Weekly Piracy Report

Presidential seal of approval. Daring rescue, kidnapped US writer, panicked pirates and napping guards as dhows hijacked. Claim of mutilation. Nigeria's maritime security in the hands of ex-militant. Pirates released, jailed, rights waived and in jurisdictional void. Secretary Generals discuss piracy and its eradication, whilst yet another potential turning point is stated. New piracy surcharge for African ports. Is paying a ransom the most efficient way to deal with pirates? Indian seafarers desire government intervention. Seychelles says "don't manage piracy problem, solve it". Volvo Ocean Race reveals safe haven.

"Good job tonight". The US SEAL mission to rescue two aid workers, held by pirates since October 2011, certainly grabbed the worlds' attention. However, once more, the desperate circumstances for not only the US writer captured only last weekend, but also that of the seafarers held, some over a year, remains an issue in the margins of the public view.

The subsequent actions of the pirates holding Michael Scott Moore, the writer holding dual nationality - US/German - in moving him to different locations within a short period of time, demonstrates the ensuing panic and uncertainty following the death of 9 of their fellow pirates in the SEAL raid. However, the most recent alarming story to break from Somalia is the alleged amputation of an arm of a seafarer as part of the ransom negotiating tactics. The tales of abuse against sailors is nothing new, but the thought of this becoming a regular tactic shows the willingness of the pirates to extract money from the shipping industry.

Puntland's Police Force suffered an embarrassing outcome to their task of providing protection for an Iranian fishing dhow. The vessel and its crew of 19 was hijacked off Puntland as the guards were asleep in the early hours. This is, however, not the first hijack off Somalia this year. The Yemeni dhow, al Wasil, with a crew of eight was taken by pirates 38nm from Mukalla port, Yemen, Gulf of Aden. The pirates released five crew at Ras Hafoon and maintained control over the three remaining crew and the dhow.

In West Africa, the task of providing maritime security in Nigerian waters is planned to be given to a private firm. The issue here is that the firm is owned by an ex-militant warlord. Following the fuel subsidy troubles, the opposition sees it as a suspicious concession plan.

Pirates in court has been a major talking point over the last week. Following the high count in suspect pirates being detained in January alone, only a few are to face prosecution. The regional states of Kenya and Seychelles are full to the gunnels with pirates awaiting trial; prisons in Somalia have many awaiting charges, and India has freed suspected pirates (and legal Yemeni fishermen) as the lack of evidence stymies legal recourse. Spain, however, is to prosecute the suspect pirates who attacked a Spanish warship, but the UK continues to face criticism for its lack of prosecution in the UK. Germany has decided that the pirates they hold must face prosecution, but Canada bemoans the fact that legalities and politics gets in the way of any such action. The US has no such difficulty. The pirate negotiator, Shibin, is informed that his rights were waived once he began talking to the US officials whilst on the plane to America.

The UN Secretary General and the newly-appointed IMO Secretary General met to discuss tackling the problem of piracy. The IMO SecGen stated that, "...we can eradicate this menace." Colonel Steed of the UN said, following the SEAL raid, it was another potential turning point in the fight against piracy, however, some commentators point out that previous raids have not created such a turning point.

Mediterranean Shipping Co. said it will put a new piracy surcharge into effect on containers it transports between ports in South Africa and East Africa beginning in March as a result of the increased pirate aggression and the subsequent rise in insurance costs.

With no clear answer, and tactics, for combating piracy, the quick payment of a ransom usually results in the quick release of traumatized seafarers being held hostage, as well as the rapid release of cargo being delayed and is the most efficient way of dealing with piracy in the view of many in the shipping industry. Governments, however, do not see it that way, and take a longer term approach. Hence the campaign, Save Our Seafarers.

Indian seafarers, along with Filipino seafarers, one of most kidnapped group of sailors, have stated that the Director General of Indian Shipping should intervene in piracy negotiations to speed up the process and not leave it to shipowners and operators, who should contribute to a fund to pay for the release of crews.

The President of the Seychelles has clearly stated his position by stating enough is enough. Stop managing the piracy problem and solve it!

Wondering where the safe haven could have been for the Volvo Ocean Race boats? Maldives we hear.

Regional Activity  

East Africa

U.S. military forces helicoptered into Somalia in a nighttime raid Wednesday and freed two hostages, an American and a Dane, while killing nine pirates, officials and a pirate source said.
The Danish Refugee Council confirmed the two aid workers, American Jessica Buchanan and Dane Poul Hagan Thisted, were freed "during an operation in Somalia." Buchanan, 32, and Thisted, 60, had been working with a de-mining unit of the Danish Refugee Council when they were kidnapped.
President Barack Obama appeared to refer to the mission before his State of the Union address in Washington Tuesday night. As he entered the House chamber in the U.S. Capitol, he pointed at Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in the crowd and said, "Good job tonight."
A Western official told The Associated Press that the raid was carried out by U.S. military forces. A second official said the helicopters and the hostages flew to a U.S. military base called Camp Lemonier in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information had not been released publicly.
Panetta visited Camp Lemonier just over a month ago, A key U.S. ally in this region, Djibouti has the only U.S. base in sub-Saharan Africa. It hosts the military's Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
The Danish Refugee Council said both freed hostages are unharmed "and at a safe location." The group said in a separate statement that the two "are on their way to be reunited with their families." Read more OCEANUSLive.

BBC News carried the story of the daring raid by SEAL Team 6 with the Senior Defence Correspondent, Frank Gardner, bringing the rescue into perspective with due consideration of those remaining in captivity, including over 150 seafarers. OCEANUSLive briefly reinforced the point by stating the risk of reprisals against those sailors held hostage following the rescue mission.

Courtesy of BBC News/YouTube

 On Saturday (Jan 21), Michael Scott Moore an American writer/journalist with dual US/German citizenship was abducted by armed militia south of Galkayo in the Galmadug region. Sources in Galkayo revealed that armed militiamen forcibly kidnapped Mr. Moore and took him to a forested area outside the city.

Michael Moore - (Pic:SR)

Local authorities in the region stated that the victim held both US and German passports. Somalia Report has been able to confirm his identity and that he was working on a book related to piracy in the region.

He was kidnapped on the road to the local airport, where he was intending to meet with an Indian colleague. His Somali associate was beaten when he tried to prevent the kidnappers from abducting them.

Locals initially speculated that the American was an engineer tasked with evaluating construction of a port in Hobyo district, 250 km south east of Galkayo probably because he had written a recent article about the project. The rudimentary port has been in operation for more than a century and there is interest in expanding it to accommodate larger vessels for WFP deliveries.

Hours after Michael Scott Moore was kidnapped, Somali pirates claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, according to a number of pirates.
Somalia Report learned that the group of pirates holding the journalist are holding the Seychelles fishing boat FV Aride near Harardheere.
In the meantime, Galmudug president Mohamed Ahmed Aalin, along with several other officials and prominent elders from Sa'ad clan, are heading to Hobyo city where Somali pirates are holding the journalist captive.

"We are now heading to Hobyo. We are on the way and will take part in the efforts to release the journalist from the pirates," the president said.

Galmudug government declared all-out war against Somali pirates to forcibly release the kidnapped American if peaceful means fail. The pirates had warned that any rescue attempts would be futile. They claimed to have backup support from other pirates and also have a plan to move the hostage onboard MV Albedo (already holding 4 [now 2] foreign aid workers along with the crew) if any attack is attempted.

Michael Scott Moore has written an article on Somali Pirates.

Lost in the coverage of the Navy SEAL rescue mission in Somalia is the fact that another American was kidnapped there four days ago and is being held for ransom, comments World News.

It’s also not clear if President Obama’s vow on Tuesday to protect U.S. citizens would extend to a rescue operation on his behalf.

Michael Scott Moore, an American writer who started his career tracking the surfing world and who was in Somalia to report about piracy, was kidnapped on Saturday.

In a statement released by the White House after the overnight rescue of American Jessica Buchanan and Poul Hagen Thisted of Denmark, Obama on Wednesday vowed: "The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice."

Asked Wednesday about Moore at a press briefing, a State Department spokeswoman said she had no information but would get back to reporters.

"This is not a new problem, unfortunately, which is why we have to be vigilant and have to be prepared to do the kinds of operations like we saw last night," added Victoria Nuland.

A group holding an American hostage in Somalia moved him at least three times in the day since Navy SEALs rescued an American and a Dane and killed their nine kidnappers, pirates said Thursday. The abductors said they would kill the hostage if they are attacked, reports Navy Times.

The high-profile rescue early Wednesday raised questions about whether the many other Western hostages held in Somalia have a greater chance at release — or are in greater danger.

“If they try again we will all die all together,” warned Hassan Abdi, a Somali pirate connected to the gang holding the American. “It’s difficult to hold U.S. hostages, because it’s a game of chance: die or get huge money. But we shall stick with our plans and will never release him until we get a ransom.”

The U.S. government said the raid was prompted by Buchanan’s deteriorating health. An ailing Frenchwoman kidnapped by Somali gunmen died in captivity last year after not having access to her medication.

“Holding hostages in one place is unlikely now because we are the next target,” Abdi said, referring to the raid in a phone conversation with The Associated Press. He expressed concern that the U.S. had pirate informants.

“It wasn’t just a hit and run operation, but long planned with the help of insiders among us,” Abdi said, noting the soldiers had struck at the time when the pirates were least on their guard.

The gang has moved an American kidnapped on Saturday in the northern Somali town of Galkayo three times in the last 24 hours, he said. Read more.

Somalia Report states that the pirates holding the MSF workers on MV Albedo have moved the hostages back onto land following a conflict between pirates. Additionally, there was concern that the US would launch a similar raid to free the hostages as occurred this week. They are believed to have been taken to Dabagalo, some 60km from Harardhere.

Furthermore, pirates hodling the four S Korean crew from MT Gemini, mistakenly kill a fellow pirate after taking him to be an enemy pirate gang member.

In a disturbing report, Somali pirates holding the crew of the hijacked Taiwanese flagged FV Shiuh Fu No 1 shifted to a new and graphic tactic to push owners to pay ransom. Pirates and other local sources informed Somalia Report that pirates cut the arm off the captain of the ship, marking a significant turn in the way pirates manage hostages and the first noted instance of forced amputation by Somali pirates in recent years.
After the owner refused to pay the demanded $3 million ransom, pirates amputated the hand of Chao-I Wu, the captain of the vessel, according to pirates and the hostages' family members.

"Ever since pirates hijacked this vessel, negotiations about releasing the vessel and hostages were ongoing. In fact, more than twice the negotiations were stalled. Months later the negotiations restarted and the pirates finally demanded $3 million in ransom. The owner refused to pay, causing a direct conflict between pirates, the owners and relatives of these hostages" said the pirate.

The conflict forced the change in tactics, according to the pirate.

"After weeks of discussions and failure to come to an agreement, the pirates finally decided to cut off the right hand of captain of the vessel. His name is Chao-I Wu. They also beat the deputy captain," he added.

After the forced amputation, the Vietnamese crew members called their families to notify them of the new tactic and urged them to pay the ransom. They also reported the captain's arm, not just his hand, was cut off.

"This group of pirates allowed the crew to call their relatives for only a few minutes - just long enough to tell their families about the amputation. They begged their relatives to pay and some of them were crying. It was a message to the owner and their families that if the owners don't pay this amount of ransom that they will hurt another crew," said the pirate.

Vietnamese newspaper Tuoi Tre News confirmed that hostage crew member Tran Van Hung called home on January 20th to report the amputation and urged the shipowner to make the ransom payment. The pirates, the newspaper reported, "allowed 12 Vietnamese fishermen and some other Chinese ones to call home for 5 minutes each."

Despite having a government appointed security team on board, Somali pirates hijacked the Iranian fishing dhow, al-Khaliil, and kidnapped her crew of 19 as the vessel was fishing legally in the waters off the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, according to officials and pirates who spoke to Somalia Report this evening [Jan 25].

The vessel, which had been fishing in the area of over a month, and had the necessary permits from the Puntland government to fish in the area. As an extra layer of precaution, the Puntland government assigned a security team, made up of four armed police, to prevent a hijacking.
"Pirates hijacked the al-Khaliil and the 19 Iranian crew members," said Liibaan Dheere, a well-known businessman in Puntland who has been tasked to speak with Somalia Report on the shipowner's behalf.

"The boat was fishing legally. Puntland gave them permission and a security team, but the pirates hijacked the boat at night while the security team was sleeping. The pirates then took the boat and hostages to Calula village. After they unloaded the security team, the pirates moved the boat to the Garacad area. They planning to use it as a mothership in the coming days. We are requesting help from Puntland, and urge the international navies to attack and rescue this boat," Mr. Dheere told Somalia Report.

Pirates in Bari region also confirmed the attack. Read more.

West Africa 

With piracy off West Africa now running rampant, Nigeria’s leading opposition party wonders why Nigerian government concessions maritime surveillance to an alleged former warlord - Shiptalk.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has raised an alarm over the plan by the federal government to hand over the nation’s maritime security to a private firm owned by an ex-militant warlord, wondering whether this is part of the agenda being pursued in recent times by a group that has been championing parochial nationalism in the wake of the fuel subsidy debate.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party queried the rationale behind the memo that was presented to the Federal Executive Council this month, seeking the council’s approval for a so-called strategic concessioning partnership between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Agency (GWVSL) ”to enforce regulatory compliance and surveillance of the entire Nigerian Maritime Domain”.

The action raises more serious concern when viewed against the background of the government’s decision to withdraw a bill before the National Assembly, that would have created a Maritime Security Agency (MASECA) to carry out the same functions now being outsourced to a private firm under a suspicious concessioning plan.

”Let us say here that while there is nothing wrong in the use of concessions to provide and maintain infrastructure, it is totally unacceptable – even unprecedented especially in a fragile federation as ours – for any government to hand over the security of its entire maritime domain to a private firm. It is unconscionable that a decision that will have far-reaching implications for trade, security, ports and shipping will be taken so lightly, without a rigorous national debate. Read more.

Pirates in Court  

Fourteen Somali pirates and three Yemeni fishermen captured off the Saurashtra coast last year have been released by Gujarat Police, says Zee News.

They were captured from Nadel, a small port in Junagadh district, in June 2011. The pirates and fishermen were set free yesterday after the State Government withdrew cases filed against them, J M Sakhanpara, Public Prosecutor, said on Saturday by phone.

R M Italiya, Chief Judicial Magistrate, ordered their release following the Government's decision, he said. The decision came after the Mumbai-based Consulate General of Yemen took up the matter with the Government of India and told them that the arrested Yemeni nationals were genuine fishermen whose boat '144 AL Badr-2 was seized by 14 Somali pirates.

After communication from the Consulate General's office, the Centre wrote to Gujarat Government asking it to withdraw the cases, Sanjar V Kadri, defence lawyer for Yemeni nationals, said.

The boat with 17 persons on board - 14 Somalis and three Yemenis - was seized by the police on June 22 last year for illegally entering Indian waters. Its occupants were arrested under various provisions of Indian Passport Act and Maritime Zone Act, 1981, among others.

Police believed the boat had exhausted fuel and drifted towards the Saurashtra coast in high tide. The pirates were released since nothing incriminating had been recovered from their possession during interrogation by various security agencies, police sources said.

A group of Somali suspected pirates were in jail in Spain Saturday pending trial following an attack on a Spanish warship, authorities said - MSN Finance.

The group of six men arrived in the country late Friday after they were arrested off the Somali coast January 12.

Spanish navy officials say the men had opened fire at the support-and-combat vessel Patino, which was taking part in a European Union security mission.

A high court judge on Saturday ordered five to be detained ahead of their trial. The sixth remained in hospital for treatment of foot wounds, though he too was expected to be placed in custody, officials said.

The men are charged with several crimes including attempted piracy and disobeying a warship. A trial date was not immediately set.

The five who were in court all denied having attacked the Spanish warship with grenades and assault rifles, insisting instead they were starving fishermen who had approached the Patino for help after spending three weeks without eating.

When the court was shown a military video of the men allegedly throwing weapons overboard, the Somalis said they were merely dumping garbage bags into the sea.

The Patino operates under the EU's Operation Atalanta, a multinational mission to protect ships in the perilous shipping route off the coast of Somalia, where hundreds of seamen have been taken hostage.

The Patino eventually returned fire against the Somalis, who said another in their group was killed.

A federal judge has ruled that a Somali man's statements that he had been asked to negotiate the release of four American hostages who were later shot and killed can be heard during his piracy trial in a Virginia courtroom - The Republic.

U.S. District Judge Robert Doumar wrote Monday that Shibin voluntarily spoke with FBI agents on the plane and that he understood that he was waiving his rights each time he spoke with them.

Mohammad Saaili Shibin's attorney wanted the comments suppressed because they were made aboard a government airplane en route from Africa to Virginia after Shibin had requested an attorney.

U.S. District Judge Robert Doumar wrote Monday that Shibin voluntarily spoke with FBI agents on the plane and that he understood that he was waiving his rights each time he spoke with them. Shibin is multi-lingual.

Among other things, Shibin said he knew one of the pirates aboard the Quest and that he had negotiated the ransom of a hijacked German ship.

Courts could be set up to cope with the growing numbers of Somali bandits captured on the high seas - Express.

The move comes as the shipping industry increases calls for more successful prosecutions to act as a deterrent to piracy.

While the number of foiled ocean raids is increasing, the level of prosecutions is not.

Countries such as Kenya and the Seychelles are struggling to cope with the pressures being placed on their prison system from pirates.

There are more than 1,000 pirates incarcerated across the world, chiefly in the nations surrounding the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

Britain is notorious for its failure to prosecute those caught by the Royal Navy. In contrast, in the year to April 2011, 850 pirates were prosecuted by 17 countries including France, Germany, Spain and the US.

In UK Parliament, Mr Gregory Campbell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has sought that (a) the Somali pirates captured by the Royal Navy in January 2012 and Somali pirates captured in future military actions will be subject to a rigorous prosecution process to deter others from engaging in similar actions - Parliament.

In response, Alistair Burt said every encounter with suspected pirates is treated seriously and in each case the Royal Navy will carry out detailed analysis of all the physical evidence and witness statements. If there is sufficient evidence on which to be reasonably confident of achieving a successful prosecution we will make every effort to secure the transfer of suspected pirates for prosecution in the region: it remains our priority to give real support to the countries in the region to deal with the problem of piracy themselves and to deter any engagement with piracy whatsoever. To that end, we are leading international work to build penal, judicial and law enforcement capacities in the region and to tackle the root causes of piracy on land.

The prosecutor in Germany's first piracy trial in 400 years demanded prison terms Wednesday for 10 Somalis accused of hijacking a Hamburg-registered ship off the Horn of Africa, an official said, reports Expatica.

The 10 defendants, three of whom are being prosecuted as minors because they say they were under 18 at the time of the alleged offence, face between four and 11 and a half years in prison, a court spokesman said.

Prosecutors allege the group, who went on trial in the northern German port city of Hamburg 14 months ago, took over the container ship Taipan off the Somali coast on April 5, 2010.

The Taipan's 15-strong crew avoided capture by taking refuge in a so-called "panic room" hidden within the ship, and the gang was arrested by the Dutch navy several hours later.

Defence lawyers at the opening of the trial issued a statement blaming political unrest in Somalia and over-fishing off its waters by western nations as the real causes of piracy in the region.

According to prosecutors, the accused, armed with automatic rifles and rocket propelled grenade launchers, boarded the Taipan after closing in on it with two speed boats dropped off by a pirate "mother-ship".

The accused allegedly opened fire at the ship, and one grenade was fired close to the bridge, the prosecution said.

It is not known when a verdict is likely, due to the number of defence pleas.

The Harper government has wanted the navy to play a bigger role in battling Somali pirates in the waters off East Africa, but has been stymied about what to do with potential prisoners, documents reveal, says CTV Winnipeg.

The international effort to contain the pirating of commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden and beyond is something Canada "strongly supports" and it provides the perfect, low-risk venue for the country to showcase its military ability.

A series of briefing notes, obtained by The Canadian Press under Access to Information from Defence Minister Peter MacKay's office and the chief of maritime staff, show the eagerness over the last two years to take on a renewed mission.

But the enthusiasm is tempered by the reality that once caught, there's no place to try pirates.

"While international law provides that any state may take jurisdiction over piracy in international water, counter-piracy efforts off the coast of Somalia continue to be hampered by a lack of authority in domestic laws, as well as by questions concerning jurisdiction over apprehended individuals suspected of piracy and related crimes," said Nov. 3, 2010 memo to Robert Fonberg, the deputy defence minister.

Aside from the legalities, there is also a hard political reality.

Canada's land forces grappled with the politically-explosive detainee controversy during the Afghanistan combat mission.

The last time a Canadian warship captured pirates in April 2009, it was forced to release them because of the jurisdictional void. Documents show the government was chastened and federal bureaucrats struggled to address what they termed the "catch-and-release conundrum" of Somali pirates.

Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, the head of the Royal Canadian Navy, said the problem has yet to be solved.

"Different nations are doing different things here," he said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press. "And I don't think we're going to see a burning desire for an international consensus on a new international legal regime in terms of detention."

That may be a bit of an understatement. Read more.

Private Security  

Decatur Maritime Security announces plan to relocate its 82 ft. Patrol vessel the "Challenger" to the west coast of Africa to begin conducting Vessel protection and anti-piracy operations. A clear indicator of the shift in focus to West Africa?

International Response   

Piracy off the coast of Somalia can be eradicated according to the new Secretary-General of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO), reports UN Radio.

Around 200 seafarers are still being held hostage by Somali pirates on eleven ships off the coast of Somalia. But the number of successful attacks has dropped.

IMO chief, Koji Sekimizu, says the pirates can be defeated.

“We have seen good signs of the reduction in incidents. With the effort of the United Nations, I’m sure we can eradicate this menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia.” Listen to the podcast - Duration: 16”.

The International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday, 20 January 2012, at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss matters related to the IMO’s work and cooperation between the UN and the IMO to combat Somalia-based piracy - Handy Shipping Guide.

Secretary-Generals Koji Sekimizu (Left) and Ban Ki-moon

The meeting followed the endorsement of the IMO’s work in this area in a recent report in which the UN Secretary-General encouraged UN Member States and multinational organizations to consider how they could contribute further to address the root causes of piracy, including through developing land-based initiatives to strengthen Somali and regional maritime and law enforcement capacity.

Mr. Ban agreed with the view of Mr. Sekimizu that capacity building in Somalia and neighbouring countries should be enhanced through cooperation between IMO and the UN, UN specialized agencies and other relevant international organizations.

Mr. Sekimizu further informed Mr. Ban about plans to organize a counter-piracy capacity-building Conference on 15 May at the IMO’s London Headquarters, as well as a high-level policy debate on arms on board to take place on the first day of the 90th session of the Maritime Safety Committee on 16 May. Mr. Sekimizu has pushed for a high-level participation to these events from the UN.

Though the UN’s concern over piracy around the Horn of Africa is welcome to shipping lines it remains to be seen if cogent and unified action can be decided and acted upon by the International Community, which at the moment seems committed to talking about the issue in a round of discussions.

When it comes to helping distressed Britons in far-away places, our Armed Forces appear to have lost their appetite for robust intervention, comments the Telegraph's Con Coughlin.

In America, President Barack Obama congratulates the team of US Navy Seals who carried out the daring rescue mission to free two hostages held in Somalia on a job well done. In Britain, we are treated to the sombre spectacle of the body of a British bodyguard murdered by his captors in Iraq finally being repatriated to his grieving family, four years after he was abducted on the streets of Baghdad.

When it comes to the perilous business of hostage-taking, the stakes have never been higher. Whether it is Islamist militants in the Shia slums of Baghdad trying to secure the freedom of their captured comrades, or opportunist Somali pirates seeking to make their fortune from the burgeoning cottage industry in ransom payments, the chances of the captives surviving their ordeal are often no better than those you’ll get from the roll of a dice. If it is simply a question of paying a ransom, as happened with Paul and Rachel Chandler, the retired Kent couple who were kidnapped from their yacht by Somali pirates in the summer of 2009 (in their case an estimated £400,000), then the priority is making sure you are dealing with the kidnappers, rather than someone claiming to act on their behalf.

Having established their bona fides, it is crucial that money changes hands without the kidnappers’ identity or whereabouts being divulged. Otherwise the transaction can go horribly wrong, and the hostages lose their lives. And, even if the money transfer goes through, there is always the possibility that the kidnappers might decide it is easier to kill the captives and dispose of their bodies, rather than run the risk of handing them over and being captured. There is rarely honour among thieves.

Launching a successful rescue, on the other hand, is a different proposition. As with paying a ransom demand, the priority is to ensure that the intelligence is accurate, that the people you are targeting are the ones holding the hostages and that the captives are still alive. After that it comes down to a basic risk assessment: what are the chances of freeing the hostages, and what are the likely risks to those conducting the mission, as well as those providing a support role, such as the helicopters? Read more.

The first clarification is the recognition that Somalia was not only a failed state but it has been sliding backwards for the last 20 years and the second clarification is related to the UK’s commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Somalia by inviting Somaliland to the Conference as part of Somalia’s problem - Sunatimes.

The London Conference on Somalia (LCS), planned to take place on 23rd February 2012, should finally articulate the unified determination and commitment of the key international actors on the formation of sovereign and effective governance in Somalia so that all corollary problems can be taken care off. Otherwise, the conference would be one day fanfare for international bureaucrats. Any attempt of repackaging the current political and security narratives and strategies propounded by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), African Mission for Somalia (AMISOM), the United Nations political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) will nurture a culture of political demagoguery, mafia style governance and insecurity to the disservice of the Somali people and the International community. Fighting terrorism and piracy must be primarily an integral part of the Somali government responsibilities.

The mere announcement of the LCS has raised both the expectations of the Somali people for the unexpected appearance of special savior for Somalia on one side and the suspicion of the neighboring and regional countries as well as the regional and international organizations controlling and administering Somalia on the other side. Ethiopia did not hide its irritation and told bluntly to US delegation that the ‘proliferation of initiatives’ outside IGAD should be stopped. The truth is the Somali plight shows that the strategies of military intervention, political opportunism and exploitation of social grievances pursued in the last 10 years have deepened the Somali political and humanitarian crisis and multiplied the threats to the international security. According to UN Monitoring report S/2011/433, the extremist group Al Shabab has expanded its influence beyond the Horn of Africa region to the point of affecting Nigeria in less than 3 years. The needed action is not step-change, but completely new policy direction and approach for putting Somalia under effective government. The international community should help and allow the Somali people to make their collective decisions freely, democratically and consciously. Read more.

Southern Africa has strengthened security in its coastal areas as the tide of maritime piracy treks south and threatens trade along the Mozambique Channel, comments AllAfrica.com.

As Somali pirates venture southwards in the Indian Ocean where they have attacked or seized commercial vessels since 2005, Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states are taking steps to confront the growing problem that has confronted the shipping industry over the past few years.

The capture of a Somali pirate "mother ship" north of Madagascar last year has highlighted the increasing threat of piracy in the Mozambique Channel and its implications for peace and security as well as trade within SADC.

Located between Madagascar on the east and Mozambique on the west, the Mozambique Channel forms an important trade route from southern Africa and the South Atlantic to and from the Indian Ocean.

The Channel is a strategic trade route for SADC, carrying more than half of the region's merchandise exports and imports.

As a result of the large volume of SADC's goods that pass through the 2,400 kilometre-long Channel, the threat posed by Somali pirates as they move south in search of easier hunting grounds is of serious concern to the region. Read more.

The European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday agreed to activate the EU Operations Center for the Horn of Africa, says RTT News.

This is subject to a EU Council Decision to be adopted as soon as possible, the European Council said in a statement.

The Operations Center will provide direct support to the Civilian Operations Commander for the operational planning and conduct of the RMCB Mission; provide support to the EUTM Mission Commander and enhance strategic coordination between the Mission and other CSDP actions in the Horn of Africa; strengthen civ-mil synergies; liaise with Operation Atalanta; and facilitate interaction between the mission/operations and the Brussels-based structures.

The EU is currently conducting two military operations - EUNAVFOR Atalanta and EUTM Somalia - and has commenced operational planning to launch a civilian mission to strengthen regional maritime capacities in Somalia and in the wider Horn of Africa region. The simultaneous conduct of three CSDP actions in the region will require an enhanced level of coordination and interaction, including between military and civilian actors. The activation of the Operations Center will contribute to reinforcing the EU's comprehensive approach that mobilizes the different tools at the EU's disposal and to improving the performance of the existing EU CSDP structures and of its missions and operations, the Council statement added.

Over the past several years, the pirates of Somalia have enjoyed what might be called a following wind. They operate in a country where government authority is weak and in many areas non-existent. They have the longest coastline of any African country to exploit (3,300 kms), and some of the world’s busiest sea-lanes within easy reach. They have a ready pool of recruits, desperate for a share of the millions that they garner from ransoming merchant ships and their crews. And they have had the time and space to get better at piracy, obtaining faster boats and establishing onshore bases – mostly in northern Somalia. CNN Security Blog

But piracy in Somalia, and the associated abductions, just may have seen its heyday. In the view of John Steed, former head of the UN Counter Piracy unit, Tuesday’s rescue is “potentially a turning point. The international community is saying enough is enough, and the Somali government and regional administration realize that piracy is preventing them from receiving the aid and support their people need.”

Tim Hart of Maritime and Underwater Security Consultants, which is based in the U.K., concurs. “This U.S. Special Forces operation will send a clear message to pirate gangs that states are prepared to take a more robust approach to their actions,” he told CNN.

But that also brings a new element of risk, he says. “When hostages are held onshore, pirates will move captives frequently, sometimes daily, fearing such a raid. The gangs will be concerned of similar attacks and will guard their hostages more closely and aggressively.” Read more.

On Wednesday, the now-famous SEAL Team Six conducted another high-profile operation, rescuing two hostages in Somalia. Ryan Zinke, a politician and former Team Six commander, says as the military and conflicts evolve, these sorts of actions will become more common - Pri.org.

Navy SEALs Training (Phot: pri.org)

Navy SEAL Team Six was responsible for killing Osama bin Laden.

They shot and killed pirates on a small boat a great distance away, in order to rescue hostages. And on Wednesday, the team, more properly known as the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group, added to its legend by swooping in on a Somali pirate den and rescuing two hostages, an American and a Dane. In the process, they killed nine pirates without losing the life of a single SEAL or hostage.

Ryan Zinke, a Montana state senator and former member of SEAL Team Six, said these sort of raids may be the future of the American military around the world.

"The idea is to make pirates, Al Qaeda, anybody operating in the lawless territory of Somalia, feel like there is no safe territory," Zinke said. "Even if you're on land, you're not necessarily safe."

Zinke said he thinks these sorts of operations are perfect for the SEALs and will become more important, though he's not so excited about an individual team being identified as being behind the operation.

"I think U.S. special operations is the right term to use," Zinke said. Read more

Parliament voted yesterday to extend by a year the Turkish Navy’s involvement in an international anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia - Hurriyet Daily News.

Turkish Navy (Phot: Hurriyet Daily News)

The earlier authorization was to expire Feb. 10. The Turkish Navy has been part of the force in the Gulf of Aden since February 2009, tasked with escorting commercial ships and using force if necessary to seize vessels operated by pirates. Turkish frigates have, on several occasions, intercepted skiffs and captured pirates.

It was the 34th time Parliament authorized the government to send armed forces abroad since 1950.

Piracy Costs  

Mediterranean Shipping Co. said it will put a new piracy surcharge into effect on containers it transports between ports in South Africa and East Africa beginning in March - Journal of Commerce.

The Geneva-based carrier said it is implementing the surcharge because “piracy activities are becoming more and more aggressive, consequently the insurance costs on the vessels to the region have become prohibitive.” MSC said the increasing incidence of hijacking has forced it to improve the means of defense against piracy, including special routes and extra high speed to bypass the area.

It will increase its piracy risk surcharge by $100 per 20-foot equivalent unit to $230 per TEU on cargo carried from and to South Africa to and from East Africa, including the ports of Dar Es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar, Mombasa and Nacala.

The new piracy risk surcharge will be effective on March 2 with the departure of MSC Jasmine from Durban that same day, and the departure of MSC Rickmers from Nacala. MSC has already increased the freight rate on shipments between east and South Africa by $300 per TEU as of Feb. 5 because of what it called “various local problems” that were causing its vessels to experience “a major increase in costs.”’

Maritime piracy is at an all-time high, and it is costing businesses and ultimately consumers. Watchdog group the International Maritime Bureau reports that worldwide pirate attacks in the first nine months of 2011 reached a record high of 352 attacks and involved 625 people being taken hostage, The Atlantic.

Maritime Piracy All-time High - (Phot: The Atlantic)

But another risk factor in maritime piracy is the cost of doing business. A report from U.K. think tank Chatham House found that the cost of re-routing ships to avoid risky waters costs companies as much as $3 billion annually, while the head of the World Shipping Council put maritime piracy's total worldwide cost to companies as high as $8 billion. 

But countering this global issue has not had a clear answer, and the tactics for combating piracy - especially in the waters surrounding Somalia, where more than half of the incidences occur - is controversial. 

On one hand, the shipping industry tends to view paying ransom as the most efficient way to deal with piracy. Quick payment usually results in the quick release of traumatized seafarers being held hostage, as well as the rapid release of cargo being delayed - not to mention minimizing the negative public relations impact. It can be viewed simply the cost of doing business, and a low-risk one at that, as less than 0.3 percent of ships will be hijacked, according to non-governmental organization One Earth Future, a global-governance think tank. After all, anti-ransom measures have resulted in navies around the world patrolling the waters off Somalia at a cost of $1.5 billion annually - compared with the $5 million paid into the U.N.'s anti-piracy trust fund.

But governments - which typically make paying ransoms illegal - and global policy experts urge a longer-view approach. Read more.

Seafarers' Plight  

Two of the four South Korean hostages being held captive by Somali pirates are ill and suffering from stomach ailments, according to a pirate who spoke to Somalia Report.

Two of them are sick and feeling pain due to the hot climate and bad water. We are now holding the hostages in Labad, between Hobyo and Garacad, and the climate of Labad is so hot and water is not good because it is very salty and full of minerals. It is very difficult for people to adapt to this new climate so their health has been greatly affected," said a pirate from Hobyo.

The South Koreans, former crew members of MT Gemini, were moved to land after pirates released the vessel and with 21 of its crews for $6 million, but kept the four South Korean in protest of the South Korean government for the loss of life of their colleagues who were killed during a rescue raid on MT Samho Jewelry in January 2011. In December 2011, pirates demanded an additional $4 million in compensation before they would release the remaining four crew.

"The other two are in good health. Only two of them are sick, but we haven't contact any doctor. They need medical attention because now they cannot even eat anything," said the pirate. "We are human and we do care if they live, but our security is more important. We need to hold them in secure places and we can't get doctors here," he added.

New negotiations reportedly began in January of this year, but has stalled since the hostages became ill. The pirates, however, are refusing to allow the hostages access to medical care.

On January 12, the release of a chemical tanker 'Fairchem Bogey' by Somali pirates after five months in captivity has brought cheers to Indian shipping. The ship, which was seized on August 20, while on anchorage within the Salalah port limit in Oman and waiting for berthing instructions from port authorities, had an Indian crew of 21 on board - Safety4Sea.

As per local reports, pirates released the ship for a ransom estimated at $8 million (around Rs 40 crore). The ransom, as per industry estimates, may be on a higher side, given that the tanker is carrying just a partial load of methanol. But it was a small price they paid for releasing 21 Indians on board.

Another ship 'Savina Caylyn', with 17 Indian crew, hijacked on February 8, 2011, was released on December 22. All crew members have now arrived in India.

With the release of these two ships, total number of Indian crew in custody of Somali pirates on different ships has come down by more than half to 22, from the earlier 60. As per a recent communiqué by India's shipping regulator -- director general of shipping, six Indians are still on board Panama-flagged Iceberg-I (hijacked on March 29, 2010), two on board Malaysia-flagged Albedo (hijacked on November 26, 2010) and seven people on Italy-flagged Enrico Levoli (December 27,2011). In addition, seven Indian seafarers of 'Asphalt Venture' are held hostage on land.

For the ships mentioned above, we do not have any update of the ongoing negotiations with pirates. In some instances at least, owners and ship management companies have washed off their hands, and stayed away from negotiations.

While families of Indian crew keep their hopes alive, endlessly waiting for their near ones, most of them in captivity undergo the toughest moments in their life, without regular supply of food and water. For seafarers, who escape from the captivity at the end of months-long negotiations over ransom, it is a second life. And most of them vow not to go back to the sea.

The director general of shipping should intervene in each piracy attack and should join party to the negotiations with pirates, and speed up the ship's release, and not let it to the mercy of ship owners. Shipping companies and management companies operating in India should come up with a seafarer fund to finance release of ships and crew-members held in captivity for months together.

The SOS SaveOurSeafarers antipiracy campaign is looking for support from business leaders to increase international pressure on governments to take tougher action against Somali piracy, which is estimated to be costing the world economy $12 billion a year - Safety4Sea.

"These criminal gangs are holding the world economy to ransom," says Campaign Chair Giles Heimann. "The potential economic impact of the crisis is hugely disturbing given the knife edge on which the global economy is currently perched."

"Any business or organisation that conducts trade though the Suez Canal and across the Indian Ocean to the Indian sub-continent and Asia and Australasia is at risk," says Mr. Heimann. "That's about one-fifth of global trade. We feel that businesses which rely on these routes remaining safe will be keen to offer their support. They rely on the movement of manufactured goods, raw materials, food and fuel to operate."

Saying that the pirate gangs "have discovered the meaning of scalability" and that their "business model" now extends across an area of ocean twice the size of Europe, Mr. Heimann warns that there is a real risk that the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the entire Indian Ocean could become restricted zones for shipping. Seafarers could simply refuse to sail into war-like attacks, captivity and the suffering that follows and shipowners may not put ships and crews at risk.

"Using alternative routes will play havoc with costs and there is no alternative to sailing through the area for over 40 percent of all seaborne oil which originates from the Arabian Gulf region," says Mr. Heimann

"Part of the role of business leaders is to seek opportunities and identify threats," he continues. "Shipping industry representatives are in a position to make direct contact with world business leaders. We see it as our duty to warn them of the threat to their businesses posed by severe restrictions to one fifth of the world's major sea trade routes. We hope that in turn, they will bring pressure upon their respective governments to eliminate the piracy threat."

In an interview with H.E. James Michel, President of the Republic of Seychelles, DefPro said; Only a few countries are exposed, to a similar extent, to the effects of Somali piracy as is the Republic of Seychelles. Located at the southern edge of the pirates’ main area of operation in the Indian Ocean, and dependent upon safe sea lanes, the island country finds itself in the front line of a difficult struggle against the criminal fruit of a destabilised and war-ravaged neighbourhood at the Horn of Africa.

Nicolas von Kospoth of defpro.com asked His Excellency James Michel, President of the Republic of Seychelles, to portray the country’s considerable efforts to ward off this threat and to promote the Seychelles as an anti-piracy hub for its international allies. Read the President’s statements on economic, social and political effects of piracy on the Seychelles and his hope for a more determined and effective approach to solve the problem by the international community.

defpro.com: Even as we make this interview, many captured commercial vessels remain anchored in the ports of Somali pirates and scores of captives desperately hope to be released. Mr. President, how do you assess the current development of the Somali piracy issue? 

James Michel: Piracy has developed into a lucrative business model and therefore more emphasis needs to be made to target the financiers of piracy, to eliminate the criminal networks and bring to justice the main profiteers of this business.

We can fill our prisons to the brim with the Somali pirates who are at sea, but they are not the instigators, they are not earning even a drop of the vast amounts of money from the ransoms, so our efforts to capture them will not be efficient, in the overall picture, if we do not capture those who profit the most from this criminal activity. Read more.

And Finally... 

Boats competing in the Volvo Ocean Race were transported onboard an armed ship again to the safe haven of the Maldives capital because of the threat of pirates along the east coast of Africa.

Dutch ship Happy Diamond was protected by barbed wire when it delivered the six-strong fleet safely to Male.

"It has been a very tense and difficult time for us, and obviously we did not want to have to take this measure," Race CEO Knut Frostad said. "But we had no option but to take our security experts' advice. Now we're just looking forward to getting back to racing."

In an unprecedented move the 38-year history of the race, boats in the race were transported in late December on an armed ship through the Indian Ocean. They completed the leg with a short sprint into Abu Dhabi in the first week of January.

More than four months ago, only team and race officials knew of the decision to use the Maldives as a safe haven. They were required to sign non-disclosure documents.

The race, which started in late October from Alicante, Spain, has already had its share of drama. The boats were forced to suspend racing four times because of broken rigging and a holed hull.

The third leg promises to be just as hazardous with the fleet racing more than 3,000 nautical miles across the Indian Ocean, through the Malacca Strait and into the South China Sea.

The fleet will face monsoon winds and long stretches of upwind sailing through rough seas. They'll dodge container ships while picking their way through some of the busiest shipping lanes.

Team Telefonica of Spain, led by co-world sailors of the year Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez, lead the overall standings. Camper (Spain/New Zealand) and French boat Groupama trail the leader.

Piracy Incidents 

Hijack:

• Gulf of Aden - Five armed pirates boarded and hijacked a Yemeni Dhow, Al Wasil, and took her eight crew members as hostage 38nm from Mukalla port, Yemen, Gulf of Aden. Pirates released five crew at Ras Hafoon and maintained control over the remaining three crew and the dhow. LATE Report (via IMB) 14 Jan.

• Indian Ocean - Iranian fishing dhow, al-Khaliil, and kidnapped her crew of 19 as the vessel was fishing legally in the waters off the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, according to officials and pirates who spoke to Somalia Report this evening [Jan 25]. The vessel, which had been fishing in the area of over a month, and had the necessary permits from the Puntland government to fish in the area. As an extra layer of precaution, the Puntland government assigned a security team, made up of four armed police, to prevent a hijacking.

Unsuccessful Attacks (All Regions):

• Indian Ocean - While at anchor, Duty cadet, on deck of a Malta-flagged bulk carrier, Hana, carried out a security check and when he approached the forecastle noticed the hawse pipe cover removed at 0500 LT: in position 22:14.0N - 091:44.2E, Chittagong Outer Anchorage 'A', Bangladesh. He alerted the duty officer and crew members. Cadet and 2nd Officer made a further search at the forecastle. 2nd Officer was attacked from behind and received some injuries. Robbers stole ship's stores and escaped in a waiting boat. Reported (via IMB) 21 Jan. The incident was reported to the authorities. Coast Guard and medical assistance was dispatched.

• Malacca Strait - Four robbers armed with knives boarded a Marshall Island-flagged tanker, Fairchem Birdie, from the stern at 0300 LT in position 01:42.3N - 101.27.4E, Dumai inner anchorage, Indonesia. They entered the engine room and tied up the duty engineer before stealing spares and taking the duty engineer to the stern prior to disembarking into a waiting boat to escape. No injuries were sustained by the crew. Dumai Port Control was infomed. Reported (via IMB) 22 Jan.

• Red Sea - Two ocean-going vessels approach Netherlands-flagged general cargo ship, MV Happy Ranger, in position 12:18N - 043:59E. Onboard security fired warning shots which resulted in the two vessels altering course and moving away. Reported (via Somalia Report) 22 Jan.

• Malacca Strait - Robbers board anchored UK (Cayman Island)-flagged chemical tanker, Mid Nature, at 0610 LT Dumai inner anchorage, Indonesia. They held motor man hostage as they steal spares. Duty 3/E noticed the robbers on deck, informed duty officer who raised alarm. Crew were mustered by the Master. Local authorities were informed bia the agents. Robbers then escape with stolen spares. Reported (via IMB) 23 Jan.

• Indian Ocean - Two skiffs with five pirates in each skiff chased / approached a Bahamas-flagged chemical tanker, Papillon, at 1121 LT: in position 06:41S – 039:20E, 7.7nm off Dar Es Salaam (out of Port Limit), Tanzania. Vessel enforced anti piracy measures, increased speed, deployed security team. When skiffs approached closer to the vessel, security team fired warning flares. the skiffs aborted the attempt and moved away. Authorities not informed at the time. Reported (via IMB) 23 Jan.

• Red Sea - An underway Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, Conti Lapislazuli, with onboard security team reported that two skiffs were approaching the vessel at 0730 UTC: in position 13:12.4N - 043:01.85E, Bab al Mandeb. There were a total of seven skiffs in the vicinity. The 1st skiff had six pirates armed with AK47 and 2nd skiff had four pirates but could not distinguish if they had weapons. The vessel enforced anti piracy measures, standby fire hoses and made evasive manoeuvres. Two armed guards were placed on starboard and port bridge wings. Upon sighting the armed guards the skiffs aborted the attack and moved away. Vessel called all statins via VHF Channel 16. Reported (via IMB) 24 Jan.

• Indian Ocean - Ten robbers boarded an anchored Antigua & Barbuda-flagged general cargo ship, Annette, at 0100 LT: Kandla Anchorage, India. They stole ships' stores and escaped unnoticed Reported (via IMB) 25 Jan.

• Gulf of Aden - Iranian fishing dhow, al-Khaliil, with 19 Iranian crew hijacked off Puntland, Somalia, despite Puntland assigned security team (4 police) onboard. Reported (via Somalia Report) 25 Jan.

• South America (P) - Three suspected armed pirates in black military uniforms chased a Singapore-flagged container ship, NYK  Joanna, underway in a white hulled speed boat at 2335 UTC: in position 02:26N - 079:18W: 45nm off Tumaco, Colombia. The vessel increased speed, made evasive manoeuvres and crew mustered. The boat aborted the attempt and moved away after chasing the vessel for 45 minutes. Reported (via IMB) 26 Jan.

• South America (A) - Four robbers in a small unlit boat approached an anchored Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, Eagle Strait, at 0055 LT: in position 00:02.80N – 050:59.70W, Macapa anchorage, Amazon river, Brazil. The deck watch crew noticed the robbers climbing up the anchor chain and trying to remove the hawse pipe cover and informed the bridge. OOW immediately raised the alarm and activated the fire pump to start anchor wash. The robbers aborted the boarding and escaped in their boat. Port control and ships in the vicinity were informed. Reported (via IMB) 27 Jan.

• South China Sea - Eight robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored UK (Gibraltar)-flagged container ship, Istrian Express, at 2230 LT: Posn: 20:38.4N – 106:53.0E, Haiphong anchorage, Vietnam. They took the duty A/B hostage, forced him into the bosun store and tied him up. The robbers stole ship stores and escaped. As the A/B was not answering calls on the walkie talkie a search party was sent forward and rescued. Master tried to contact Haiphong port control but received no response. Reported (via IMB) 27 Jan.

• South China Sea - Four robbers armed with a gun and knives boarded an anchored Singapore-flagged bulk carrier, MP Panamax 5, during cargo operations at 0440 LT: Adang Bay Anchorage, Indonesia. The robbers tried to attack the duty A/B, who managed to escape and inform the 2/O. Alarm raised and all crew mustered and proceeded towards the robbers. The robbers fired four shots and escaped with ship stores. No injuries to crew. Incident reported to pilot station. Reported (via IMB) 28 Jan.

EUNAVFOR figures state 5 vessels and an estimated 155 hostages held captive (Updated 16 Jan). Somalia Report indicates 222 hostages held from captured vessels with a further 26 land based hostages, bringing to a total of 248 hostages. See the latest report. The latest report from IMB states 9 ships and 151 crew held. UKMTO figures state 9 ships and 173 hostages in captivity.

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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