OCEANUSLive Weekly Pirate Activity Update
Drama! Iranian crew freed by US Navy; Indian crew freed by NATO and EU; Indonesia rescues tugboat and crew; MV Olib G released. Protests against pirates as Puntland welcomes EU mission expansion. Nigeria claims outstanding achievement in maritime security. UK MP's call for robust rules on the use of Force. Private security - don't call them mercenaries as firms grow 'exponentially'. Kenya gets a new courtroom. INTERPOL released details of maritime crime. Fate of millions of dollars unknown and too few hostage takers prosecuted. Longest-running hijack of MV Iceberg 1 no nearer an end.
A dramatic start to 2012. Pirate activity is not at the same level as this time in 2011, but the intent to replenish the stock of merchant vessels resurfaced this week, albeit unsuccessfully. In fact, the pirates have lost out in more ways than one. The US Navy, despite the Iranian rhetoric over the Strait of Hormuz this week, rescued an Iranian dhow with 13 crew and detained 15 pirates without a shot being fired. NATO and EUNAVFOR units combined to free 20 Indian crew and detain 9 pirates on the Indian vessel in the Gulf of Aden. Somali pirates seemed to have made an error of judgement in hijacking an Indian vessel with 16 all-Indian crew carrying a cargo of over 3000 head of livestock - not the most welcome hostage burden. The vessel was release after 2 days without the payment of a ransom. Good news too for the Olib G and its crew after 18 months captivity. The vessel is finally released. Pirates claim $3 million ransom was paid.
Pirates had kidnapped the Galmudug Education Minister stating that he had not held up to a bargain struck in a previous kidnap case. However, this too ended in disappointment as the minister was released without payment of a ransom. Meanwhile, a useful phrase has arisen due to residents in Galkayo holding a demonstration against the pirates for fuelling instability in the area. "Burcad badeedu Ha dhacdo", which can be translated as "down with the pirates." Puntland officals have welcomed EU plans to expand their anti-piracy operation to include the coast of Somalia, saying serious gains will be made.
Indonesian authorities have rescued a tugboat and its 9 crew. An aircraft and 3 warships were deployed to find the tug which was towing a barge through the Strait of Singapore when it was hijacked.
Nigeria maritime authorities say one of its most outstanding achievements last year was securing the nation’s territorial waters in the wake of increasing piracy attacks.
UK Members of Parliament call for clear guidelines and rules to be established on the matter of dealing with pirate attacks on British-flagged vessels has received favourable comment from various shipping industry bodies. The Foreign Affairs Committee report also covers the fate of millions of dollars in ransom money paid out to Somali pirates and too few hostage takers being prosecuted.
The number of private security firms providing protection for the shipping industry has grown "exponentially" in recent years, a leading security expert has told Sky News. There are roughly 200 private security firms registered around the world but British-registered firms represent approximately 80% of the trade. The Morning Star goes as far as to call them 'mercenaries', which prompted a scathing response from one industry professional to clarify the difference between mercenaries and private security.
Kenya, currently holding the highest number of piracy suspects, opened a new high-security courtroom to try suspects in the port town of Mombasa through the support of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime. Kenya is also to hold an anti-piracy conference at heads of state level in February.
INTERPOL has released details of its support for crime scene evidence retrieval from ships hijacked by pirates, resulting in the recovery of intelligence used to identify pirates and negotiators.
MV Iceberg 1 has the unenviable record of having been held in captivity by Somali pirates for the longest time. The plight of the crew and their families is covered in Indian media video reports.
East Africa
Somali pirates hijacked the Indian-flagged Savina Al-Salaam near Bosaso port early on Tuesday. The boat was carrying livestock from Bosaso to Oman when the armed pirates attacked, senior officials told Somalia Report on Tuesday.
Said Mohamed Raage, Puntland's minister for sea and ports, told Somalia Report by phone, "The name of the boat is Savina Al-Salaam, owned by India, has 16 crew. All are Indian. The boat also carried four Somali passengers, three women and one man, all have Oman visas," he said. "The cargo was 3620 animals, livestock loaded at Bosaso Port. The name of captain is Naaji Hussien. They don't hijack the boat at Bosaso port, they hijacked while the boat was at sea and heading to Oman," said Minister Raage.
The minister also told Somalia Report that the boat was likely taken to the Qandalla area in the eastern Bari region. "We are still investigating what hppened and we believe that boat was taken to Qandalla area. We don't have more information about these pirates yet, but we know that pirates seize commercial boats to use to launch attacks from," he said.
However, on Thursday, Somali pirates released the vessel and its 16 all-Indian crew without ransom, confirmed by its owners and by the pirates. It is unclear why the pirates abandoned the vessel, but it is believe that the livestock may have been a factor, says Somalia Report. A pirate explained that the vessel was too heavy to use as a mothership for launching attacks. The vessel, held for 2 days, is now on course for Oman.
The minister of education for the semi-autonomous region of Galmudug, Burhan Warsame Igal, was kidnapped by pirates in Galkayo, the capital of Mudug region.
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| Galmudug Minister of Edu (Photo: Somalia Report) |
The minister was kidnapped at 11:00 am (0800 GMT) from his home as he was preparing to go into town. The minister's neighbors confirmed the incident to Somalia Report, alleging that pirates were responsible for the kidnapping, reports Somalia Report.
"We heard a loud shouting from the minister's house and when we came out we saw at least five or six men dragging him towards his car. Then they drove off in his car," said Ali Musa, one of the minister's neighbours.
The motive for the kidnapping is suspected to be Mr. Igal's refusal to deliver a ransom he had promised to the pirate gang after they had abducted a young student from north Galkayo.
After a few hours they brought him back to his home, where they are holding him hostage until he pays his alleged debt.
Mr. Igal's kidnappers allowed him to speak on the radio program Voice of America (VOA) from his mobile phone, in order to inform the outside world of his present condition.
"The same pirates who kidnapped the schoolboy the other day attacked me today at my house, and are asking me to pay them the money I promised them to pay for his release. They are asking for $165,000, which is a huge amount of money, and they say that they won’t release me until I pay it. I am safe so far, but imprisoned in my own house," Mr. Igal said.
It is the first time that pirates have kidnapped an official from Galmudug state.
Later reports state the Education Minister was released from his kidnapping ordeal when police raided the pirates, according to officials and relatives. No casualties occurred and 3 pirates were arrested at the scene. Others managed to escape druing the operation said a Galmudug police officer. Read more.
Officials in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland have welcomed EU plans to expand their anti-piracy operation to include the coast of Somalia. German Foreign Ministry spokesman, Andreas Paschke, has said that there are EU plans to destroy pirate infrastructure or bases on the coast. He was quick to assure that the proposed plans did not include deploying any troops onto Somalian soil. He added that a proposal will be submitted to the EU this month,- Somalia Report.
"We welcome this plan. I hope it will help destroy pirate operations off our coast," said Puntland's Interior Minister, Gen. Abdulaahi Ahmed Jama (known as Ilkajiir).
"This is what we have needed for years. We have always said that the best solution to fight pirates is to launch an assault on the beaches. Now, if the EU is planning to fight pirates on the beaches, and we are accelerating the fight on land, serious gains will be made," Gen Ilka jiir added.
Last month, Puntland officials detained dozens of pirates during their own anti-piracy operations in the region.
Garacad area in the Mudug region is a significant pirate base. Approximately 200 pirates operate out of Garacad, Dhinooda and Buq. Puntland officials in Garacad area told Somalia Report that they welcome the suggestion, but requested notice before any such operation were launched. Read more.
Somali pirates who hijacked a tanker shortly after it left a UAE port are thrashing out a ransom figure, a group that helps seafarers has said - Neptune Maritime Security.
The Italian-owned MT Enrico Ievoli left Fujairah last week, carrying 15,750 tonnes of caustic soda. It had been scheduled to rendezvous with Chinese armed forces - who were to provide protection on the high seas - when it was attacked off the Oman coast.
“It is a jackpot for the pirates who always favour tankers over other types of ships since they bring in good money in ransom,” said Andrew Mwangura, a pirates negotiator for the Seafarers' Assistance Program in East Africa. “Discussions among the pirates have commenced to determine a ransom figure. It will be up to the ship’s owners to accept the demand in exchange for their tanker, its cargo and crew.”
He said that after a ransom figure had been determined, the pirates would appoint a negotiator who would enter into talks with the ship’s owner. However, he said it could be weeks before any demand is made. The Enrico Ievoli is anchored off Somalia with all 18 crew on board.
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US Navy Rescues Iranian Dhow Crew
(US Navy photo/Released)
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U.S. Navy Forces assigned to the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, rescued an Iranian fishing vessel from pirates in the northern Arabian Sea, Jan. 5, reports the US Navy.
At approximately 12:30 p.m local time, an SH-60S Seahawk from guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) detected a suspected pirate skiff alongside the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow Al Molai. Simultaneously, a distress call was received from the master of the Al Molai claiming he was being held captive by pirates.
A visit, board, search and seizure team from Kidd boarded the Al Molai and detained 15 suspected pirates who had been holding a 13-member Iranian crew hostage for several weeks. The Al Molai had been pirated and used as a "mother ship" for pirate operations throughout the Persian Gulf, according to members of the Iranian vessel's crew.
The pirates did not resist the boarding and surrendered quickly.
"The Al Molai had been taken over by pirates for roughly the last 40-45 days," said Josh Schminky, a Navy Criminal Investigative Service agent aboard the Kidd. "They were held hostage, with limited rations, and we believe were forced against their will to assist the pirates with other piracy operations."
According to members of the Kidd boarding party, the Iranian crew said they were forced by the pirates to live in harsh conditions, under the threat of violence with limited supplies and medical aid.
"When we boarded, we gave them food, water, and medical care," said Schminky. "They had been through a lot. We went out of our way to treat the fishing crew with kindness and respect.
"Small 'fishing boat' 75 miles out in open ocean operating for fun... we didn't think so," Rear Admiral Faller is quoted as saying. Read more.
The European naval forces off the Somali coast have rescued an Indian-flagged commercial boat and seized 9 Somali pirates, authorities in the semiautonomous state of Puntland said on Saturday.
The vessel christened Shaahi Al-Qaasimi was laden with cargo and a 20-member Indian crew. Puntland officials told Somalia Report that the Indian crew was now safe.
Armed Somali pirates attacked and hijacked the Indian vessel late on Thursday while en route to the commercial port city of Bosaso. The boat was transporting goods from Dubai to Bosaso, the officials added.
Puntland officials said combined efforts of NATO and EU NAVFOR led to the rescue of the boat and her crew, adding that 9 armed pirates were arrested during the operation.
According to sources, the pirate group is same group of hijackers blamed of taking hostage another Indian vessel, Savina Al-Salam, which was released last Thursday.
Hundreds of people gathered yesterday to demonstrate against pirates and other local criminals accused of fuelling instability in Galkayo. Witnesses told Somalia Report that large crowds of residents took part in the demonstration, which was organised by Galmadug's minister for youth and sports.
More than 200 hundred people, including Galdmudug officials, marched through Galkayo streets. Demonstrators carried signs condemning pirates and other elements of Galkayo society accused of fuelling instability. The procession gathered in the street of Abdulahi Isse, which marked the centre of the demonstration.
The protestors walked through Galkayo's streets, shouting against pirates and regional insecurity. Some voiced messages to the Galmudug administration, requesting that the government maintains the peace and fights against the pirates," according to Ahmed Khalif, an observer of the demonstration.
One of the protestors told Somalia Report that the region experienced serious instability last week, a result of conflict between opposing pirate gangs.
"We are really serious. Our lives have been affected immeasurably. First, it was because of the pirates, and now other criminal gangs are contributing to the problem. Pirates have kidnapped and killed civilians, and we are going to continue our protest until something is done," Amin Yare, one of protesters, told Somalia Report.
Galkayo residents blame both the pirates and the Puntland and Galmadug administrations for the insecurity. Many residents believe that not enough is being done to fight the pirates.
Kenya will host an anti-piracy conference at heads of state level on February 9 and 10 in Nairobi, a foreign ministry official said Saturday.
“We expect regional heads of state to attend,” second counsellor Anthony Safari told a press conference, adding that the conference was being organised in conjunction with the UN and being coordinated by the office of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, reports Capital FM Kenya.
One of the aims of the Nairobi conference, he said, is to prepare for a broader conference on Somalia being hosted by Britain on February 23.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said in November that London would host a conference on Somalia in 2012 to pull together international efforts.
The Foreign office says the event “aims to bring together leaders of key partner countries and organisations, both in Africa and beyond, to help galvanise a common approach to address the problems and challenges of Somalia that affect us all.
This includes tackling the issues of piracy, extremism and the underlying causes of instability and conflict in Somalia.”
The Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective central government since the 1991 ouster of president Siad Barre.
Released by Pirates
Somali pirates released MV Olib G, a Maltese-flagged tanker for $3 million early on Sunday morning, according to pirates in Garacad, who spoke to Somalia Report.
The vessel, with a crew of 18 (15 Georgians and 3 Turks), was released after the ransom was dropped onto the ship. Read more.
West Africa
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said one of its most outstanding achievements last year is in securing the nation’s territorial waters in the wake of increasing piracy attacks worldwide - The Nation.
The agency’s Deputy Director,Public Affairs, Hajia Lami Tumaka, told The Nation that the agency has successfully tackled the menace of piracy on the Nation’s territorial waters.
The feat, the image maker said, was made possible as a result of collaboration the Agency established with the Navy. This partnership with the Navy, Tumaka said, has made the work of NIMASA policing the nation’s territorial waters, especially the Lagos axis, easier.
She also said there has been a drastic reduction of piracy attacks within our territorial waters especially in the Lagos anchorage area. The result of this frustration to the pirates is that they moved toward the Benin Republic area in the course of the past year.
“When they were frustrated out of Nigerian waters, the Pirates intensified their activities in the Benin axis,” she added.
This situation resulted in the Benin Republic leader coming to meet President Goodluck Jonathan asking for Nigeria’s assistance in containing the activities of the pirates,” she said.
South East Asia
Indonesian authorities have rescued a tug boat with nine crew believed to have been hijacked in the Straits of Singapore, a sea lane seeing a rise in attacks, an official said Monday, according to AFP.
The boat was recovered on Saturday off Indonesia, said Noel Choong, head of the piracy reporting centre of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
It had been towing a barge laden with heavy machinery and piling materials which an Indonesian aircraft and three warships found in the same area a day later, he added.
The tug and barge, heading from peninsular Malaysia to Borneo island, last made contact on December 27 off southern Malaysia near the Straits of Singapore before it was hijacked, Choong said.
"IMB is very pleased with the Indonesian authorities' quick response because of which we managed to recover the tug and barge," he told AFP.
Choong urged authorities to step up patrols and ships to be vigilant in the Straits of Singapore, which saw 11 attacks last year, up from three in 2010.
Malaysian maritime authorities in October rescued a tanker they said was also hijacked in the straits, which runs between Singapore and Indonesia.
In September, a Malaysian court sentenced six Indonesians to 10 years in jail and caning for trying to rob a merchant ship near the same area.
Bangladesh has been removed from a list of “high risk” piracy prone areas compiled by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), an anti-crime warning unit of International Chamber of Commerce. Bangladeshi authorities lobbied the IMB to remove itself, since the designation increased the cost of insurance to cargo ships destined for Chittagong in the Bay of Bengal - Gant Daily.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Khurshed Alam confirmed to news on Sunday. Bangladesh wrote a protest letter on December 20.
In the protest letter, Bangladesh stated that incidents reported to the IMB were mostly “petty thefts” or “robbery” and under no circumstances constituted genuine “piracy” since they took place well within 200 nautical miles from the coast of Bangladesh. Most incidents were reported at Chittagong anchorages and approaches, says the IMB website.
The IMB portal has since changed the status from a “piracy warning” to “piracy and armed robbery warning.”
For two decades the IMB has labeled Bangladesh as a “high-risk” area for piracy. However, Bangladeshi officials say that according to the definitions of the crime provided for by international law, there has been not a single case of piracy in their territorial waters during that period.
Pirates in Court
"Kenya has taken on a heavy burden in dealing with a crime that affects the entire international community," said John Sandage, Officer-in-Charge of UNODC's Division of Treaty Affairs, reports Web News Wire.
"Today's event is a recognition of their commitment and a demonstration of solidarity from the international community," he said.
The new courtroom, intended to increase trial efficiency in the system and provide a secure, modern environment suitable for piracy cases was built by UNODC's Counter-Piracy Programme with contributions from Australia, Canada, the European Union (EU), France, Germany and the United States.
It is designed to hear cases of maritime piracy and other serious criminal offences.
"There are no V.I.P. prisoners and there are no V.I.P. defendants: all the improvements have impact on everybody in the criminal justice system," Alan Cole of the Counter-Piracy Programme at the regional office of UNODC told UN Radio.
He added that the courtroom is one part of international efforts through UNODC to improve conditions in Kenya and improve capacity of the country's justice system "so that as many pirates as possible can be given as good a trial as possible without any additional load on the Government of Kenya."
Some 123 suspected pirates have been held in Kenya, of which 18 have been convicted and 105 remain on trial. Read more.
Private Security
British mercenaries need better regulatory guidance when it comes to killing Somali pirates, MPs said in a controversial report, comments Morning Star.
Anti-war campaigners were incredulous as a Commons committee backed the use of privately paid armed guards on British-flagged vessels - saying they needed guidance "consistent with the rules that would govern the use of force by members of the armed forces."
Committee chairman Richard Ottaway said it was "unacceptable" that Somali pirates had disrupted international shipping, driving up costs for British importers and insurers.
"Naval forces have had some success but they cannot hope to police such a large area of operation. "Ship owners must take responsibility for their own protection, and the government must let them do so."
The Tory member for Croydon South said the committee had supported the government's October decision to allow armed guards, but contractors who supplied the guards needed "critical detail" on how to avoid being prosecuted for a violent crime under British law.
"The question anyone would ask is that if a private armed guard on board a British-flagged vessel sees an armed skiff approaching at high speed, can the guard open fire?
"The government must provide clearer direction on what is permissible and what is not," he said.
Maritime union RMT general secretary Bob Crow said it was "essential" to take all practical measures to protect British-flagged ships but that the root causes of piracy also needed to be addressed.
But Stop the War Coalition's Lindsey German said the report showed how war was increasingly being privatised by governments in the West.
It suits them because they don't have to expand the armed forces in a way that might be controversial if it came under public scrutiny.
"It suits the private companies who stand to make a fortune from these contracts."
The parliamentary report suggests that mercenaries are big business in Britain, with one witness telling the committee that "probably over 50 per cent" of guards working in international shipping were either British nationals or working for British nationals.
Marine lawyer Stephen Askins told MPs he supported industry self-regulation but without explicit guidance most security contractors had been "simply ignoring" British legislation.
"A whole host of maritime security operators are shifting a large number of weapons around on any given day and are simply not abiding by UK law to do it," he said.
In an open letter responding to an article [above] - 'MPs' report asks for pirate-killing guide' by the UK paper, Morning Star, in which it contains the words “British mercenaries need better regulatory guidance when it comes to killing Somali pirates, MPs said in a controversial report released today,” David Stone of APPDS Ltd, lays out the position of Private Military Security Companies and the misguided use of the term 'Mercenary'. He also details the stance in the movement of weapons.
Providing detail of his background and experience, David makes the point that regulation and accreditation are important aspects for the profession if they are to achieve accepted standards within the shipping industry. Read more.
The number of private security firms providing protection for the shipping industry has grown "exponentially" in recent years, a leading security expert has told Sky News.
There are roughly 200 private security firms registered around the world but British-registered firms represent approximately 80% of the trade.
Shipping firms generally carry around three or four private security personnel through the dangerous shipping lanes such as the Indian Ocean near Somalia, meaning that several people are available and able to rapidly respond while the others sleep.
The guards generally join the vessels in the North West Indian Ocean, and travel to ships from places as far apart as Sri Lanka, South Africa, Oman and Djibouti.
The Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) said that the average cost for a four-man team protecting a ship was $5,000 (£3,200) a day.
The private security industry is considered by many to offer a lucrative payday for former soldiers.
But Graeme Gibbon Brooks, managing director of Dryad Maritime Intelligence Service, said the industry is not as well remunerated as many believe. "It is not well-paid work, it is not as secure and lucrative as the outside world imagines," he said.
"Many people think they are paid thousands, they are certainly not." The industry remains unregulated and Peter Cook, the director and founder of SAMI, said it was "excellent" that the Government were "taking a pro-active view" on regulating the industry.
However, he added: "Governments can only do so much." He warned that it was difficult to apply laws to international waters.
Mr Gibbon Brooks welcomed the Foreign Affairs Committee's recommendation that the law over whether private security officers can shoot at suspected pirates should be clarified.
"The law is extremely open to interpretation and any move to remove ambiguity is welcome."
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Tenth Report of Session on - "Piracy off the Coast of Somalia" - published this week has engendered favourable comment from various shipping industry bodies.
Basically, the report called for clear guidelines and rules to be established by the UK Government when dealing with pirate attacks on UK flag vessels, says Tanker Operator.
The 72-page report set out the findings of the FAC enquiry into the efforts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the UK Government to combat the increasing levels of piracy off Somalia. The report is available to download here (PDF).
The famous Korean Admiral Yi Sun-shin never battled Blackbeard, Calico Jack or Captain Kidd, but his distant descendants are now joining the struggle against 21st century sea wolves -- on a freelance basis, writes Yonhap News.
With Korea's economy hinging on global trade, mostly seaborne, there is a clear requirement for maritime security. And with Korea's military generating a pool of trained professionals, private military contractors (PMCs) are supplying the security demands of Korean merchant shipping.
These "sea marshals" are not easy to find. They are virtually invisible on the Internet (a considerable feat in itself). A meeting with an executive required an introduction from a private investigator. The executive asked to meet in a coffee shop rather than his office and declined to be photographed.
Lim Yong-beom was casually dressed and in his early 40s. Of average height, he has a gentle handshake, but when he removed his jacket, a Homeric physique was apparent beneath his shirt. Lim, a special forces veteran, is the chief intelligence officer of IntelEdge, a PMC founded in 2010 that provides maritime security, consulting, intelligence and specialized hardware.
"We have around 20 regular contractors, all ex-Special Forces, and another 20 temporary, mostly British," said Lim, whose post-military service experience with PMCs includes work in West Africa and the Middle East.
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| Korean PMC Team (Photo: Yonhap News) |
Korean sea marshals are recruited from veterans of the most elite units, Lim explained. These comprise the army special forces of the 707 Battalion (similar to the US Delta Force or British SAS); the naval commandos of SEAL-UDT, or Sea-Air-Land/Underwater Demolition teams (who won fame for the storming of the captured "Samho Dream" last January); and the operators of HID, or Headquarters Intelligence Detachment (a black operations unit so secret that the Ministry of National Defense denies its existence).
The Korean SEAL Samho Dream raid was "good for business," Lim said.
Compared to their lavishly equipped U.S. counterparts, Korean operators are renowned for improvisation.
"ROK Special Forces may lack equipment, but complete the mission," he said, calling South Korea by the acronym of its official name, the Republic of Korea. "Creativity is their plus point."
For low-risk operations, Lim offered "semi-armed" teams, carrying compound bows. "We are Koreans -- good archers!" said Lim. "Crossbows have triggers so we can't carry them, but compound bows are sports equipment." This means they can be carried internationally, obviating firearm transit problems.
However, for operations off Somalia, firearms are essential. The problem is that under Korean law, they are impossible to own, so IntelEdge "rents" firearms from partners in Sri Lanka, where teams usually board ships. Read more.
Call to Arms & Actions
The [Philippines] government has come up with a plan to minimize the risk Filipino seamen face from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The plan calls for, among other measures, the adoption of what the merchant shipping industry refers to as “best management practices,” DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said Wednesday.
These practices—or ship protection measures—include watch and lookout arrangements, installing antipiracy alarms and razor wire around the vessels, using water cannons that blast steam and hot water as deterrents, and wearing night vision optics.
Safe corridor - “The government is also making arrangements with ships’ foreign principals and local manning agencies to travel along a safe corridor. We have also taken up the issue of maritime safety before the United Nations and other international organizations,” Hernandez told the Global Nation Inquirer.
The Philippines is a member of the 70-nation Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, which includes the United States, China, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, among other countries.
Twenty-six Filipino seamen on three foreign-flagged vessels are still held hostage by Somali pirates.
Shortly thereafter, three more 3 VPDs got under way. The dredger ‘Athena’ and the tug ‘Multicat Oceanus’ were given protection during their journey to Mombasa.
On 21 December, a team of [Dutch] marines left the United Arab Emirates on board MV Swan with Tunisia as its destination. This military team, a so-called Vessel Protection Team (VPD), will protect the vulnerable sea transport against piracy - World Maritime News.
Late in 2011, a team of marines provided protection to the ‘Mighty Servant III’ of Dutch firm Dockwise. The fallpipe vessel ‘Flintstone’ of the firm Tideway was escorted on her way to Rotterdam from Singapore.
INTERPOL has released details of its continuing fight against maritime crime and piracy, says Shiptalk.
The addition of three new member countries: Curaçao, Sint Maarten and South Sudan at the 80th General Assembly came towards the end of a year which began with the official ground breaking ceremony for the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore and saw INTERPOL’s global databases accessed 2 million times a day.
Teams deployed to Africa by INTERPOL to support crime scene evidence retrieval from ships hijacked by pirates resulted in the recovery of intelligence used to identify pirates and negotiators, in addition to the techniques used to plan attacks and launder the proceeds. The value of these efforts, and the creation of INTERPOL’s global maritime piracy database, was recognized in November by the United Nations through its unanimous endorsement of a resolution calling on all of its 193 member states to share information with INTERPOL as part of a comprehensive global response to maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia. Read more.
India and Oman have extended the validity of the existing bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Military Cooperation, signed in December 2005, for a further period of five years. The documents were signed by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and the visiting Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Badar bin Saud bin Harib al Busaidi here today, - Safety4Sea.
Bilateral defence cooperation between India and Oman has been growing over the years. The Navies of both countries are conducting a joint exercise "Naseem Al Bahr off the coast of Mumbai from December 26-31, 2011. The IAF and the Royal Air Force of Oman held a joint exercise "Eastern Bridge" at Jamnagar, Gujarat in October earlier this year.
During the delegation level talks both sides noted that bilateral defence cooperation activities have been progressing satisfactorily. The 5th meeting of the India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee was held recently in India in September, 2011.
Both the Ministers discussed important issues relating to regional and maritime security. Shri Antony noted that incidents of piracy were taking place close to the Oman coast and have also been spreading close to the Lakshadweep Islands. Both Ministers stressed the need for continued and concerted efforts of the world community to effectively address the problem. Shri Antony conveyed that the visit of the Oman Defence Minister is an important step in continuing the dialogue on defence and security issues between the two countries.
Taiwan is considering a plan to place armed guards on board local ships that sail in pirate-infested waters, especially off Somalia, officials and media said Tuesday, - Hellenic Shipping News reports.
"The proposal has been under evaluation, but details of how it can be done have not been finalised," an official at the transportation ministry told AFP, declining to give his name.
Industry officials said the proposed measures would not be implemented until an amendment to the law governing guns and firearms that bars the employment of armed guards on board local vessels.
While awaiting the government's decision, leading shipping firms Evergreen Marine Corp and Yangming Marine Transport Corp have both already taken steps to protect their vessels.
"Since late last year, our company has adopted special security measures on our ships sailing on some routes," a Yangming official said, without providing details.
The Taipei-based Commercial Times said Yangming had hired armed guards from a French company, deploying three on each ship travelling through risky waters near Somalia.
It would be possible for Yangming to do this because the ships are registered overseas and therefore not subject to Taiwan's rules against firearms onboard.
The dangers were highlighted in November when a Taiwanese fishing boat was seized by pirates off eastern Africa.
The 28 sailors on the 290-tonne "Chin Yi Wen" later recaptured their ship from the pirates. Three sailors were slightly injured. Currently one Taiwanese fishing vessel is in the hands of Somali pirates, the fisheries agency said.
Measures to deter and respond to piracy attacks are, like any other security-related procedure or equipment, part of a company's management system. It is for the Company to decide what those measures should be based on an assessment of the risks to which its ships are exposed, says Michael Molloy - Lloyd’s Register’s Principal Specialist, ISM, ISPS and ILO Regulatory Affairs - Safety4Sea.
The Threat - As a result of recent events in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, piracy has become an increasingly controversial and politically sensitive topic. Ship operators, flag administrations, insurers and others are struggling to formulate their responses in the face of a rapidly evolving and increasing threat. Questions concerning the installation and use of citadels and the employment of armed guards are especially contentious.
All this is taking place within much wider, complex political and military contexts and, here too, policy-makers are finding it difficult to keep up with events. While debates continue about whether attempts to deal with underlying social and economic factors in adjacent countries should take precedence over the deployment of naval forces, the pirates are becoming much better organised, trained and funded. Last year's pirates are this year's investors in piracy and there is evidence that large-scale organised crime has spotted an opportunity to expand and diversify. Poverty and idleness among young Somali men can no longer be regarded as the only causes.
The pirates are also becoming more ruthless and violent. At one time, it was fairly safe to assume that, once on board, they would wait until the ransom was paid and then leave without harming anyone. This is no longer the case and many operators are coming to the conclusion that the only sensible response is to make sure that the attackers cannot get onto the ship in the first place.
Lloyd's Register's Involvement - Lloyd's Register, both as a classification society and in its role as a recognised security organisation, is being drawn into these controversies by shipping companies seeking information and advice on how to avoid or prepare for an attack and by other industry bodies that are attempting to develop coherent approaches of their own. The questions being raised often go beyond purely technical and operational concerns to include the possible insurance and legal implications of proposed courses of action.
There are circumstances in which Lloyd's Register can assist companies with their technical and regulatory queries but, before we do so, and before we make any public statements on such matters, we must understand the part that recognised security organisations play in enhancing maritime security and the limits that this places on what we can say and do. This, in turn, requires a brief explanation of the way in which the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code operates.
The ISPS Code - The first step in achieving compliance, and the one on which all else depends, is for the company to undertake a thorough ship security assessment. This is a security risk assessment that begins by identifying all the possible security threats that the ship may encounter. These will vary depending on the areas in which the ship is trading, the cargoes it carries, the flag it flies, the nationalities of the seafarers it employs, and so on. The vulnerability of the ship to those threats is evaluated and any existing security arrangements are reviewed, all of which enables the company to decide what further measures are required.
Piracy Costs
Too little is known about the fate of millions of dollars in ransom money paid out to Somali pirates and too few hostage takers are being prosecuted, British lawmakers said Thursday in a sharply critical report,writes Washington Post.
Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee warned that not enough work is being carried out to trace the route of payments, which topped $135 million in 2011, amid worries some money may be making its way into Britain’s financial system.
The panel of legislators — which held hearings with defense officials, maritime lawyers and piracy victims — also found that more than eight out of ten suspected pirates captured off the coast of Somalia are released without trial.
“It is unacceptable that 2.6 million square miles (6.7 million square kilometers) of the Indian Ocean has become a no-go area for small vessels, and a dangerous one for commercial shipping. There is a clear need to take decisive action,” committee chairman Richard Ottaway said. Read more.
Freight costs and insurance premiums are expected to drop later this year if the decreasing risk of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden is sustained, according to Business Daily Africa.
The reduction in both people held captive for ransom and pirate attacks has been attributed to concerted effort by the international community to make the Indian Ocean safe.
“If the number of successful attacks remains low for the next six months, we expect the freight and cost of insurance to drop,” said Silvester Kututa, the chairman of the Kenya branch of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.
Data from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) shows that the number of ships and seafarers held captive by Somali pirates have dropped from a high of 33 and 733 in February to 13 and 265 respectively at the beginning of last month.
The number of reported attacks has also declined from a high of 45 per month in January to 14 in November. The proportion of successful attacks was cut from 20 per cent in January to seven per cent in November.
The peak season for attacks starts in November when the sea is calm. Shipping lines charge a piracy surcharge of between $350 and $500 (Sh29,050 and Sh41,500) per twenty foot equivalent unit ( Teus) depending on the region and the line.
Shippers buy four main insurance lines: indemnity, war risk, kidnap and ransom, cargo and hull. The most significant increase in premiums has been in “war risk” , kidnap and ransom, according to a recent study on the economic cost of piracy carried out by One Earth Future Foundation.
The Gulf of Aden was classified as a war risk area by Lloyds Market Association’s (LMA) Joint War Committee in May 2008.
The study estimated that total excess cost of insurance due to the Somali piracy menace are between $460 million and $3.2 billion per year. The cost of piracy also extends to prosecution of suspects. Read more.
Seafarers' Plight
The agony continues for families of the six Indians held hostage by Somali pirates for two years now. Negotiations between the owner of MV Iceberg 1 and the pirates have failed.
Government sources have told CNN-IBN that they are not only considering to facilitate a meeting of the families with the Dubai-based ship owner, but are also looking at immediate financial support for the families and even help in filing cases against the ship owner.
"Negotiations have failed, the government is not doing anything. My request to the government is to at least facilitate our meeting with the ship owner so that we can talk to him face-to-face to get our children back," father of a captive sailor Purshottam Tiwari said.
Hijacked in March 2009, the owner of this cargo ship has not only stopped negotiations with the pirates but hasn't even paid a single penny to the families of the sailors.
Sources also said that the government is also considering to offer help to the families so that they to take legal action against the ship owner. Read more - includes video report.
A separate video report by Times Now Online here:
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| Courtesy of Neptune Maritime Security/YouTube |
Piracy Incidents
Hijack:
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Gulf of Aden - Indian-flagged Savina Al-Salaam near Bosaso port early on Tuesday. The boat was carrying livestock from Bosaso to Oman when the armed pirates attacked. 16 all-Indian crew with 4 Somalis and over 3000 livestock cargo. Vessel was released without ransom payment, confirmed by its owners and by the pirates.
Unsuccessful Attacks (All Regions):
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Gulf of Guinea - (Late Report) 6 Dec at 1945 UTC in position 04:12.90N - 006:55.60E, Bight of Bonny, Nigeria. Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, Port Moody, was approached by a skiff with 9 POB. After seeing 4 armed guards and stationed crew, the skiff aborted the approach. The incident was not reported to Coastal authorities at the time.
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South East Asia - December 26 (via IMB) at 2030 LT: in position 22:10N - 091:45E, around 2nm SW of Chittagong Pilot Station, Bangladesh. Deck watchman onboard an anchored Liberia-flagged container vessel, Hansa Caledonia, noticed three small boats with around 25 robbers near the stern of the vessel with a few robbers onboard as well. He alerted the bridge and secured the accommodation and searchlights were directed towards the robbers. Seeing the alert crew, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped with ship stores. The Coast Guard was informed and went out to investigate.
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South China Sea - January 1 (via IMB) at 2105 LT: in position 03:44S - 114:27E, Taboneo Anchorage off Banjarmasin, Indonesia. Duty AB onboard an anchored Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, Grace One, noticed a robber inside the hawse pipe, trying to break open the lock. A boat with two more robbers was noticed nearby. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Seeing alert crew the robber escaped in the waiting boat. Nothing was stolen.
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Gulf of Aden - January 4 at 0200 UTC in position 13:10N - 049:12E, a bulk carrier came under attack by 1 skiff. About 5 pirates fired upon Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, MV Delfa, underway. The onboard security team fired flares to warn the pirates, which were ignored, and later, only when the security team returned fire, did the skiff abort the attack. Several vessels in the vicinity reported suspicious activity during that period.
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Gulf of Aden - January 4 (via IMB) at 0735 UTC in position 12:14.6N-044:11.8E, Gulf of Aden. Pirates in a skiff chased and attempted to board a Turkey-flagged bulk carrier, Senanur Cebi, underway. The vessel enforced anti piracy measures, increased speed and made evasive manoeuvres resulting in the pirates moving away. A Turkish warship was in the vicinity which deterred the pirates.
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Gulf of Aden - January 4 at 0753 UTC in vicinity of 12:14N - 044:11E, Indian crude tanker approached by pirates (4 skiffs in series of 3 approaches in the Gulf of Aden/BAM). Four pirates in a skiff maintained a parallel course with the crude tanker before suddenly increasing speed to 25 knots and coming alongside in an attempt to board. No ladders were seen on the skiff. The Master raised the alarm, commenced evasive manoeuvres and non-essential crew retreated into citadel. Five minutes later, the pirates aborted their attempt and targeted another vessel in the convoy.
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Arabian Sea - January 5 (via NSC) at 0446 UTC in position 22:27N - 060:59E, Liberia-flagged, German-owned bulk carrier, MV Sunshine, came under attack by 1 skiff with 6 POB. The vessel evaded the hijack attempt and is safe. However, the PAG was interrupted by the presence of a counterpiracy helicopter. The dhow, Al Mulhai, was disrupted later that evening by USS Kidd VBSS. A second, unrelated disruption occurred Friday morning in the Gulf of Aden, IRTC, when the dhow, Al-Qashmi, was disrupted by NATO and EUNAVFOR naval forces. 9 pirates were detained.
EUNAVFOR figures state 7 vessels and an estimated 194 hostages held captive here. Somalia Report indicates 15 ships (8 commercial & 7 fishing vessels) held with 268 hostages. The latest report contains a list of 34 ships and persons released following ransom payments.
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 15S
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