Weekly Pirate Activity Update - 28 Oct

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. Contract workers freed in Nigeria. Gung ho private security tale. Parliamentary piracy discussions aplenty whilst the UN Security Council adopts another resolution. Japan considers armed guards and Denmark to deploy surveillance aircraft. World Maritime University ICOPAS conference summary and Australia are to hold an international conference in 2012. Shipowners guilty of ‘double dipping’ insurance claims.

As Kenyan incursion into Somalia against the militants draws focus away from piracy off the Horn of Africa, activity at sea has dropped off over the past week. Aid workers are betrayed by their security detail and are handed over to pirates.

Puntland officers arrest 15 pirates in the coastal village of Gar’ad. The UNODC states that 200 to 300 pirates have not returned from their felonious expeditions but the families of the missing are lied to about their fate by those sending them out to hijack merchant shipping.

Yemeni fishermen are suffering as a consequence of their similarity in complexion to their neighbours across the Gulf of Aden. It is alleged that they are confused with Somali pirates and are subsequently abused by Indian forces in the region.

Two Exxon contractors, kidnapped when two ships were attacked off Nigeria, are freed.

The fate of the crew of MV Iceberg 1 continues to be played out in an ongoing saga. Whilst the vessel and crew have been held for well over a year, the negotiations appeared to have reached a conclusion and release seemed to be on the cards. Media sources have reported the release but so far the owners have not clarified the situation. The vessel remains in the Garacad anchorage. It is murmured that a planned ransom drop was dropped in the wrong location for the wrong vessel. Incredible error if it proves to be so. The pirate group receiving the booty will not be giving it up easily.

As private armed security is increasingly call upon, the account by one member of the profession raises an eyebrow or two at the manner in which a ship is protected. Some may view this particular proponent as a ‘cowboy’, or maybe not. The matter of under-equipped and under-trained MarSec is featured in an OCEANUSLive op-ed.

An all-party Parliamentary group met to discuss the maritime security response to piracy off the coasts of Africa. The British couple, Paul and Rachel Chandler criticise the response by the UK government to their kidnap at the hands of Somali pirates. A UK-based network which seeks to unite all in the Somali diaspora, most of whom are now citizens of the UK or other countries and also those who support initiatives to bring development and peace to Somalia provides a list of recommendations to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The UN Security Council adopts a resolution on Somali piracy and the issue of prosecution of convicted pirates not only for acts of piracy but also for hostage taking.

Denmark is to deploy surveillance aircraft to the HoA/IOR as warship Absalom readies for another patrol. Japan also considers the provision of armed guards on Japanese vessels from its Defence Force. 

The ICOPAS conference in Sweden highlights the human cost of piracy with an interview of the master of MV Renaur, which was held by pirates for 133 days. During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia, the PM declares a conference is to be held in Australia next year.

Shipowners are accused of ‘double dipping’ in piracy insurance claims.

POLICE FROM Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland have arrested 15 suspected Somali pirates as they planned to hijack foreign ships operating along the coastline of Jariban District of Mudug region, senior officials said on Saturday – Somalia Report.

It was reported via Somali Report, that the forces had captured the pirate suspects on Friday (Oct 21) following a swoop in the coastal village of Gar'ad. "We captured 15 pirates who wanted to hijack the ships and they are now in custody," said the Chairman of Jariban District, Abdikarin Mohamud Keytoon, adding that they would hand them over to the authorities in Galkayo, the region's capital, to face trial.

AT LEAST FOUR people have been arrested in the kidnapping of three aid workers from the Danish Demining Group (DDG), including a 60-year-old Danish male and a 32-year-old American female, who were seized in northern Somalia along with their Somali colleague on Tuesday – Somalia Report.

The Somali hostage was released and is now speaking with police about the incident, but the two foreigners remain with their captors.

The kidnappers, part of the security team tasked with protecting the hostages, handed the three aid workers over to a pirate group in Bajeela district, 120km south of Galkayo, the border area of Galmudug state and the Himan and Heeb administration. From there, the pirates moved the hostages to Hiinlabi district, near the coastal town of Harardhere in Mudug region.

The pirates were suspected to be from the Sa'ad clan, a sub-clan of Hawiye, according to local sources.

After seven of the kidnappers tried to return to Galkayo, they clashed with forces loyal to Galmudug state who were trying to rescue the aid workers. Four of the men were arrested in Bajeela village while three escaped in the bush near the Bajeela district, according to multiple sources who spoke to Somalia Report on the condition of anonymity.

Security officials from Galmudug confirmed to local media in Galkayo that the suspects belong to the militia group that kidnapped the aid workers on Tuesday.

The Kidnapping - At least ten armed gunmen operating from two Toyota Hilux Serfs seized the pair from their vehicle after they completed a workshop in Galkayo and were making their way to the Galkayo airport for a flight to Nairobi, Kenya. Southbound flights in Somalia actually stop in Galkayo, forcing Mogadishu and Nairobi-bound passengers to overnight and then resume their journey southward in the morning, which is a major security problem since the road to the airport is not secure.

The head of security for the aid workers and one of the men arrested, Abdirisak Ma'in Sheikh Dhere, told Somalia Report at 8:55pm on Tuesday that he was the mastermind behind the kidnapping and had collaborated with pirates to abduct the three hostages.Immediately after the kidnapping, local residents told Somalia Report the security team was 'in' on the kidnapping and they appear to be correct.

The American hostage is confirmed as Jessica Buchanan who is the Regional Education Advisor for the Danish Demining Group and a former fourth grade teacher from Rosslyn, Virginia. The Dane is identified as Poul Hagen Thisted.

"As a first priority, we have been concentrating on the ongoing investigations. We are keeping close contact with the family members, who are deeply concerned, just as we are," Ann Mary Olsen, head of the Danish Refugee Council's International Department, said in a statement on Tuesday.

IT IS NOT just the officers of crews of merchant ships who fall victim to the perils of piracy. According to a presentation at the World Maritime University, a third of all pirates who set out on attack missions in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean never return to shore - Shiptalk.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has stated that 200 to 300 pirates have not returned from their expeditions since the resurgence of the phenomenon and their families are being abused by the instigators who lie to them and say that the pirates have settled in Europe or elsewhere.

The high rate of attrition is unique to the Somali brand of piracy, and is not mirrored in other pirate hotspots like Malaysia, India and Nigeria.

While we should not perhaps shed too many tears for those who head out in small boats to capture seafarers and vessels, we should however remember that the low level “foot soldiers” of piracy are victims of organised crime too."

CONFLICTING REPORTS about the fate of a ship hijacked by Somali pirates 19 months ago have left families of the kidnapped crew confused and desperate for details – The National.

Relatives are seeking confirmation that the two dozen sailors held hostage aboard the MV Iceberg I have been freed. The Dubai-owned ship has been in captivity for longer than any other vessel currently held by Somali pirates, and one of the crew members died on board last year.

Ansar Burney, a human-rights activist involved in the negotiations for the ship's release, has said a ransom had been paid and the ship would soon head to Salalah in Oman or to Dubai, but aerial photos show it is still in Somalia.

"We are trying hard to find out if they have really been released by the pirates," said Sunita Tiwari, whose brother Dheeraj is one of the Iceberg I's crew. "We have tried ringing the shipping authority in India to know the status, but they tell us that unless the ship makes it to safe waters, they cannot know for sure."

The family is also trying to contact the vessel's owner, Azal Shipping.

"We were informed the ship is free," said Mangesh Mohite, whose brother Ganesh is among the Iceberg I's crew. "But the [Indian] shipping authority said everyone except the Indian crew had been freed."

Mr Burney told The National yesterday that the crew were released at the weekend after a ransom was paid. He did not say how much. The pirates had demanded US$8 million (Dh29.3m).

It has been rumoured that the ransom drop for MV Iceberg 1 may potentially have been dropped in the wrong location for the wrong vessel; giving another pirate group an unexpected bonus whilst they continue their own negotiations for a vessel held captive.

A DRIFTING REFRIDGERATED cargo ship was pursued by a small boat spotted on the radar heading directly for the vessel with no signs of slowing down. Understandably, the ships’ Master raised the alarm, started the engines and proceeded to make speed and conduct evasive manoeuvres to escape the possibility of being boarded, and worse, hijacked. The small boat followed the ship for a time before giving up and moving away approximately 114nm south by east of Lorne, Togo, in the Gulf of Guinea.

TWO CONTRACT WORKERS kidnapped from ships supplying Exxon Mobil Corp.'s offshore oil operations near Nigeria have been released, the company's local subsidiary said Thursday – Yahoo Finance (AP).

In a short statement, Exxon Mobil spokesman Nigel Cookey-Gam told The Associated Press the workers taken in attacks on Sept. 30 and Oct. 17 off the coast of Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta were released unharmed. Cookey-Gam declined to offer further details, referring questions to the Nigerian government.

The two attacks occurred near the coastline of Akwa Ibom state, where Exxon Mobil bases much of its operations in Nigeria. The company's oil tanks line the beach and its offshore oil rigs can be seen along the horizon, along with the burning flares from the excess gas released during pumping.

The two attacks mirrored each other, with gunmen attacking contractor ships carrying supplies as they were near Exxon Mobil oil rigs and platforms. In the Sept. 30 attack, however, one crew member was injured.

FIFTEEN YEMENI fishermen were reportedly arrested and beaten on Thursday after they were accused of piracy by an Indian ship tasked with protecting international waters off the coast of Yemen, reports Yemen Times.

Yemeni fishermen in Mukalla port on the Arabian Sea. The dark complexion of some Yemeni fishermen means they are confused for Somali pirates, leaving them vulnrable to attacked by the international navy. Lindy & David’s Gallery

This is the second incident in a week after seven men were beaten and their belongings taken, last Sunday, according to Umar Salim, the head of the Fishermen Association in Hadramout.  

At present, five Yemeni fishermen from Mukalla, Hadramout, remain in jail in India after the authorities assumed they were Somali pirates in May. 

But according to Umar Salim, the head of the Fishermen Association in Hadramout, the men were fishing in Yemeni waters, five miles off the coast of Mukalla. 

The issue of assuming Yemeni fishermen to be pirates is not a new one. Since 2010, Indian ships – as part of an international navy fleet concerned with protecting international waters from pirates – have been the most aggressive, and quick to accuse Yemenis of piracy, according to Salim.

He said that they beat the fishermen and take all their belongings. Since June, a number of Yemeni fishermen have been charged in Indian courts as pirates. 

Last month, another boat in Yemeni waters was attacked by an Indian ship – the fishermen’s belongings, along with their fish, were thrown overboard. The men were also beaten, according to Shuja’ Al-Mahdi, the head of the Operational Unit at the Yemeni Coastal Guards Authority (CGA).  

However, the Indian embassy was unable to comment on the issue at present.

“Some Yemenis are looking to piracy themselves, or even just ‘facilitating’ the piracy of others, be they Yemeni or Somali or even others,” Michael Frodl, head of US consultancy firm C-Level Maritime Risks, told the Financial Times last month. He blamed the situation on the ongoing political crisis in Yemen.

IRAN'S NAVAL FORCE, on board the domestically-built Jamaran destroyer, have rescued an Iranian oil tanker from a pirate attack near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait - Presstv.ir.
According to Iranian Navy Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Seyyed Mahmoud Mousavi, the Iranian oil tanker, which was headed towards the Gulf of Aden from the Red Sea, was attacked by 15 pirate speedboats, but managed to safely cross the danger zone with the help of the naval forces.
He went on to add that Iranian marines through their timely action had forced the pirates to flee and succeeded in saving the Iranian oil tanker, IRNA reported on Saturday. This was the first anti-piracy operation carried out by the Jamaran destroyer, which embarked on its first mission in international waters on October 9.
According to the Iranian commander, the Navy also managed to rescue a commercial vessel off the southeastern coast of India, which was attacked by three pirate speedboats.
Iranian naval forces are conducting active patrols in international waters, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea region and Indian Ocean.
The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean Sea, is the quickest route for more than 20,000 vessels traveling annually between Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
However, rampant piracy off the Indian Ocean coast of Somalia has made the area one of the most dangerous in terms of pirate activities.

IN A BOOK available through the Express Bookshop, the tale of security for hire is aired. Whether it can be categorised as an example of a company in the maritime security sector, or as the ‘cowboys’ that are to be avoided is for the industry and flag states to decide. An op-ed by Beowulf Defense & Security featured in OCEANUSLive – ‘Who’s Watching the Watchers?’ - laments the proliferation of under-equipped and under-trained MarSec operatives in the Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean regions. However, the account by ‘Big Phil Campion’, “I’m the pirates’ worst nightmare” in the Express.co.uk, has a few points which defy belief, not least the “half tonne fridge”. Whether the team is considered unarmed or armed is debatable, but here is an extract:

“As soon as I come up on to the bridge I automatically do a 360-degree scan of the horizon. Right away I see what looks like a pirate mother ship powering directly towards us.

We’ve put dummy soldiers around the bridge, dressed in army combat fatigues. We’ve got them roped to the railings to give the impression that we’ve got a contingent of commandos permanently standing watch.

We’ve welded shut the doors giving entry into the vessel and welded bars over the windows and across the gangways. The ship’s a fortress but that doesn’t make us any the keener to get boarded or for the pirates to test our defences.

The pirate boat is going a good deal faster than we are and it closes fast. I get the lads lined up on the deck pronto, brandishing crossbows and flare guns. Once it’s within range I give the word on the radio and the four of us fire our weapons.

Flares flame across the pirate ship’s bow and the odd crossbow bolt wings across the seas towards them.

The pirates must find it convincing for their vessel slows, then shies away. The bandits must have seen all the razor wire strung over our decks and the dummy commandos, plus us lot.

They’ve also probably heard what they figure are bullets hitting their ship and so they likely think that we’re properly armed. If only.

I grab a flare from out of the magazine that I’ve got jammed in the pocket of my combat trousers. It’s a Chinese-made standard ship’s distress flare, about 12in long and 1.5in wide. It’s packed full of nasty explosive chemicals and I reason that it’s more effective than a crossbow bolt against a skiff packed full of pirates.

I pull the trigger and there’s a blinding red fiery explosion right in front of my face. It’s blown up in my hand, badly burning my palms. The pirate boat edges closer to the unprotected side of our vessel.”

A BRITISH COUPLE held captive by Somali pirates for 13 months have launched a scathing attack on Britain's efforts to tackle piracy, reports The Independent.

Paul and Rachel Chandler, whose yacht was hijacked in the Indian Ocean in 2009, gave a warning that "people will have to die" before a solution is found.

Rachel and Paul Chandler after their release in 2010 (AFP/Getty Images)

Speaking before they give evidence to MPs investigating piracy tomorrow, they accused the Government of lacking political will to take a more "interventionist" approach. If the Royal Navy did not take direct action against the pirates "they might as well come home", Paul Chandler said.

The Chandlers, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were held hostage after Somali pirates kidnapped them from their yacht at gunpoint near the Seychelles in October 2009. They were freed in November 2010 after a $1m ransom payment was reputedly paid.

MPs on the Transport Select Committee are carrying out the investigation amid growing concern over the failure of naval forces to act as a deterrent and mounting frustration in bringing those responsible to justice.

"It is a question of having the political will to take action and take on the criticism that will come from liberals from Western countries when they see people dying, because, unfortunately, people will have to die if there's to be a solution to the problem," Mr Chandler said. "The longer it's left, the more people are going to die." He branded David Cameron and other Western leaders as "vanity politicians". "It strikes me that no one wants to solve it. The Western countries could get it under control but there are no votes in it and no political will. It needs to be addressed."

He criticised the Royal Navy's efforts to combat piracy: "If the Royal Navy are not going to take any action they might as well come home to save the money. Whether we have one frigate there or not isn't the point. If they are directed not to intervene and take the pirates on board, find the dead ones and send them packing, then they are serving no use." 

Mr Chandler added: "I don't think it helps to conflate the piracy issue with that of Somalia. The problems in Somalia may take a generation or two, and I don't think the maritime world of commerce can sit back and wait for that. It has to be tackled as a separate operation." 

Anxious to avoid criticism, it is understood the Government is poised to launch a series of initiatives to crack down on the problem. Britain is in talks with the Seychelles to host a new maritime intelligence centre, including help from the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency. It will also provide more than £4m aid to Mauritius, the Seychelles, Tanzania and Somalia to help to combat piracy and promote economic development. 

Meanwhile, Britain is set to drop its opposition to the use of private armed guards on board UK-flagged vessels. The UN says that Somalian piracy costs the world economy between £4bn and £7bn each year. It estimates that 4,185 seafarers were attacked by pirates using firearms last year, 1,090 were taken hostage; and 516 were used as human shields. 

Security experts have cautioned that the recent development of sea-launched land attacks by Somali pirates has increased the pressure for firmer action. The murder of David Tebbutt and the kidnap of his wife, Judith, from a Kenyan beach resort last month was followed by the kidnapping and death of a French national. 

"We are seeing a significant step-change in the outlook of Somalian piracy," one security source said. "They are aware they no longer have to mount complex sea-based operations – when the same stature of foreign national is available in the form of tourists in neighbouring countries such as Kenya and the Seychelles." 

AN ALL-PARTY Parliamentary Group [UK] on the Great Lakes Region of Africa, chaired by Eric Joyce MP, met on 17th October to discuss the latest developments in the ongoing struggles against Somalia based piracy. 

A panel comprising the UK Shipping Minister Mike Penning, Gavin Simmons of the British Chamber of Shipping and Steven Jones of the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) was on hand to provide specialist input and analysis to the group. 

Mike Penning opened the session by giving an update on the current government position and of the encouraging progress being made as the military efforts gather pace. As with so much of life success breeds confidence, and with the rescue of the vessel “Montecristo” by UK forces fresh in the mind, it appears there are a number of factors combining to reinvigorate and galvanize the ongoing anti-piracy work. 

However it was stressed that while the rescue was a superb example of military intervention, the fact remains that luck played a huge part. Had the vessel been further away from the naval assets the outcome could have been very different. Instead of talks of triumph we would perhaps be bemoaning yet another hijack and another group of unfortunate seafarers would be contemplating a long and dreadful spell of captivity. 

Overall the message of the positive meeting was one of general optimism, as the government, shipping industry and private maritime security providers painted a view of a burgeoning new dynamic. 

There is much work still to be done, but there are finally some positive signs of progress. Read more. 

THE WORLD G18 Somalia (WG18S) is a UK-based network which seeks to unite all in the Somali diaspora, most of whom are now citizens of the UK or other countries and also those who support initiatives to bring development and peace to Somalia. Our name indicates our determination to represent those associated with all 18 of Somalia’s regions, says the group. Only through a collective voice can the views of those who know Somalia best be heard by the International community, UK-based NGOs and other players. WG18S is not engaged in political campaigning, nor does it support any Somali political or religious faction. [We] have followed public submissions made to the [UK] Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) – Parliament.uk. 

A Summary of recommendations: 

a) Six coastal villages associated with piracy, benefitting from special support to encourage elders to renounce piracy, to serve as exemplars to other villages.

b) All fishing craft capable of sailing beyond an agreed distance from the shore be registered with local and regional authorities. 

c) The Atalanta naval force and warships of other states charged by the UN to combat piracy to enforce UN SCR 1816 should also be Tasked to deter the incursion into Somali territorial waters by foreign fishing fleets. 

d) A survey of the sections of the seabed off Somalia, the source of beached toxic waste, should be set up at the earliest opportunity. 

e) The reversal of current DFID policy which bars UK passport holders, even those born in Somalia, from travelling to Somalia to work on ODA projects for fear of kidnap.

f) The UK aid programme for Somalia should work more closely with the diaspora.

UN SECURITY COUNCIL today unanimously adopted an India-co-sponsored resolution on piracy in Somalia, taking on board, at India’s initiative, the issue of prosecution of convicted pirates not only for acts of piracy but also for hostage taking – Firstpost.com.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed attended the Security Council meeting Monday for adoption of Resolution on prosecution of pirates, co-sponsored by India and 10 other UNSC members.

In a first, at India’s initiative, the resolution deals with the issue of prosecution for acts of piracy as well as hostage taking.

The resolution calls for international cooperation in sharing information for the purpose of law enforcement and effective prosecution.

It recognizes the increasing scope of piracy beyond the coast of Somalia, which affects not only the states in the region but also those far beyond.

India, supported by other members, incorporated in the resolution provisions dealing with persons who “intentionally facilitate piracy operations, including key figures of criminal networks involved in piracy.”

The resolution calls for prosecution of those who illicitly plan, organize, facilitate, or finance and profit from such attacks.

In the resolution, the 15-member body urged countries that have not already done so to criminalise piracy under their domestic laws and to implement prosecution methods in accordance with international human rights law.

The resolution also emphasized the need to establish specialized anti-piracy courts in Somalia and other countries in the region.

THE UNITED STATES welcomes the UN Security Council’s unanimous call to all nations in the world to continue their cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of all persons responsible for acts of piracy, armed robbery at sea, and Kidnap for Ransom off the coast of Somalia. This includes key figures of criminal networks involved in piracy who illicitly plan, organize, facilitate, or finance and profit from such attacks. We also welcome the further practical steps taken by the Council in support of national, regional and international efforts to prosecute pirates, and to enhance related prison capacity, say the U.S. Department of State.

This development is the latest indication of growing international consensus that these transnational criminals pose a serious shared security challenge for the safety and well-being of seafarers, global commerce and humanitarian aid.

FOLLOWING THE attack on a Japanese tanker in the Malacca Straits last month, the Sankei reports that the government is considering allowing armed guards on Japanese ships in response to the shifting piracy threat and in line with international trends- Newpacificinstitute.org.

The government began investigating placing armed Japanese Maritime Self-Defence or Coast Guard members on civilian ships registered in Japan traveling through areas suffering from repeated piracy, in an effort to strengthen piracy counter-measures in the seas off Somalia, it was learned on Oct 21. Somalian pirates are active from the seas off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea in the east and off the coast of Kenya to the south. With Japanese and international vessels on patrol in the region unable to escort every vessel, the new proposal for the use of armed guards was floated.

With the aim of bringing in armed guards, the Ministry of Defence is launching an investigation to consider amending the Piracy Countermeasures Law, which is the basis for the dispatch of MSDF ships for escort duty in the Gulf of Aden. As the escort vessels have eight Coast Guard members aboard, the Coast Guard is also investigating placing its members aboard civilian ships.

Currently, the MSDF has two escort vessels operating in the Gulf of Aden, escorting vessels across a 900km zone, with P3C patrol planes providing reconnaissance and surveillance. The US, UK, France and other nations have dispatched naval escorts and patrol planes of their own.

THE WMU International conference on Piracy At Sea (ICOPAS), held in Malmo, Sweden, has published the summary, conclusion and also a series of presentations for download. The conference topics ranged from piracy and world public order, operational and economic issues, technology developments, armed security and the humanitarian response. An address by the IMO Secretary General and a talk by Calixto Caniete, master of the Renaur, held by pirates for 133 days, underscored the importance of the event.

Cyrus Mody, the senior manager of the watchdog organisation IMB, gave a presentation 'Maritime Piracy - the reality across the globe'. Interesting to note the final emphasis on information sharing. The presentation also underlines the importance of a single independent Reporting Centre and the 'lesson learnt' - Information shared is knowledge gained.

Not to leave out Robert Young Pelton of our partner site, Somaila Report, who gave a well received talk, including informing all delegates that the information on individual pirates and their location is available should anyone show interest. 

Where does the industry go from here? The question is asked of personalities at the conference.

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 lamented the economic impact of high seas crime - DefenceWeb.

“The maritime interests of South Africa are derived from its geographical location, geo-economic, structure and geopolitical aspirations and obligations,” she told delegates at the plush Westcliff Hotel in Johannesburg. “South Africa has a coastline is along a major strategic international sea trade route, and is located far from its key trade partners whom it reaches largely by sea.”

Botswana is landlocked and the bulk of its heavy imports and exports are by way of South Africa's ports. “We have international obligations to provide safety of navigation for ships, ensuring freedom of the seas and security of shipping, as well as the protection of maritime environment. South Africa’s national maritime interests include effective cooperation arrangements with neighbouring states and territories within and beyond our region and continent for the management of its maritime domain and interests, our oceans management and good order at sea,” Sisulu added.

“Initially, the threat of piracy seemed to be a remote and unrealistic concern for South Africa’s maritime security. However, as Somali pirate responded to international operations to counter their activities, they began extending their reach deeper into the Indian Ocean and into the SADC maritime zones. The SADC region now faces the threat of maritime piracy most dramatically illustrated by the seizure of a fishing vessel (the Vega 5) in December 2010, the furthest south that the pirates have yet struck,” she said.

“Such threats of piracy are of particular concern to the region and in particular our two countries, whose coastline and shipping lanes are vulnerable. Southern Africa waters have increasingly become an alternative to the pirates who realised that there are large unprotected parts of the Indian Ocean that is extremely lucrative if exploited. Piracy and maritime crime is negatively impacting on the economies of our states depend to a greater extend on tourism income.”

A secure and stable region is the favoured way forward as such a context presents favourable opportunities to eradicate poverty and unemployment; improve food security; and promote infrastructural development.

The South African Navy Valour-class frigate SAS Mendi (F148) is reported on station off Pemba port in northern Mozambique where she is conducting an anti-piracy patrol; her second this year in the northern Mozambique Channel.

THE CASH-STRAPPED South African National Defence Force will get an extra R81m from the Treasury this financial year to fund its antipiracy operations in the Mozambique Channel – Business Day.

The infamous piracy off the coast of Somalia has been steadily moving south into the Mozambique Channel, forcing SA to deploy a frigate to patrol the area in conjunction with the Mozambique Defence Force.

PIRACY ON THE high seas will be the focus of a major international conference in Australia next year, reports news.ninemsn.com.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday used a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) forum on Indian Ocean piracy to announce the conference to be hosted in Perth in 2012.

Piracy has surged this year, with Somali pirates in particular stepping up their attacks despite increased efforts to curb them.

As at early October, an estimated 316 people from 15 vessels were being held hostage by pirates.

The Perth conference will explore ways to help Somalia and other affected countries address the drivers of piracy.

"Piracy off the Horn of Africa has seen murders and hundreds of seafarers taken hostage," Mr Rudd said in a statement. "Piracy has also increased the costs of international trade and done enormous harm to regional countries' fishing and tourist industries."

Mr Rudd's announcement comes just days after the United Nations Security Council urged all UN member states to make piracy a crime.

"More must be done to prosecute, convict and imprison pirates," Mr Rudd said.

The CHOGM meeting saw a forum on piracy in the margins co-chaired with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd - Consilium Europa.

The forum underlined its deep concern at the threat posed by piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Indian Ocean. Somali piracy raised the costs of international trade and harmed the fishing and tourist industries of East African and Indian Ocean coastal and island states.

Noting United Nations Security Council Resolution 2015 passed on 24 October 2011, the forum endorsed the international efforts to restore peace and stability in Somalia.

ON THURSDAY, October 20, a joint US/Philippines Roundtable was held at the U.S. Department of Transportation Headquarters. The workshop and panel presentations concluded a week-long pilot anti-piracy training and education orientation program in the United States for three Filipino nationals, representing cadets, faculty and seafarers, including a former hostage. The workshop brought together representatives from governments, maritime labour, industry, and international organizations focused on incorporating piracy into mariner education and training curriculums - MarEx.

DENMARK WILL DEPLOY a surveillance aircraft off Somalia's coast in a bid to tackle piracy in the region, the government said Friday – Pluzmedia.com.

From January 2012, a Challenger surveillance aircraft will assist in aerial patrols for an initial two-month period as part of a NATO coalition force operating against pirates in the Gulf of Aden, Xinhua reported.

"Other countries have aircraft there, but it is a gigantic nautical area," said Defence Minister Nick Haekkerup. "Therefore it is important to know where to place the (coalition's) ships," he added, explaining the need for deploying surveillance aircraft.

The decision to deploy the aircraft was confirmed at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Danish Parliament Friday.

Meanwhile, the Danish frigate Absalon is sailing again to the waters off the Horn of Africa with a crew of 150 to strengthen the NATO mission known as Operation Ocean Shield, Danish news agency Ritzau said.

GEORGIA IS DOING all it can to free its citizens captured a year ago by Somali pirates, Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze told journalists – Azerbaijan Trend.

He said it is a particularly difficult case and the Foreign Ministry is refraining from making detailed comments in order not to endanger the life of sailors and complicate the situation.

Four Georgian sailors have been in the captivity of Somali pirates for over a year. Recently the pirates released photographs of the captives.

Initially demands of one million dollars were made, but then the amount was increased to $9 million.

ACCORDING TO a marine investigator, shipowners may be defrauding insurers by “double claiming” for pirate attacks due to perceived lack of clarity over where they should be making their claims - Shiptalk.

Speaking in Lloyd’s List, Marine investigator and consultant John David, who advises on marine claims, said he had seen “evidence of double book keeping as some policies are so daft and wide that shipowners make the same claim from different policies”.

According to the report, there is confusion over when all insurers start and stop paying.

THE FATHER of a Danish yachting family held captive by armed Somali gunmen for more than six months says he wished they never had sailed into the pirate-infested waters off the Horn of Africa, writes Arabnews.com.

In the first interview after their release, Jan Quist Johansen says it was “the decision of my life that I regret the most.”

His wife Marie told the Politiken newspaper Thursday they “cried and were afraid many times” but their Somali captors never hit them. They also were able to stay together during the ordeal that ended September 6.

The parents and their three teenage children were captured along with two Danish crew members on February 24 after their yacht was seized by pirates in the Indian Ocean.

Danish officials have refused to comment on whether a ransom was paid.

LOOKOUTS SCAN the horizon, searching for any boat or vessel that looks out of place; careful eyes watch the radar screen. The entire crew is on edge; radio chatter between ships is nearly constant.  Fishing vessels, normally a routine part of ocean travel, get extra scrutiny and wide passage. Any small boat approaching the ship sets off alarm bells – Marinelink.com.

EnGarde Armour for Lookouts

Anyone who makes their living on the sea knows these waters, one of the corridors of global commerce for as long man has been writing things down, are a dangerous place to travel. Ships transiting these waters to the Red Sea are exposed to virtually the entire coast of Somalia, home to fleets of modern day pirates. 2010 was a bumper year for the pirates with 53 ships seized, 1,181 crew members taken hostage along with their ships and cargo. Eight people lost their lives. Shipping supply companies are getting more requests for gear to keep customer crews safe and to combat ocean-going piracy. One of those steps is supplying crews that travel these dangerous waters with EnGarde Marine Tactical Kits.

The kits, which can be tailored to the company’s budget, include tactical helmets, and body armour that runs from models capable of stopping small arms fire to full cover tactical body armour with hard armour panels capable of stopping rounds from AK-47s and grenade fragments. Companies like Seaway Marine Trading BV, Wave.Co Supply, and EuroSupply Bergen AS are now stocking products to supply protection from the small arms and rocket propelled grenades that are the weapons of choice for roving bands of Somali pirates. EnGarde has seen a surge in interest in their marine tactical kits as shipping companies look to provide more safety options for crews working in potentially hostile waters.

Hijack:

• None.

6 Unsuccessful Attacks (All Regions):

• Indian Ocean - October 22 (via ReCAAP) around 0420 LT in position 09:58.21N - 076:02.41E, approx 11nm west of Kochi Lt, India, an anchored Hong Kong-flagged crude oil tanker, Everbright, was boarded by 10 robbers from two small boats. They stole some coils of rope. The master raised the alarm and informed Kochi Port Trust of the incident. Hearing the alarm, the robbers jumped into the water, and escaped in the boats. No crew were injured.

• Indian Ocean - October 23 (via IMB) at 0830 UTC in position 04:59N - 054:29E, approx 360nm East of Hobyo, Somalia. Armed pirates in 2 skiffs chased and attempted to board a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, Sea Voyager, underway with a crew of 23. Mothership in the vicinity. Master increased speed, carried out evasive manoeuvres and following a flurry of flares and warning shots from the security team of three, the pirates aborted the hijack attempt.

• South China Sea - October 24 (via IMB) at 1425 LT: in position 06:59.9N - 119:44.8E, Off Pangutaran Group Islands, Sulu Sea, Philippines. Pirates in six speed boats chased and attempted to board a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier, Marina R, underway. The Master raised alarm, took evasive manoeuvres, mustered the crew and activated the fire hoses. The pirates chased the ship for 15 minutes and then aborted the attempted attack. The boats were seen to head towards a fishing vessel in the vicinity. The Philippines Coast Guard were informed.

• South China Sea - October 25 (via IMB) at 0005 LT: Posn: 01:15.5N - 104:02.0E, Singapore Straits. Pirates in two boats approached and followed a barge towed by a tug. The crew directed searchlights towards the barge but could not detect the small boats. Master contacted other vessels including a security vessel in their convoy. Later a Singapore navy warship contacted and alerted the tugs Master that there are two small boats hiding behind his barge. The Master altered course and spotted the two pirate boats resulting in the boats moving away. At 0200 LT, small boats once again approached the barge. The naval warship spotted the boats and alerted the Master. Even with the presence of the warship, the pirates boarded the barge. Upon inspection, found that properties and stores of the barge had been stolen.

• Malacca Strait - October 26 (via IMB) at 0130 LT: Posn: 01:42.2N - 101:29.3E, Dumai Inner Anchorage, Indonesia. Two robbers in a wooden speed boat attempted to board a chemical tanker at anchor. Robbers used folded rods with a hook to climb. Alert duty watchman sighted the robbers and informed bridge. OOW raised alarm and mustered crew. Seeing crew alertness the robbers aborted the attempt and moved away. After around 30 minutes another boat with five robbers approached the vessel from astern and attempted to board the vessel. Once again alert watchkeeping ensured the robbers aborted the attempt. Nothing stolen.

• Gulf of Guinea - October 26 (via IMB) at 0750 UTC: Posn: 04:15.6N - 001:25.6E, approximately 114nm South and East off Togo. A Liberia-flagged refrigerated cargo ship, Nova Fresia, drifting noticed on radar an approaching small boat. As the boat closed towards the vessel no change in course or speed was observed. Seeing this Master raised alarm, started main engine, increased speed and commenced evasive manoeuvres. The boat followed the vessel for a while before reducing speed and moving away.

At least 15 ships and an estimated 305 hostages remain captives of the Somali pirates (IMB figures show 13 ships and 249 hostages). See the Somalia Report Weekly Piracy Report for details of ships held.

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. BMP version 4 is available at the link above; a high resolution version can be downloaded here.

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. 

Horn of Africa Pirate Activity

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Any suspicious activity should be reported to UKMTO in Dubai in the first instance (Email 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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