on the NATO counter-piracy operation. The military authorities issue and update on the use of AIS in the operational area. The UAE Special Forces rescue of the UAE-owned, MV Arrilah-I, and subsequent federal court for the pirates shows an example to other nations, it is claimed.
MT Irene SL, the Panama-owned, Greece-flag tanker hijacked by pirates February 9 in the Arabian Sea, with a cargo of nearly 2 million barrels of oil, was released from pirate control on April 7 at 1410 UTC and was heading for Durban, South Africa. The crew are reported to be in good health following the ransom drop being safely carried out. The amount of the ransom has not been made known but is believed to have been a hefty payout; unofficially a record $13.5 million, however, use of such a figure has only been quoted by a pirate source . An Intertanko press release expresses delight at its release (OCEANUSLive report).
The Antigua & Barbuda-flagged, German-owned, MV Susan K, with a crew of 10 (4 Ukrainians, 6 Filipinos), was bound for Mumbai, India, when it was reported coming under attack by pirates in position 1825N 05727E, approximately 210nm Northeast of Salalah, Oman and actually 35nm off the coast. On April 8, at least 10 pirates, thought be the same group that hijacked the dhow Al Yasin, boarded the vessel, which was registered with MSC(HOA) and was reporting to UKMTO. The crew had retreated to the safe room, however, the pirates managed to gain access and take the crew hostage. She is expected to anchor near Mudug. The vessel was hailed by a warship and helicopter to no avail. There are no details on the status of the crew of the cargo ship, so far.
(MV Susan K Image: Vesseltracker.com)
Dutch marines of HNLMS Tromp, in the process of rescuing an Iranian fishing vessel and crew, kill 2 pirates and detain 8 others. The 2 dead bodies were 'entrusted to the water' as it was deemed impractical to keep them onboard due to the temperature in the region. The 8 pirates held are to be charged by the Public Prosecutor's office with piracy and attempted murder BBC News.
The UAE Special Forces rescue of the Arrilah-I, will result in the conviction in a federal court of the pirates detained. The 30-hour ordeal of the crew of the vessel has been broadcast via video. The UAE rescue is heralded as the way to combat piracy (the National).
By Somalia Report: A shipowner Abandons Crew Freed By Pirates. The remaining 6 Kenyan and 2 Chinese crew of the Taiwanese fishing vessel Tai Juan 227, have been stranded in the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The shipowner has been made bankrupt since the vessel was hijacked May 6, 2010, and the local agent only made provision for some of the crew to be flown home. See more at Somaliareport.
Somalia Report also provides the story of a 1-hour gun battle taking place in the Somali coastal town of Bragal between the locals, are fed up with the poor behaviour and lawlessness of pirates, and who have formed their own anti-piracy organisation, and the pirates believed to be holding the Danish hostages and the MV Dover. The pirates fled the zero-tolerance town, however, no casualties were reported Somaliareport.
Indian shipowners have sought their Government's permission to have armed guards on ships as a defensive mechanism. Read more Business Line.
U.S. President, Barack Obama, has signed an executive order describing an "unusual and extraordinary" threat to U.S. national and foreign policy interests. The President said the deteriorating security situation in Somalia is complicated by acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia. The national emergency comes into effect from April 12 UPI.com.
NATO and EUNAVFOR have issued revised AIS (Automatic Identification System) guidance and operational use. The advice from EUNAVFOR and NATO in accordance with IMO Resolution A.917(22) and as articulated in BMP3 paragraph 7.5 states “the Master has the discretion to switch off the AIS if he believes its use increases the ship’s vulnerability” and until now has recommended that AIS transmission within the Gulf of Aden be left on with restrictions, and outside the Gulf of Aden in other parts of the High Risk Area be turned off completely (NATO Shipping Centre).
Vessels held: 29; Hostages: 608.
The piracy events in the Horn of Africa region over the last week are;
Hijack:
4 Unsuccessful Attacks: