Horn of Africa Piracy Activity Update

June 17, 2011 - 13:43:15 UTC

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 experience of being kidnapped by pirates; Yemeni man to plead guilty to yacht hijack changes mind; the 'magic' behind piracy and pirate booty: easy come, easy go. Somalia to retain $3m ransom cash from piracy 'masterminds.' Tanzania seeks US assistance to fight pirates as State Department hears statement on 'Confronting Global Piracy'. Eritrea 'spies' released.

The Red Sea and Bab al Mandeb Strait saw a flurry of pirate activity this past week. Possibly 2 PAGs are operating in the area, with suspicious activity seen on the Yemen coast. Attacks took place within 5nm of each other in some cases, whilst in the Arabian Sea (east of Socotra Island) saw a further 3 attacks also within a relatively short distance between them. An unknown PAG is likely operating in the Arabian Sea and, concurrently, it is likely that up to 2 PAGs are operating in the Red Sea and Bab al Mandeb Strait. The swarm attack on a merchant vessel by up to 7 or 8 skiffs demonstrates the determination to refocus attacks during the south west monsoon. The MV Suez, a general cargo ship recently released for $2.1 million, was attacked 26nm off the Somali coast but repelled the pirate that managed to get aboard. MV Susan K is also released after a ransom drop. An EU German warship approaches a dhow mothership in the Somali Basin resulting in the destruction of the two skiffs being towed, subsequently reducing the PAG ability as a threat to shipping, although the pirates are more willing to attack shipping in rough monsoon seas. The owners of MV Susan K state a ransom was paid for the release of the VLCC. Reportedly, news of the torture of seafarers at the hand of Somali pirates is suppressed and experience as a captive is related by a mariner. Yemeni man charged with piracy for his role in hijacking SV Quest decided not to take a plea deal in a US court. Inside the hidden world of Somalia's pirates is reviewed as the search for a remedy for a global malady is highlighted. The US State Department listens to Assistant Secretary Shapiro testify about the problem of piracy on the high seas and outlines the approach to combat this scourge, whilst Secretary of State Clinton promises to consider the proposal of providing ships to Tanzania as part of the assistance in fighting piracy. Senator Kirk demands action concerning Minnesota's links to Al Shabaab and pirates in Somalia. A study claims piracy trials in Somalia would cost more than $24 million. The pace of piracy 'outpaces' the attempts to crackdown on the scourge. The £3 million ransom cash confiscated from the six security men arrested in Somalia ('Failed Ransom Drop') is to be kept by the Somali government and the men treated as piracy masterminds. Four British security men released by Eritrea after last weeks' apology by a private security firm. The 'Pirate-satellite' man is a Magic Man as the reason behind the success of piracy is explained - how do they spend their ill-gotten gains?

Pirate Activity

There have been no successful attacks despite a single pirate boarding a recently released ship, only to be unceremoniously repelled. In the past 7 days, eight attacks/approaches have occurred with suspicious activity reported in the Southern Red Sea/Bab al Mandeb Strait, and the Central and Southern Somali Basin. The Gulf of Aden escaped any incident, however, vigilance remains the watchword. In spite of the adverse weather conditions, previously unknown PAGs have made their presence felt in the Somali Basin and Arabian Sea, which continues to demonstrate the willingness of the pirates to place themselves at greater risk for the lucrative return on capturing a ship. Thus far, this is a further tactical change which has failed to succeed. The pirate-held FV Shiuh Fu #1 has now been sighted after departing her usual anchorage off the Somali coast, whilst a Jelbut located at Kismayo is considered to be readily available to be deployed.

Release of vessels

MV Suez (Source Somalia Report)

MV Suez was released by pirates after the payment of $2.1 million ransom dropped by a plane. According to diplomatic sources speaking to Somalia Report, the payment was significantly lower than the original $4 million demanded by the pirates. The Egyptian-owned general cargo ship was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden August 2 last year as it made its way from Pakistan to Eritrea carrying cement. The crew comprising of 6 Indians, 4 Pakistanis and 12 Egyptians, suffered the fact that their families were contacted directly by the pirates to not only traumatize them, but to place pressure on the owners to force the negotiations. The pirates had previously issued ultimatums for the payment of the ransom otherwise the crew would be killed. The relief at being released was tempered somewhat when, at only 26nm off the Somali coast, the Suez was attacked by pirates once more. A skiff with 4 pirates aboard chased and fired upon the ship and attempted to board her. One pirate, armed with an AK47 managed to gain access onto the vessel, only to jump unceremoniously into the sea to escape the crew who had confronted him, leaving his weapon behind. Undoubtedly, there was an element of desperation and determination to ensure the crew were not going to endure the ignominy of capture so soon after their release. The crew are safe and the ship is making her way towards Eritrea with a Pakistani warship, Babur, as escort. The joy of the release was seen in the Pakistani press - Tribune.com.

MV Susan K (Source EUNAVFOR)

The German-owned, Antigua and Barbuda-flagged, MV Susan K has reportedly been released from pirate control following the ransom drop by plane of an agreed $4 million payment. The ship had been moved from its location at anchor off Rasu Bina, 15km from the Bargal district, to enable the plane to drop the cash away from the "many military helicopters flying over the village," a pirate told Somalia Report. The Susan K was hijacked April 7, approximately 200nm north-east of Salalah, Oman. The vessel is reported to be on her way to Djibouti.

The MV Zirku, released last week, was claimed - by pirates - to have been at the cost of $12 million. This has since been refuted and may have been between $11.5 million paid for MV Irene SL, and $9.5 million paid for MV Samho Dream. Still a huge return for their illegal efforts - Shiptalk.

Disruption

Dhow towing skiffs (Source EUNAVFOR)

Reported last week, an EU German warship detected a suspected PAG resulting in the destruction of 2 skiffs used by pirates. The dhow was considered to be a threat to shipping in the area, says EUNAVFOR, therefore the German warship decided to disrupt the vessel. However, fears for the safety of the hostages held aboard the vessel prevented the Niedersachsen from taking direct action. Subsequently, it was determined that removal of the threat was preferable and the warship fired on the attack skiffs being towed to deny the ability to conduct further attacks. It is considered unlikely that the dhow could conduct successful boardings without the skiffs. An EUNAVFOR Spokesperson said, "We are aware of the criticism that we get for not attacking the dhow itself, but the safety of the hostages is our primary concern."

Blaze of Activity

MV Orna, under pirate control, was reported to have caught fire. The cause is not yet known, however, the blaze is now out leaving substantial damage to the bridge, says Somalia Report. Loaded with 26,000 tons of coal, the fire didn’t reach the cargo, but forced the pirates to evacuate the 18 Syrians and one Sri Lankan on board to another ship. No injuries were reported – except perhaps to the pride of the hostages, who had to be grateful to their captors for the rescue – although the cabin and living quarters were reported to be gutted. The cause of the fire is still uncertain. Recently used as a mothership, Orna, was hijacked December 20, 2011, approximately 400nm north-east of the Seychelles.

Pirates in Court

In Norfolk, VA, USA, a Yemeni man charged with piracy for his role in the hijacking of a yacht off the coast of Africa that resulted in the deaths of four Americans decided not take a plea deal Monday, with his attorney saying he was forced to join a band of Somali pirates against his will. Mounir Ali was scheduled to plead guilty to piracy in federal court on Monday. But his attorney, Jim Theuer, told a federal judge that Ali had changed his mind - WAVY.com.

In Monsters and Critics, it is reported that the costs of establishing courts in Somalia and prosecuting detained pirates would be more than $24 million over a three-year period, a UN study reported Thursday. The study focused on Somali courts in the semi-independent regions of Somaliland and Puntland, which detain the largest numbers of pirates and already have some jurisdiction over crimes of piracy. Funding for the courts will be borne by the UN Development Programme and the UN Drugs and Crimes Office (UNODC) in Vienna. One possibility is to establish an extraterritorial Somali anti-piracy court in another country, the study said. International law experts would be attracted to serve in the court, given sufficient funding and security. Some countries have arrested and convicted Somali pirates under their own national legal systems. There are currently a total of 1,011 pirates in detention in 20 countries and many of them have been convicted in courts in those countries, the study said. Kenya is holding 119 pirates and has convicted 50; the Netherlands is holding 29 and convicted five. The United States detains 28 and has convicted eight, Tanzania detains 12 and has convicted eight while Yemen arrested 120 and convicted all of them, Oman arrested 12 and convicted them. Pirates under detention but not yet tried are in: Germany (10), India (118), France (15), Japan (four) and Maldives (34). But the largest number of detained pirates so far are in Somalia: Puntland has 290 and convicted about 240; Somaliland has 94 and convicted 68, while the country's South Central region detains 18 pirates.

Pirate Masterminds

The employees and pilots working for a foreign security company are facing trial over the $3.6 million cash intended to pay the ransom for vessels held by pirates. The cash was to pay the ransom for the since released vessels, MV Suez and MV Yuan Xiang. The six men - one American, three British and one Kenyan - were arrested at the Aden Adde International Airport May 24, and have since been held along with their aircraft,reports Somalia Report. In the Daily Nation, it is reported that the head of the Somalia Anti-Piracy Task Force, Prof Muhyadin Ali Yusuf, said the Somali government was treating the six people arrested during the incident as piracy masterminds.

Seafarers Experience

The experience of being captured and held hostage by Somali pirates is told by Dipendra Rathmore in the British newspaper, the Guardian. He details some of the harrowing events unfolding as he feared he may never survive the ordeal. "They kept us in a state of terror. Even when I could not see the torturing, I could hear the screams." Kept in unspeakable conditions, a tiny corner of a control room under constant armed guard, and forced to call the shipping company as part of the ransom negotiation process, he outlines the 'state of terror' they were kept in. The joy of gaining freedom and being led into the sunshine was overwhelming when the German navy collected them. The first meal, shower and clean clothes as a free man "felt extraordinary," he went on to say. It won't put him off life at sea. He said, "I won't let the pirates change my career. They have hurt me enough already."

Meanwhile, in an article by Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a journalist who recently went from Lloyd's List to Bloomberg, it was said that shipowners are failing to disclose the scope of Somali pirates’ torture of crews off the East African country’s coast to avoid alarming seafarers working in the danger zone, as told by a security adviser.

“It is not in the interests of the shipping industry to make information about crew mistreatment generally available because of the level of mutinies which would take place,” Andrew Palmer, chief executive officer of Idarat Maritime Ltd., which advises owners and governments, said today at a conference in London - Bloomberg. Information about how hostages are treated is closely held and sometimes classified by the military, according to Kaija Hurlburt, lead researcher on a One Earth report into the human cost of piracy.

Industry Efforts
In an interview with Joe Angelo, MD, INTERTANKO, a steady hand at the helm at the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), the voice of the world’s collective tanker market, the Marine Link interview (Shipping News Daily) discovered the two phase approach, through the campaign 'Save Our Seafarers', prompting readers to send letters to the Head of Governments imploring them to take on piracy, eliminate motherships and ultimately come up with a solution. Generating more than 10,000 letters, they have now moved onto Phase II, which involves engaging the press, social media (as advocated by OCEANUSLive at an INTERTANKO seminar at the beginning of 2011), and seeking to engage a high profile name to take on the cause. A strongly desired candidate is the actor Tom Hanks, who is scheduled to play the part of Captain Phillips, who braved capture at the hands of Somali pirates on the Maersk Alabama, in a new film based on Capt Phillips' book. Angelo also clarified INTERTANKO’s positions on armed guards and the proposed practice of arming mariners. “We believe that it is up to each individual owner to do their own risk assessment and determine what’s best for their company and ships. We also believe it up to government to provide freedom of the high seas. INTERTANKO does not believe crews should be armed.” The IMO has provided interim guidelines on the use of private company armed security professionals (PCASP). 

Diplomacy Efforts

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has appealed to the US to assist the country by providing bigger capacity ships capable of plying the Indian Ocean to combat pirates who seize large oil tankers entering the country, the President said.

The President and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, late Monday, told reporters in Dar-es-Salaam that the US was already training some Tanzanian security personnel in a number of skills which included fighting piracy as well as containing security threats.

Secretary of State Clinton said the Obama administration is currently reviewing its policy on piracy and promised that US would consider the proposal of providing ships depending on the outcome of the review, reports Platts.com. This is further supported by the statement delivered to the US Depart of State 'Confronting Global Piracy,' by Assistant Secreatry Shapiro. The statement was an opportunity to testify about the problem of piracy on the high seas and outline the US approach to combat this scourge. Piracy off the coast of Somalia is a crime of growing global concern, say Mr Shapiro, as he went on to state that the "vicious cycle has formed where ever-rising ransom payments have not just spurred additional pirate activity." The US, he continues, has "taken the lead in pursuing a multilateral and multidimensional approach to combating piracy emanating from the coast of Somalia." This approach seems to have led to a drop in successful of pirate attacks. However, he says, "since pirates are already adapting and expanding their efforts, we must as well. Expanded action is no doubt needed. Earlier this year, Secretary Clinton expressed impatience with the lack of progress against piracy and affirmed that more needed to be done to address this scourge."A key message is that the "effort demands effective international cooperation. We are working with the international community to ensure that law enforcement and intelligence agencies tasked with counter-piracy responsibilities can collect, analyze, and share operational and financial information. Law enforcement officials must be able to share information gathered in the course of criminal investigations with intelligence officials to stimulate additional collection." Acknowledging "the difficult situation ashore does not preclude progress at sea. Through the State Department’s new strategic approach, significant progress can be made to degrade the ability of pirates to conduct attacks and threaten vital shipping lanes. We should have no illusions: there is no simple solution to modern-day piracy off the Horn of Africa. But through the shared commitment of the United States and the international community there is much we can do in the months and years ahead to achieve progress against this growing challenge," Mr Shapiro concluded - US Dept of State (video included). OCEANUSLive remains committed to providing a maritime information sharing capability to enable the seafaring community, reporting authorities and military forces to improve cooperation and coordination efforts via a single, secure, real-time platform.

Too Lucrative

The German news agency, Spiegel Online, covers the piracy problem: Robbery on the High Seas Too Lucrative to Refuse - There are hundreds of pirates serving time in prisons in northern Somalia. But for every one arrested, there are several people willing to fill the gap. A visit to a pirate jail reveals that, despite the risks, many Somalis are still being drawn to the sea by dreams of ransom, revenge and repute.Ultimately, whatever measures are taken to contain Somali piracy on the high seas, long-term solutions must address the source of the problem: the political instability and ongoing warfare within Somalia itself, says Bulawayo24 News in seeking remedies for a global malady. "You cannot hope to tackle piracy in any kind of serious way without change on the ground in Somalia," argues Roger Middleton, a maritime expert with the Chatham House think-tank in London. "This is not started on the ocean, and it's not a problem that can be solved on the ocean."

US Connections

The US Senator, Mark Kirk, recently returned from a fact finding mission in the Horn of Africa region, has demanded action over Minnesota's links with the Islamic insurgents, Al Shabaab, and the pirates, reports the examiner.com, after two Somali men were confirmed by the FBI as charged for terror activities.

Greater Risks

Al Jazeera English quotes a UN official, "Pirates off the coast of Somalia are keeping ahead of attempts by international authorities to stop them, capturing ever more hostages and bounty," as pirates take greater risks and seek higher ransoms. "As long as piracy is so lucrative, with ransom payments adding up to tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars, and other economic incentives so bleak, the incentives are obvious.

'Pirate-Satellite'

In an unusual report on Somali pirate's success, a claim states Somali pirates, who hijack vessels from the seas around the Horn of Africa and sometimes from locations over one thousand nautical miles away, and who then bring their catch to the coasts of Somalia, use unusual "antennas," "satellites" and "computers" to reveal the unknown in order to make their operations successful. Read more of the 'in depth' report.

Spies Like Us

The four Britons held in Eritrea on spying and terrorism charges since December have been released, the Foreign Office (FCO) has said. The four men - who all worked for the same maritime security firm - are on their way back to the UK following an apology by the security firm. BBC News reports that the FCO said it was very grateful to the government of Qatar "for helping facilitate their return".Private security escort vessels fighting piracy are seeking urgent clarification of the terms under which they can enter ports on key shipping routes.The call has come in the wake of British maritime security company PVI having four of its operatives (above) detained in Eritrea for six months - Shiptalk.

And finally...

A pirate from Puntland in Somalia, compared receiving the millions in ransom after a successful hijacking to "someone dreaming in a dark room." In an exclusive interview with Somalia Report, the pirate explained how he was a member of the gang that hijacked the Saudi-owned tanker, MV Sirius Star, ransomed for $4 million, a record at the time in 2009. He tells of receiving $250,000 as his share, the fate of his fellow pirates of which he is the last remaining in the venture, how the money is quickly squandered and he was involved in another attempted hijack, only to be 'captured and released' by a US warship after claiming to be fishermen.

Piracy events:

Hijack:

None.

7 Unsuccessful Attacks/Approaches:

June 11 at 0200 UTC, in position 12:17N – 061:27E: around 400nm east of Socotra Island. Four pirates in a skiff approached and fired upon a bulk carrier underway. The onboard security team fired warning shots resulting in the pirates moving away.
June 11 at 0357 UTC in position 1219N - 06130E, in the Arabian Sea, approximately 405nm east of Socotra Island, a UK (Cayman Island)-flagged chemical tanker, Stolt Achievement, was chased 4 pirates in a single skiff; weapons were not used and ladders were sighted on the skiff. The security team fired warning shots and the pirates move away.
June 11 at 0419 UTC, in position 1329N - 04243E, in the Red Sea, 7 armed pirates in a single skiff chased the Chinese (Hong Kong)-flagged, Everbright, to no avail. The vessel freeboard proved to high for the pirates to gain access. The attempted boarding was aborted.
June 11 at 0420 UTC, in position 1342.1N – 04235.8E, in the Red Sea, approximately 40nm north of Assab, Eritrea, the Liberia-flagged tanker, Nautic, was chased and fired upon by a skiff with 5 pirates aboard. All the crew, except the Master and the Officer Of the Watch, mustered at a safe point whilst the embarked security team fired warning shots. The pirates aborted the attack and moved away.
June 11 at 0835 (LT), an embarked Security team reported 7 x skiffs lined up next to each other about 2 nm within the vicinity of 12:52N 043:14E. At 0.7 nm, team fired flare in general direction (no response then 3 of 7 skiffs approached at high speed. The skiffs had 8 x POB. At 0.4nm (approx), warning shots were fired. 2 x skiffs stopped, and the third continued its approach. The skiff displayed boarding tools (including ladder). Close proximity warning shots were fired and the third skiff stopped and turned around. Contact with nearby warship was maintained throughout the encounter. The skiffs continued to follow approximately 0.8 nm off the stern. Around 20 minutes later, a navy helo overflew the area and all 7 x skiffs scattered in different directions.
June 12 at 1351 UTC, in position 1233N – 06146E, approximately 420nm east of Socotra Island in the Indian Ocean, a Malta-flagged bulk carrier, MV Caravos Horizon, was chased and fired upon by 4 armed pirates in a single skiff. Closing to within 5 metres of the vessel, the Master ordered anti-piracy measures be implements and, using fire hoses and electric wire, prevented the pirates from boarding the vessel.
June 15 at 0305 UTC, in position 09:18N – 051:15E, around 26nm off the coast of Somalia, four pirates in a skiff chased and fired upon a general cargo ship, MV Suez, underway. One pirate managed to board the vessel but had to jump overboard after the crew successfully confronted him, leaving his AK-47 behind. The Suez had recently been released from pirate control (see above). All crew are safe. .

Suspect Pirate Activity:

Reported by OCEANUSLive users, large groups of skiffs off the coast of Yemen sighted loitering in the area. Skiffs dispersed after warning shots fired by embarked security; on another occasion, following the passing of information to a warship in the area, the skiffs scattered in all directions at high speed.
Despite the onset of the south westerly monsoon with 5 metre high waves in the Arabian Sean and northern Somali Basin, the pirates seem to be most willing to continue to push the vessels to their limits by continuing to seek areas and targets of opportunity. Further attacks, consequently, cannot be discounted.
Again, as predicted, the Red Sea and Bab al Mandeb Strait have seen increased activity due to the monsoon season. The pirates remain active with the likelihood of one or two PAGs operating in the area.
The pirate-held fishing vessel, FV Shiuh Fu No.1, has left anchorage off the Somali coast and has been sighted probably deploying for mothership operations.

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.

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Any suspicious activity should be reported to UKMTO in Dubai in the first instance (UKMTO or Telephone+971 50 552 3215) and on entering the UKMTO Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) bound by Suez, 78E and 10S.

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Horn of Africa Piracy Activity Update - 17 Jun