Weekly Pirate Activity Update - 4 November

OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update 

MV Blida released, attacked but escapes and pirates abandoned hijacked ship. That’s the good news. Bad news – three hijacks drive home that piracy threat remains high, despite Puntland arresting 150 pirates. Oman jails 10 pirates for life but highest-ranking pirate held in USA looks for dismissal of charges. Big debate on UK allowing armed guards, including fears of guns for hire and red tape. UK Royal Marines amphibious landing in Somalia. UN lauds anti-piracy efforts but said to be insufficient. MV Iceberg 1 crew fate continues to cause consternation. Casting call and unease for film role with Tom Hanks.

After finally gaining freedom at the cost of a ransom. MV Blida, sailed from the Somali coast towards Mombasa, only to suffer another pirate attack. Fortunately, the vessel evaded capture this time round.

Malaysian maritime authorities rescue a tanker carrying oil and gas worth 14 million ringgit ($4.6 million) which was hijacked Thursday in the Straits of Singapore. Nautica Johor Bahru was intercepted but 10 pirates escaped in a speedboat.

Greek-owned tankers were hijacked off the East and West coasts of Africa. Liquid Velvet was taken in the Gulf of Aden in the IRTC – the first commercial vessel to have been hijacked in the area in over a year – whilst Halifax went silent when awaiting instructions off Bonny in Nigeria. Later the hijack and capture of the crew of 25 was confirmed. Early on November 4, a Taiwan-registered fishing vessel, Chin I Wen, with 28 crew members aboard was hijacked Southwest of the Seychelles.

Over a two week period, Puntland police claim to have arrested 150 pirates during anti-piracy operations.

Once more the fate of the crew of MV Iceberg 1 causes consternation. Threats and horror stories of treatment meted out by the pirates as part of the negotiation tactics abound.

Oman has sentenced ten Somali pirates to life imprisonment for the foiled attempt to hijack a vessel outside the Raysut Port in South Oman.

In the U.S., the man accused of being the highest-ranking pirate ever captured by the US is seeking to have all charges dismissed against him. He claims that the U.S. does not have the proper jurisdiction to prosecute. Facing a litany of charges, but having not set foot on the yacht where four Americans were killed, prosecutors say he acted as a land-based negotiator. A mandatory life sentence is the result if he is convicted.

The debate inspired by the UK Prime Ministers announcement that armed guards will be permitted on British-flagged vessels proves far-reaching. The fears of guns for hire, complexity of red tape and even countries which fly the ‘Red Ensign’, such as Gibraltar, are to determine whether the change in stance will be taken up by their respective maritime authorities.

A report states that the UK Royal Marines conducted an amphibious landing in Somalia in pursuit of an influential clan chief in July this year. The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) warship RSS Endeavour of the Republic of Singapore, assigned to the mission-based counter-piracy Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, disrupted two separate attacks by suspected pirates on merchant vessels transiting the Arabian Sea south of Oman.

Despite the UN lauding the anti-piracy efforts off the Somali coast, it was stressed that they were insufficient and called for Member States to strengthen efforts. 

Somali-American teenagers have the opportunity to audition for a role in the Tom Hanks film “Capt Phillips”, based on the true story of Richard Phillips, whose ship was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia in 2009. Phillips was rescued after a five-day standoff when Navy snipers aboard a destroyer cut down three of his kidnappers, who were holding him in a lifeboat. Mixed opinions as the image of Somalia as ruthless criminals is highlighted. A huge turnout is predicted nevertheless.

Hijacked tanker, MV Liquid Velvet (Photo: MarineTraffic.com)

THE GREEK-OWNED tanker, Liquid Velvet, was hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden at the western end of the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor (IRTC), the first in the area for over a year.The Marshall Island-flagged chemical tanker, with a crew of 22 comprising of 21 Filipinos, and reportedly an unarmed guard believed to be a Greek security consultant, was on its way to India. Read more OCEANUSLive.

A TAIWANESE FISHING vessel, Chin Yi Wen, was hijacked by Somali pirates approximately 270nm Southwest of the Seychelles. The Taiwan News reported that a Taiwan-registered fishing boat may have been hijacked by Somali pirates, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Friday. The 260-ton ship with 28 crew members aboard

Chin Yi Wen (Photo: NATO Shipping Cen)

-- none of them Taiwanese, believed to be including nine Chinese, eight Filipinos, six Indonesians and five Vietnamese nationals -- lost contact with its owner while sailing in waters near the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean this morning at 2am, according to a MOFA statement. "The ship is now sailing at full speed in the direction of Somalia, so we believe that it might have been hijacked by Somali pirates," said MOFA spokesman James Chang in a telephone interview with CNA.

POLICE FROM SOMALIA’S semi-autonomous region of Puntland arrested 150 pirates during a two week anti-piracy operation in Jariban and Garacad area of Mudug region, senior government officials told Somalia Report on  Sunday.

"Police were busy conducting operations against pirates over the last two weeks. We targeted their main centers and captured 150 pirates and many of their weapons," said Abdirashid Cadceed, Puntland’s Police Commander in Mudug region.

"Most of them were captured in Garacad while they were preparing their vessels to hijack other ships. We also seized PKMs, RPG-7s, AK-47s, and a number of pistols. Many of the pirates and their weapons are now in Jariban district's police station in Mudug region and soon we will transfer to Garowe, the capital city, to face the court," explained the police commander.

The operations will continue in all districts of Mudug region to prevent pirates from using those areas as pirate hubs.

"This is first step of our operations against pirates. We are planning to remove pirates from the entire region. We will continue detaining pirates, our courts will continue to charge them, and our government will continue to seize their weapons and vehicles," he added.

AFTER 11 MONTHS in captivity, MV Blida and her crew of 25 have been freed by Somalia pirates after they agreed to accept a US$2 ransom from the shipowners, much lower than the US$7 million originally demanded, a pirate told Somalia Report on Thursday. Read more - OCEANUSLive.

The vessel and crew are safe and headed towards Mombasa, Kenya, but had to endure a further attack from pirates as they departed the Somali coast, say sources.

The release comes after months of wrangling, changes in negotiators, threats to kill the crew and demands for ransom ranging from $4 - $7 million.

The vessel was attacked on January 1, 2011 approximately 130 miles south east of the Port of Salalah, Oman on her way to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania at the time of the attack. The Algerian owned ship had a load of clinker and a crew of 27 including Algerian, Philippine, and Ukraine nationals.

However, Nacereddine Mansouri, executive manager of the IBC, owners of Algerian bulk carrier MV Blida, said "The position of Algeria in this regard is firm and unequivocal." – Coastweek.com

He was quoted by the Algerian official news agency APS as saying that no ransom has been paid for the liberation of hostages.

In a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesman, Amar Belani expresses the joy of all after the release of these hostages, especially as it coincides with the celebration of Eid el Adha, November 6. "It is with great joy and profound relief that we announce the release this morning of the 25 sailors of the MV Blida ship who were held hostage by Somali pirates," reads the communiqué of Foreign Affairs – Ennahar Online.

Hijacked Tanker, MT Halifax

AS INCREASINGLY REPORTED, piracy off the West coast of Africa is gaining ground on their eastern Somali counterparts.The hijack of the Greek-owned tanker, Halifax (right) and its crew of 25 whilst awaiting berthing instructions  for Port Harcourt is one of four hijacks to have occurred in the last two weeks across high risk piracy regions. Another attacked occurred at the inner anchorage of Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The Greek-flagged bulk carrier, Desert Voyager, was boarded by pirates off Nigeria. On this occasion, the pirates destroyed communications equipment and stole property belonging to the crew before escaping.

ABOUT SIX SUSPECTED pirates, Monday, attacked boat passengers on the Nembe creek in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State with many dispossessed of their cash and valuables, according to Vanguard Nigeria.

A prominent business-man and paramount ruler of Igbeta Ewoama and other market women were said to have lost cash running into millions of naira in the attack.

The rampaging hoodlums, according to eyewitnesses, attacked no fewer than four boats conveying traders heading to Yenagoa, the state capital, for business. It was gathered that the armed pirates took the passenger boats by surprise at a point close where sand was being dredged for the construction of the Nembe Road project.

Over 20 soldiers of Joint Task Force were stationed in the area to protect the workers in the dredging site.

Some of the passengers, it was learnt, were ordered by the gun wielding hoodlums to jump into the river after being dispossessed of their cash and other valuables.

Sources said those taken away in the stolen boat were asked to jump off close to the high sea. But no life was reported lost.

MALAYSIA MARITIME AUTHORITIES have rescued a tanker and a barge which were hijacked in the latest South China Sea pirate attacks, officials said Sunday – News.Nine.msn.

Rescued Nautica Johor Bahru (Photo: MarineTraffic.com)

A tanker carrying oil and gas worth 14 million ringgit ($4.6 million) was hijacked Thursday in the Straits of Singapore, said Syed Mohamad Fuzi Syed Hasan, a regional operations director with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

Authorities located the Malaysian-registered MT Nautica Johor Bahru off the country's east coast Friday after an alert from the shipping company that the vessel was no longer contactable.

Navy ships from Malaysia and neighbouring Indonesia managed to intercept the vessel in Indonesian waters though the pirates, about 10 men armed with a pistol and machetes, got away in a speedboat, Syed Mohamad Fuzi said.

None of the 19 crew members was injured but their belongings were stolen. The tanker was on its way from peninsular Malaysia to Borneo Island, he said.

Meanwhile, authorities also rescued a barge with two crew and palm oil worth eight million ringgit on board Thursday off southern Malaysia, said maritime enforcement agency regional commander Zulkifli Abu Bakar.

The barge was hijacked from a fishing boat in Indonesian waters Wednesday while travelling from Borneo to peninsular Malaysia, he said. The six armed pirates had left the barge, presumably to get another tug boat.

Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting centre, called on authorities and ships to be vigilant.

"We hope it's not going to be a start again (of more such attacks). The authorities have to clamp down on these fast," he told AFP. "In this region ships should maintain a strict anti-piracy watch."

In June, the centre issued a warning for ships traversing the South China Sea bordering Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore following a sudden spur in attacks.

A Malaysian court last month sentenced six Indonesians to 10 years in jail and caning for trying to rob a merchant ship in September off its southern coast near Singapore.

THE APPEAL COURT in Muscat has sent ten Somali pirates to prison for life imprisonment while handing down three-year jail to three others in a separate case, according to a press release by the Public Prosecution on Tuesday - Gulfnews.

The ten Somali pirates were captured when the Omani authorities foiled their attempt to pirate a vessel waiting just outside the Raysut Port in south for a berth.

After being alerted, the Coast Guards with the help of Royal navy of Oman and Royal Air Force of Oman swooped on the pirates and captured them without firing a single shot.

In another incident a wooden boat carrying livestock sent SOS when pirates boarded their ship to use it to attack another ship.

The wooden boat had come from Djibouti and was heading towards Raysut Port. Three pirates, who were on board the wooden boat, were captured by the Coast Guard and referred to the Public Prosecution for legal action.

The pirates were charged with taking over the ship, felony and criminalised piracy. The pirates were also charged with kidnapping victims by force and threatening to kill them.

THE ATTORNEY FOR a Somali man accused of being the highest-ranking pirate the U.S. has ever captured wants all charges against him dismissed, saying that the U.S. doesn't have the proper jurisdiction to prosecute and that even if it did, Somalia is far too dangerous a country to travel to and mount an adequate defense - AP.

Mohammad Saali Shibin faces a litany of charges in the February hijacking of the yacht Quest, which resulted in the deaths of all four Americans on board. They were the first Americans killed in a wave of piracy that has plagued the Indian Ocean in recent years.

Unlike the other 14 men charged in the case, Shibin never set foot aboard the yacht. Instead, prosecutors say he acted as a land-based negotiator who researched how much ransom to seek for the Americans.

He also faces a series of charges in securing ransom of a German merchant vessel. An indictment alleges Shibin received $30,000 to $50,000 for negotiating a ransom for the Marida Marguerite estimated in the millions.

If convicted of piracy of either vessel, he faces a mandatory life sentence. He also faces hostage taking, kidnapping and weapons charges, among others.

Shibin attorney James Broccoletti wrote in a federal court filing Tuesday that the piracy charges should be dismissed because Shibin didn't engage in robbery at sea. He also wrote that the U.S. needed to extradite Shibin if it wanted to prosecute him. Shibin was apprehended in Somalia.

"Additionally, the United States cannot establish jurisdiction over someone who is 'found' in the U.S. solely through our government action of seizing and bringing him here — especially when there is no connection of the U.S. government to the offender, the victims, or the victim ship," he wrote.

The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment. It has not yet filed a response.

TRANSNET GENERAL MANAGER for Security, Major General Rodney Toka, says only a small fraction of the pirates operating in seas around the world are successfully prosecuted, following their arrest, while only around 1.4 percent were prosecuted at all - DefenceWeb.

Toka was speaking at the Maritime and Coastal Security Africa Conference in Cape Town. He said African countries needed to coordinate forces to achieve successful maritime security. Following his presentation, some of the delegates were of the view that terrorism legislation should not be used to fight piracy. They said that pirates, unlike terrorists, did not harbour political agendas. But others pointed out that, in some instances, the line between terrorism and piracy was blurred.

South African Maritime Security Authority Chief Executive, Commander Tsietsi Mokhele, put the on-going piracy activities off the coast of Somalia in the spotlight. In order to combat piracy there, he suggested that shipping companies who passed through the area should show interest in protecting the poor country.

FRESH INTELLIGENCE INPUTS that a senior commander is among the 119 Somali pirates being held at Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai has prompted the police to re-interrogate them. But since the Somali government has refused to send interpreters citing lack of resources, the police have hit upon a novel idea - of requesting the Somali embassy in New Delhi to grant permission to six Somali students from Pune to help out in questioning the pirates - Hindustan Times.

Sources in the Yellow Gate police at Ballard Pier, where the cases against these pirates are registered, said: “As per our information, the key member of the Somali piracy syndicate knows the operational strategy and hiding places of the syndicate, which mostly operates in small groups along the east coast of Africa, up to the Gulf of Aden. We want to identify and interrogate him as it will help the Indian Navy in making effective assaults on the syndicate.” They said the pirate chieftain has not been identified yet as the pirates understand only Somali.

PRIVATELY ARMED MERCHANT ships have a 100-per cent success rate against Somali pirates, experts say, but using guards is wrapped in red-tape and dogged by fears over sending hired guns to sea - Asiaone.

Spiralling attacks off the lawless East African state have forced shipping companies to turn to private guards to shepherd crew and cargo through waters that reamin dangerous despite international naval patrols.

"They're crying out for it and it's a massive trend," Graham Cormac, director of South African firm Specialist Maritime Services, said. "At the moment, demand outstrips supply."

His company charges up to US$5,000 (S$6,000) a day for four guards.

"The biggest problem that governments have is to do with their sovereign legislation pertaining to weapons," Cormac added.

"Policy has not kept pace with the evolving threat and without policy you can't adapt or change legislation."

Each country must grant permission for private guards in its waters, which can conflict with local weapons laws.

There are concerns too about the use of mercenaries, a spike in arms, questions of liability, and private militarisation of the seas.

"This is a contentious topic," said Joyce Marangu, Kenya Maritime Authority research and business development officer.

Private security had brought "some solutions but also serious challenges".

Ships carrying armed guards are meant to get clearance where they are registered, known as a flag state, before leaving on a voyage.

"We are however witnessing an increase in merchant vessels with armed guards onboard without the authorisation from these flag states," Marangu told a recent conference on African coastal security in Cape Town.

SHIPS SAILING UNDER a British flag will be able to carry armed guards to protect them from pirates, the prime minister has announced – BBC News.

David Cameron says he wants to combat the risks to shipping off the coast of Somalia, where 49 of the world's 53 hijackings last year took place.

No ship carrying armed security has yet been hijacked, the government claims.

But allowing ships to carry armed guards may fall foul of laws in other countries, such as South Africa.

Up to 200 British flagged vessels regularly sail through waters close to Somalia, and officials estimate around 100 of those would immediately apply for permission to have armed guards.

It is thought many British-registered ships already carry armed guards, taking advantage of a grey area in the law.

Mr Cameron said he wanted to legalise armed guards after talks in Australia with Commonwealth leaders from the region over the escalating problem faced in waters off their shores.

But armed guards would only be permitted while passing through dangerous waters, such as the Red Sea and Somalian coast.

Asked if he was comfortable with giving private security operatives the right to "shoot to kill" if necessary, Mr Cameron told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "We have to make choices.

"Frankly, the extent of the hijack and ransom of ships round the Horn of Africa is a complete stain on our world.

"The fact that a bunch of pirates in Somalia are managing to hold to ransom the rest of the world and our trading system is a complete insult and the rest of the world needs to come together with much more vigour."

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: "Piracy is a very serious problem and it's sensible to allow ships to take the appropriate measures to protect their crew and cargo. The use of armed security guards can have a significant impact.

"The UK will allow the use of private armed security guards on our ships in exceptional circumstances and where it is lawful to do so."

Under the plans the home secretary will be given the power to license armed guards for ships, who would be permitted to carry automatic weapons and possibly handguns, currently prohibited under UK firearms laws.

France and Spain provide so-called military vessel protection detachments [VPDs], while Italy is planning a similar measure.

In July the Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham said limited military resources meant it was not possible to free up Royal Marines for a ship protection role.

Other counter-piracy measures being taken include offering support from Treasury officials to Kenya to help its officials track down pirates' assets.

Mr Cameron also said help could be given to countries such as The Seychelles and Mauritius who were acting to bring pirates to court and imprison them.

PLENTY OF COMMENT followed the declaration by the UK’s Prime Minister, including ICS chairman Spyros M Polemis stating that the consensus view amongst shipping industry associations remains that, in normal circumstances, private armed guards “are not recommended”, however, in view of the current crisis in the Indian Ocean ship operators “must be able to retain all possible options available to deter attacks and defend their crews against piracy”.

He said: “Many shipping companies have concluded that arming ships is a necessary alternative to avoiding the Indian Ocean completely, which would have a hugely damaging impact on the movement of world trade.

Re-iterating ICS’ stance in response to Cameron’s plan, secretary general Peter Hinchliffe, said that armed guards should not represent “a long-term solution”, but a “short-term palliative measure”.

It is understood the licenses will not apply across the globe and will only cover dangerous waters, such as the seas off East Africa's coast, parts of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.

However, the move may anger Egypt, which has only recently ruled that ships sailing through the Suez Canal will not be allowed to do so with armed guards on board – Link2Portal.

InterManager (an active member of the Save our Seafarers (SOS) campaign) is, after months of campaigning, delighted to hear the public vilification of piracy issued by the UK Government. The SOS campaign has strived to bring recognition of the horrific and detrimental effect of Somali piracy to both Governmental and public awareness – BYM Marine & Maritime News.

InterManager re-iterates its position that it is not calling for every vessel to have armed guards onboard, rather that when a detailed risk assessment deems this the preferred option, then individual flag state legislation or charter party clauses should not obstruct Owners and/or Managers in taking this decision.

InterManager further supports ongoing initiatives to licence the companies providing armed guards (based on qualification, competence and experience), to define the rules of engagement in the event of a pirate attack and to control the type and flow of weapons deployed both onboard and while in transit to and from vessels.

THE GIBRALTAR MARITIME Administration is analysing whether Gibraltar will follow Britain’s decision to allow armed guards on merchant ships sailing through piracy hotspots. Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday that ships flying the British flag would be allowed to carry armed security guards if they chose to – Gibraltar Chronicle.

But it was not clear whether the step would also apply to Gibraltar and other members of the Red Ensign group, all of which are deemed to be British ships.

In the past, a number of Gibraltar-flag ships have been attacked by pirates, both off Somalia and in other hotspots including west Africa.

Until now the UK had strongly discouraged operators against carrying armed guards on board their ships, a position that was echoed in Gibraltar and across the Red Ensign group.

But faced with a mounting threat, many owners ignored the advice and were left wrestling with the complex legal and financial consequences of carrying armed guards.

Legislation has been drawn up to formally allow the use of private security personnel on UK-flagged ships sailing through waters where pirates are active. Under the plans, Britain’s home secretary would be given the power to license armed guards for UK-flag ships. Whether the wider Red Ensign group will follow suit remains to be seen.

Gibraltar’s Maritime Administrator, Alan Cubbin, is in the UK this week meeting British officials to discuss this and other issues of importance to the Gibraltar ship register. On his return he will brief Joe Holliday, the minister responsible for maritime affairs, before any decision is taken. Sources said legislation would have to put in place here if Gibraltar was to follow the UK’s lead.

THE PLANNED EXEMPTIONS to Britain's strict firearms laws could allow guards to carry revolvers, automatic weapons or even rocket launchers on board, reports Reuters.

A spokeswoman for Britain's Home Office (interior ministry) said that a licensing scheme would start within a month, and that the weaponry allowed would be "appropriate and proportionate".

Licences would restrict use of the weapons to off the Somali coast, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. Britain's Transport Ministry said it expected around half the 200 British ships which sail through those waters to want to use armed guards.

Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) warship RSS Endeavour of the Republic of Singapore, assigned to the mission-based counter-piracy Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, disrupted two separate attacks by suspected pirates on merchant vessels transiting the Arabian Sea south of Oman. RSS Endeavour was conducting counter-piracy operations east of the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden - CMF.

Suspected pirates abandon a skiff (Photo: CMF)

The Merchant Shipping Industry Best Management Practices (BMP) encourages merchant vessels to register with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) whilst in the high risk area for piracy. The MV BW Broker contacted UKMTO at approximately 8:00am and stated they were being chased by a suspicious skiff with seven people on board. A ladder, which is a tool used by pirates to board vessels, was visible in the skiff and this indicated to the crew that it may be pirates. (CTF) 151 Commander, Rear Admiral Kaleem Shaukat, Pakistan Navy, authorized RSS Endeavour to take appropriate steps to respond. RSS Endeavour altered course to intercept the MV BW Broker and established direct communication with the merchant vessel.  RSS Endeavour also launched one of its embarked helicopters to rapidly provide direct support to the merchant vessel.

ROYAL MARINES HAVE staged a daring raid in Somalia to seize a tribal leader, says The Telegraph.

The commandos carried out a dramatic amphibious landing using Viking armoured vehicles launched from landing craft, according to the Daily Mail.

Heavily-armed personnel from 539 Assault Squadron pushed deep inland through the lawless zone to seize the influential clan chief.

He was taken off for talks with MI6 and Foreign Office officials aboard a Royal Navy support ship anchored off the coast, centring on issues such as terror training camps and the seizing of hostages.

The raid in July was the first time British forces have conducted a military operation in the troubled area in 40 years, according to the Mail.

Special Forces have been focusing on the region amid a rise in ships seized offshore by pirates for ransom, the kidnap of citizens from Western countries, and the threat of the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab terror group.

It is also feared that UK-born terrorists are now increasingly travelling to the zone for training rather than Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The raid came two months before the kidnap of Briton Judith Tebbutt and murder of her husband David at a Kenyan resort near the Somalian border.

SEYCHELLES PRESIDENT JAMES Michel has welcomed the progress made by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth today, in identifying piracy as one of the main areas of concern for the development of Commonwealth countries - eturbonews.

“We have succeeded in getting the world community to realize that this is not a localized problem, but it is an international problem that requires an international response... I have warned in the past that the problem is piracy today, but tomorrow it is terrorism, and this is indeed what we are seeing develop, as we have seen in Kenya most recently,” said the President following the first day of discussions.

President Michel had raised the Somali piracy issue during his state visit to Australia in August this year and today is greatly encouraged by the announcements made by the Australian government at the opening day of CHOGM that it will host a counter-piracy conference in Perth next year. The 2012 conference will examine the means by which Somalia can be assisted, as well as other affected countries, in anti-piracy cooperation.

The President also commended the resolve of the Commonwealth countries to cooperate against piracy, which was expressed during the Indian Ocean Piracy Forum that was held in the margins of the CHOGM on Friday, and was chaired by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton.

CHIEF OF NAVAL Staff Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim has said that African Navies needed to cooperate to curb the activities of sea pirates in the continental coastal water – Daily Trust.

The Naval chief said in Johannesburg that the activities of the pirates at the African coastal lines would drive investors away if not curbed.

Ibrahim, who was a Guest Speaker at the just-concluded African Navy Maritime Security Conference in South Africa, said that the potentials in the continental seas needed to be fully protected.

“The main issue discussed at the conference is how African Navy can cooperate, so cooperation was preached on many grounds. The conferences also afford the opportunity for us to know that whatever happens in any parts of Africa affect other nations.

“So it is very clear that without cooperation we can achieve very little success in tackling the activities of pirates that is now a threat in the continent territorial waters.”

Ibrahim said the experience and cooperation between West Africa Navy in provision of security in the sub-region was shared with the delegates.

“I also have to tell the audience how Nigeria Navy on the request of the Benin Republic President, deployed troop to assist them in protecting their territorial water.

“Shipping is the hub of Benin Republic economy, whatever that happen there is just a matter of time before it robbed on Nigeria, so troop was deployed there three weeks ago.’’

Ibrahim said that “Southern African countries had a lot to learn from Nigeria Navy in the area of capacity building,”

IT IS VITAL that Member States strengthen efforts to tackle piracy off the Somali coast, a senior United Nations official stressed today, adding that current initiatives, while laudable, are insufficient – UN.org.

Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told a meeting of the Security Council that the international community has responded with an “unprecedented” effort to counter piracy, including through a naval presence off the coast of Somalia which has resulted in the reduction of incidents of piracy at sea.

In addition, more and more pirates are being arrested and prosecuted, and information sharing and coordination have improved, he said, as he presented the annual report of the Secretary-General on piracy off the Somali coast.

“Despite these unprecedented efforts, attempts to stem pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa remain insufficient,” Mr. Zerihoun stated, adding that Somali pirates have expanded their operations well into the Indian Ocean.

According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), 316 people and 15 vessels were being held hostage as of early October 2011.

Mr. Zerihoun noted that the pirates’ technical capacities have increased and they have become more violent. Many young Somalis continue to be willing to take the risk of becoming criminals at sea.

Another cause of concern is reports of links between pirates and the Islamist militant group in Somalia known as Al-Shabaab, according to the official. Somali piracy could also be inspiring attacks elsewhere on the world’s shipping lanes, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, he added.

“It is important that Member States and international actors redouble their efforts,” said Mr. Zerihoun.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL condemned all acts of maritime piracy and armed robbery at sea in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea and welcomed the intention by States in the region to convene a summit to consider a comprehensive response to the menace – UN.org.

In a resolution adopted unanimously, the Council encouraged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) to develop a strategy against maritime piracy.

The strategy will entail the drafting of domestic laws and regulations – where they do not exist – which will criminalize piracy and armed robbery at sea and develop a regional framework to counter piracy and armed robbery, including information-sharing and operational coordination mechanisms in the region.

The regional anti-piracy effort will also include the development and strengthening of domestic laws and regulations to implement relevant international agreements on the safety and security of navigation, in accordance with international law.

The Council encouraged ECOWAS, ECCAS and the GGC to counter piracy in the Gulf of Guinea through bilateral or regional maritime patrols, in line with relevant international law, while ensuring that such activities do not hinder the freedom of navigation on the high seas or the right of passage in the territorial sea to vessels of other States.

GREEK SHIPOWNERS HAVE warned of havoc on vital international ocean trades if the menace of piracy is not curtailed more effectively - IFW.

The message was spelt out “in no uncertain terms” by a delegation of Greek owners who visited Washington this month, meeting rulemakers and officials including US Secretary of Transportation Ray La Hood.

“They understand the implications if the transport chain is disrupted, which obviously it may be if seafarers are not willing to go into the Indian Ocean, for example,” said a source close to the trip, which took place under the auspices of the Union of Greek Shipowners.

One owner said: “There is a tendency in the US to think that piracy in the Indian Ocean has very little to do with them. But they understand the implications for trade and we also pointed out the mounting cost of piracy to the American consumer.”

A report in IFW’s sister publication, Lloyd’s List, said Greek-controlled shipping was estimated to carry about 20% of US imports and exports, a share partly reflecting the fact that Greek owners on average operate larger ships than many other nationalities.

The Union of Greek Shipowners has called for “self-protection of seafarers and ships by using private armed guards on board”.

THE PHILIPPINE’S NEW representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is seeking the release of Filipino seafarers being detained by pirates – GMA News.

IMO Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos promised to look into the matter when Ambassador Enrique Manalo presented his Letter of Credence to him in London on October 24.

The ceremony officially marked the start of the term of Manalo as the Philippine Permanent Representative to the IMO.

"Upon the request of the Ambassador, Secretary General Mitropoulos promised to look into the early release of Filipino seafarers still detained by pirates by discussing their situation with the ship owners who are responsible for negotiating their release," the Philippine Embassy in London said.

There were more than 300,000 Filipino seafarers in the international maritime fleet.

The IMO is scheduled to convene its bi-annual Assembly from November 21 to 30 in London.

The Philippines is seeking re-election to the IMO Council under Category "C," and Manalo informed Mitropoulos of the effort and determination exerted by the Philippine government towards a successful re-election.

"The two officials promised to work closely on issues of concern to both the Philippines and IMO," the embassy said.

ONE OF THE four Ghanaians being held by Somali pirates has told his relatives in Ghana that they are being taken off the ship to an unknown location.

The pirates are currently holding 24 persons captive.

They were aboard the MV Iceberg 1 off the Somali coast last year. Citi News gathers that some of the hostages have had their lips and ears cut off.

The Somali pirates are agitated about the delay in meeting their demand and have threatened to kill the crew, made up of six Indians, nine Yemenis, two Sudanese and three Filipinos.

The Ghanaians include Edward Kofi Asare, Francis Koomson Snr, Jewel Amiable and a fourth person whose identity is not yet known.

The son of one of the hostages, Francis Koomson Jnr. told Citi News, “I called on Saturday evening and I learnt they are being taken out of the ship to the land, but the destination we cannot tell."

“He said that they were being beaten but as to cutting of their fingers and ears, it is only being done to [other nationals]”.

FOR BARKHAD ABDIRAHMAN, the invitation to try out for a part in a Tom Hanks movie is a rare chance to break into the film business – Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The Somali-American teenager is one of many locals planning to show up for Saturday's open call for African-born men, women and children to audition for  a role in "Capt. Phillips."

Barkhad Abdirahman, 17, hopes to land a part in “Capt. Phillips,” about an American ship captain held by pirates in 2009 (Photo: Startribune.com).

But the notion that they'll be playing pirates who held an American ship captain hostage is causing unease as well as excitement in the nation's largest Somali-American community.

The Sony Pictures film is based on the true story of Richard Phillips, whose ship was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia in 2009. Phillips was rescued after a five-day standoff when Navy snipers aboard a destroyer cut down three of his kidnappers, who were holding him in a lifeboat.

Since the casting announcement came out, Jennifer Blevins has heard mixed opinions from her East African clients. She is director of the Brian Coyle Community Center in Minneapolis, a magnet for East African youth and the place where the auditions will be held.
Mohamed Jama, a Somali-American teenager and co-founder of the Cedar Riverside Youth Council, predicts a huge turnout.

"The city is fired up for this," he said.

He was among those who had concerns about the movie at first. He said the only other major film about Somalia, "Black Hawk Down," depics Somalis as "ruthless" war criminals who hate Americans. Also, actors hired to play Somalis appeared to be people from West Africa, not East Africa.

4 Hijacks (including 1 rescued):

• South China Sea - October 25 (late report via ReCAAP) at 0530 in position 01:24N - 104:37E, approximately11nm north of Pulau Bintan, Malaysia-flagged product tanker, Nautica Johor Bahru, was enroute from Malacca to Sibu carrying a cargo of oil and gas valued at US$4.5 million when ten pirates armed with a pistol and machetes hijacked the ship. The pirates cut off communication with the shipping company. The Malaysian Coast Guard tracked the ship to East of Pahang, Malaysia, and the Royal Malaysian Navy intercepted the tanker. Finally the pirates abandoned the tanker after stealing property. The crew regained control of the ship.

• Gulf of Aden – October 31 at 1152 UTC in position 12:00N - 045:33E, in the Western IRTC, Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek tanker MV Liquid Velvet came under attack by pirates in a single skiff. This vessel was hijacked with a crew of 22 (21 Filipinos and 1 – unconfirmed - Greek national unarmed security consultant).

• Gulf of Guinea – November 1 at 1109 UTC in position 03:26.5N - 06:42.3E whilst awaiting berthing instructions from Port Harcourt/offshore Bonny, Nigeria. Malta-flagged, Greek-owned tanker, Halifax, was boarded by pirates. The owners lost all communications with the vessel and crew of 25. The vessel was later confirmed to have been hijacked.

• Indian Ocean - November 4 (via NSC/MSCHOA) at 1002 UTC in position 06:10S - 051:10E, Taiwanese fishing vessel, Chin Yi Wen (hull number BH3361) with a crew of 28, was reported hijacked. It had previously reported the presence of a suspicious mothership in the vicinity. The fishing vessel may be used as a mothership for further pirate activity. This would suggest that two motherships may now be operating in the area.

6 Unsuccessful Attacks (All Regions):

• Indian Ocean – October 30 (via MSCHOA) at 1254 UTC, in position 04:20S 043:41E. Petroleum tanker, SCF Plymouth, came under attack by 1 white skiff 4 to 5 POB: Vessel was travelling at 14.7knts when 6 rounds were fired at the vessel. The onboard security team returned 6 rounds. RPG and guns were observed but no ladders were seen. The vessel is safe.

• Indian Ocean - October 31 (via NSC) at 1415 UTC, in position 02:23S - 049:29E, approximately 444nm southeast of Kismayo, Somalia, Tuna fishing vessel was attacked by three white skiffs. A Vessel Protection Detachment was on board and the ship managed to evade hijack attempt.

• Gulf of Guinea – October 31 (late report via Greek authorities) at 1945 UTC in position 04:50N - 002:48E, approximately 98nm Southwest of Nigeria Coast. Greece-flagged bulk carrier, Desert Voyager, boarded by pirates. The pirates destroyed VHF devices, entered the Master's and crew accommodation, and stole crew's personal belongings before escaping.

• Indian Ocean - October 31 (via NSC) at 2028 UTC, in position 08:10S - 046:06E approximately 405nm East of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, petroleum tanker, Dynatank, came under fire from an unknown number of skiffs. Vessel was fired upon aft of bridge bulkhead, port and starboard side accommodation and portholes. On board security team returned fire and after 30 mins pirates aborted the attack. Vessel is SAFE. No further details were given as the attack was under cover of darkness.

• Indian Ocean - 1 November (via NSC) at 0936 UTC, in position 01:21S - 052:21E, approx 590nm Southeast of Kismayo, Somalia, a fishing vessel, Torre Giulia, was attacked by two skiffs. The on board Vessel Protection Detachment repelled the attack and the vessel evaded hijack attempt. Vessel is SAFE and continued on its original journey. Additionally, it was observed that a possible mother ship in position 01:30S - 052:26E.

• Atlantic Ocean (E) - November 1 (via IMB) at 0255 LT: Freetown Inner Anchorage, Sierra Leone. Two robbers boarded an Antigua and Barbuda Ro-Ro general cargo ship, OXL Emir, at anchor. Robbers were spotted on main deck by duty watch man. The bridge team was informed and the alarm raised. The robbers escaped. Port authority was informed. Nothing was stolen and no casualties were reported.

At least 15 ships and an estimated 302 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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