Covering 3 - 9 May 2014 No. 19/14
Pirate kingpin amnesty; Assassination attempts; Ferry diver dies, other arrests; Somali piracy 50% reduction; MV Iceberg-1 Officer 4 years later.
Puntland's government offers amnesty to pirate kingpin Isse Yusuf who quit piracy in March 2013; involved in the last successful hijack of commercial ships, the agreement paves the way for his 'militiamen' and vehicles to be integrated into Puntland Defence Forces. As UN Security Council condemns terrorist bomb attacks in Mogadishu, assassination attempts in Somalia and Yemen increase bringing fear for humanitarian aid and capacity building.
Further unfolding heartbreak in the case of the sunken South Korean ferry continues. The non-stop search for bodies has resulted in the death of a diver with many more suffering from illness, whilst doubts over the number of survivors, parents of those killed gather to meet the President. The CEO of the ferry company is arrested.
The latest Oceans Beyond Piracy report notes the factors behind the 50% drop in the cost of Somali piracy and this time includes W Africa costs, which prove more difficult to quantify. MV Iceberg-1 was hijacked just over 4 years ago, however, the fate of the Chief Officer, beaten by pirates for standing up for his crew, remains a mystery leaving his parents shattered in India.
Puntland maritime police seize illegal Yemeni fishing vessels also accused of dumping waste. 62 fishermen were taken for trial, 20 armed Somali men were also detained. UNODC signs an agreement to provide financial support to the Seychelles for costs involved in prosecuting suspected Somali pirates. The Iranian Navy announced the rescue of an Indian oil tanker from an attack by several pirate boats in the Red Sea.
USA will give Nigeria another warship in the fight against piracy. A former State governor in Nigeria claimed oil theft in the Niger Delta is organised crime by well-placed Nigerians in a high level of conspiracy. The captain of a small oil tanker suspected of killing two of his crew and stealing cargo is being hunted in Asia.
In South America, off Colombia, illegal tuna fishing is to be fought through the backing of philanthropists with a new $1.5m radar system. The first of 13 in Costa Rica followed by Cocos Island.
Libya's new Prime Minister appointment does not sit well with the rebels in the major eastern oil ports. His appointment could threaten efforts to reopen terminals.
Almost 2 months since the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and a "new phase" is agreed which effectively takes the search effort back to the drawing board. Meanwhile, Paris prosecutors have launched a judicial investigation for involuntary homicide relating to the plane crash.
A British security guard held in prison after the US ship Seaman Guard Ohio was impounded in India claims he was not paid for a single day spent in jail - the owners, Advanfort, had previously claimed payments were made.
Rally and super cars bound for a Top Gear (British motoring TV show) Festival to be held in Barbados were loaded by the Caribbean cargo carrier, Geest Line. Once the presenters have finished "larking about" in Barbados, Geest will transport them back to the UK; the cars that is. The Stig will sit in solitary darkness in a container with the cars, despite the risk of personal injury through corrosion while at sea.
See the full report HERE