|
|
26 May - 1 Jun 2012
This Newsletter is kindly sponsored by:
Global Security Solutions
All quiet on the Eastern Front - Minor activity on the Horn of Africa side of the continent, however, Greek tanker boarded off Lagos, Nigeria - crew safe in citadel. Puntland forces raid nets second in command pirates. Iran naval commander claims 'hidden hands' behind pirate attacks. Five out of six Somalis on trial in France for luxury yacht hijack say they are innocent; Puntland and Mauritius sign agreement for holding pirates and India returns pirates to Puntland after jail terms completed; Pirates accused in the kidnap of the British couple, the Chandlers, may be hauled by to the UK to face trial. Italian marines held in India given bail. Dutch frigate prepares for NATO counter piracy mission. Russian navy denies any involvement in warship strike on Kismayo. IMO looks to strenghten international resolve to fight piracy as Turkey raises its profile in Somalia, a conference in Istanbul meets to discuss transition of the Somali government. Following EU land raid on Somali territory its business as usual, but what has changed? 14-country task force examines options for preventing the payment of ransoms. Shipping costs could rise by 150 percent over the next 10 years, if piracy in the Persian Gulf continues to increase. Croatia Master of tanker Zirku tells of 87-days held by pirates . Fears that MV Albedo ransom has not reached pirates. Maersk Alabama crew seek to sue for $50m for risk taken transiting near Somali waters.
Contents:
The OCEANUSLive website will transition to a subscription service for registered users in the coming months. Notification will be passed to all users. Early bird, company/goup, and other discounts will be available upto that time. The News/Editorial webpage, along with the Weekly Newsletter, will remain free.
East Africa
Members of the Puntland government and the Puntland Police Marine Force (PMPF) entered Hafun on May 26th, and this morning captured seven pirates (this was revised downward from the government statement of eleven pirates). Among them is a suspect named "Dhafoor", believed to be the second in command to pirate Isse Yulux, reports Somalia Report.
Dhafoor and Yulux are believed to be the pirates who captured and held the Danish yachting family until they were ransomed for between $2 and $4 million US dollars. Dhafoor is also being held of charges of ambushing and murdering five and injuring eleven Puntland government security forces members in Hul Anod in March 2011. Dhafoor sustained a minor leg wound in the security operation, there were no other wounded. Although Dhafoor appears in our photo with a bandage on his leg. The government insists no one was wounded. Minister Khalif Issa Mudan who is in Hafun, said that he is in the town, everything is peaceful "that is rumors, no one injured, no one died and the troops are in the city peacefully".
Six of the arrested pirates names were released:
Suspected commander, Maxed Maxud Maxed "Dhafoor" (36), and suspects Khalif Salah Sicid (35), Clsalaan Ahmed Hassan (29), Ayaanle Said Mahamed (40), Abdi Said Mahamed (30), and Abdrizak Ibrahm Ali (19).
Entry into the remote coast area of Hafun was not easy. Locals had forged alliances with pirate groups and held long standing enmity against the government of Puntland. They accused the Puntland government of not providing the basics in the remote region which had led to their association, even by marriage, with known criminals.
The region has long been a base for pirates due to its strategic location as a spit jutting into the Indian Ocean. The area was devastated by a tsunami in December 31, 2004 and never fully recovered. Read more.
A senior Iranian naval commander says hidden hands are behind the rampant pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean - Press TV.
Deputy Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Gholamreza Khadem Bigham said Sunday that there are many hands at work to fund and facilitate pirate activities off the Somali coast and in the high seas.
He said the cause of piracy is rooted either in coercion or poverty, adding that the lucrative fishing industry off the Somali coast by other countries has caused Somalia’s agriculture and fishing sectors to become stagnant.
Most of pirate attacks used to occur in the Gulf of Aden, a major route for international cargo ships and oil tankers. However, pirates have increased the range of their attacks targeting ships as far as in the Indian Ocean, Rear Admiral Khadem Bigham pointed out.
This means that pirate attacks in the mentioned areas can be launched only by those closely familiar with the territories. Ordinary Somali farmers or seamen, therefore, do not have the ability to launch such attacks, the senior Iranian naval commander said.
He added that all the above facts show that pirate attacks are well-organized and supported by hidden hands.
Al-Shabaab militants, battling for control of Somalia, claim to have repelled two warships near their stronghold of Kismayo, a port city in Somalia's Lower Jubba region - Somalia Report.
"The mujahedeen fighters opened fire and repulsed two military ships that approached the coast of Kismayo. They were coming close to the coast when they were attacked," Sheikh Hassan Yaqub, a top Shebab official in the port of Kismayo, told AFP.
Locals are claiming it was a Kenyan naval vessel, however, this is yet unconfirmed.
"A ship came came close to docking in the port. al-Shabaab officials claimed it was Kenyan. The ship shot missile (sic) and bullets and the Islamists responded with with missiles and the ship fled the area. Currently the city is very tense as the Kenyan Defense Forces inch towards the city," a local journalist told Somalia Report.
Other sources independent from the al-Shabaab source said that al-Shabaab started the fighting and at least one person has died.
In addition to Kenyan naval forces, both NATO and the European Union Naval Force Somalia have warships in the area as part of ongoing anti-piracy operations Ocean Shield and Atalanta, respectively.
EU NAVFOR, however, denied involvement in today's alleged incident.
"No EU Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) warship is involved in an attack near by or on Kismayo," Timo M. Lange Media Operations Officer, told Somalia Report.
When approached for comment, NATO Shipping Centre's Duty Watchkeeper informed Somalia Report that, "We are unable to provide a comment on the incident as we have no information concerning any action by NATO Vessels." Read more.
West Africa
Pirates attacked a Greek-owned oil tanker off Nigeria Friday but failed to hijack the ship after the crew hid in a safe room, the International Maritime Bureau said - This Day Live.
The tanker was anchored off Lagos when armed pirates boarded early on Friday, said Noel Choong, head of the IMB's piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur, reports AFP.
The 23 crew onboard managed to lock themselves into a safe room and sent out a distress call that was received by the IMB, which in turn alerted the Nigerian navy and other warships patrolling the area, Choong said.
Safe rooms are increasingly used by shipping firms to protect crews and thwart pirate attacks.
Choong said the pirates, likely aiming to steal the ship's cargo, abandoned their plan as they could not enter the safe room and urged crews of other ships off West Africa to be vigilant.
"The area remains risky," he told AFP. "We urge all ships to maintain strict anti-piracy watches," he said.
At least 21 attacks in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa have taken place this year, with four vessels hijacked, according to Choong.
Two seafarers have been killed, two injured and three kidnapped, he said. Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, was targeted in 13 out of the 21 attacks, Choong said.
Unlike in hijackings off the coast of Somalia on the opposite side of the continent, West African gangs have not sought ransoms, instead unloading cargo onto other ships to sell on the black market.
Nigeria and nearby Benin launched joint patrols last year to address the problem.
Much has been written about Somali piracy and its threat to the international shipping industry. However, there is also a growing piracy problem on the other side of the African continent, in the Gulf of Guinea - Lookout Newspaper. According to the International Maritime Organization, 2011 marked a peak year for pirate activity in the region, with 64 reported attacks, a 28 percent increase from 2010. The waters off Nigeria are particularly risky: Africa’s most populous country and top oil producer is home to a strong network of criminal organizations that have increasingly targeted ships carrying valuable cargo. In coming years, shipping traffic off the coast of Nigeria is projected to increase, as world demand for its oil grows. The risk of hijacking, however, could discourage international shipping vessels from approaching Nigeria’s ports.
Improving security in Nigerian waters will not be easy. It will require coordinated action among naval and coast guard fleets to fend off pirate attacks. It will also require taking action against land-based criminal groups, and the government corruption that allows them to thrive. In addition, a long term strategy against piracy and organized crime must include measures to address the extreme poverty and inequality that have driven Nigerians to pursue illicit activities. Piracy is a symptom of deeper economic, political and environmental problems, all of which need to be examined and rectified in order to put a permanent end to piracy and oil theft. Read more.
Southeast Asia
The Puntland government signed an agreement with Mauritius to temporarily hold inmates convicted of piracy until Puntland detention facilities meet the international standard, Radio Garowe reports - Garowe Online.
Saeed Mohamed Ragge, Minister of Ports, Sea Transport and Counter Piracy for Puntland met with Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam and various Mauritanian government officials. Minister Ragge’s delegation included Puntland Chief of Corrections Officers, Gen. Ali Nuur Omar.
The purpose of the meeting was to reach an agreement on how convicted pirates captured at sea would be incarcerated and for how long. After a long closed door meeting with the Prime Minister both government officials reached an agreement for tried and convicted pirates to be jailed in Mauritius until the facilities reach the UN standard.
The agreement says that the convicted pirates will finish their sentences in their land after the Puntland government has constructed proper facilities to house the convicted pirates.
The Mauritius government agreed to help improve the quality of Puntland corrections facilities through funding by the UN and the international community. Read more.
Six Somali pirates went on trial in Paris charged with hijacking a French yacht in 2008, the second case of its kind to be brought before a French court in a bid to tackle the problem of piracy in the waters off the Horn of Africa - Defence Web.
The men, aged 25 to 50, are accused of hijacking an 88-metre luxury yacht, the "Ponant", in the Gulf of Aden in April 2008, and holding 30 members of its crew hostage in exchange for a ransom of 2.15 million euros.
Five of the six pirates say they are innocent and played no direct role in the assault, while a sixth pleaded guilty and apologised to the crew, their families and the French nation, Reuters reports.
All six men, who listed their professions as taxi-driver, truck driver, accountant and fisherman, face France's toughest jail sentence for kidnapping and hostage-taking. If sentenced to the maximum penalty, they would only be eligible for parole after 18 years of incarceration. Read more.
Italian Marines
The Supreme Court of Kerala has granted bail to two Marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen. The local press reports - Il Sole 24 Ore. Shortly before the government of the Indian state of Kerala had informed the Supreme Court of Kochi what to decide in respect of both Fascists, the allegations mentioned in the so-called His Act, convention against maritime terrorism, signed in Rome in 1988.
The legal representative of Kerala at the hearing on the Italian communicated the request for bail for the two riflemen, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone. The fact that they had renounced the application of the Act left room for the possibility of bail for the two Marines, which took place soon after.
According to sources from the Ansa Italian delegation, the lawyer who represented the interests of the State of Kerala had intervened in the debate to insist waiving the application of a Convention of which the third section would have prevented the benefit of freedom of bail. Read more (Italian language) .
Pirates accused of kidnapping a British couple off Somalia could be hauled to the UK to stand trial, says Mirror.co.uk.
Paul and Rachel Chandler were seized from their yacht and held in Africa for a year before being freed after a ransom of up to £620,000 was reportedly paid.
Now Government lawyers here are working with Interpol to arrest and extradite the Somali gang, who are in custody in neighbouring Kenya.
It would be highly unusual for suspects to be extradited back to the UK for a crime committed overseas.
But both the Home and Foreign Office are keen to take a firm stance on pirates running amok off east Africa. Read more.
Marking the first time that countries have repatriated pirates who finished their sentence, 18 Somali pirates were returned from India to Puntland, according to Puntland's Minister for Security, Khalif Issa Mudan.
"Yes, the Indian navies seized them, they finished their jail terms and they are back," he told Somalia Report by phone on Thursday evening.
The pirates were flown to Bosaso airport on early Thursday by chartered plane.
"We can't promise that they will not be pirates again, but we hope that they will change their mind and do something good for themselves,” Minister Khalif Issa Mudan told Somalia Report.
The former pirates are now free in Bosaso.
“You don’t have to be mad to work here…but it helps”. Ah the staple joke of many an office wall seems to have reached our new gun toting brethren of the seas, the “Armed maritime security” guard - Shiptalk.
According to Lloyd’s List, which is developing an unhealthy fascination in this armed arena, research is being undertaken to view the mental health (or otherwise) of private maritime security personnel.
Much has been made of the requirements of various standards, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC), requiring employers to implement a range of policies to support a “safe and healthy working environment”, which includes the psychological health of staff. Read more.
Off the pirate-infested waters of Somalia, a new force is taking shape - BBC News.
The private company Typhon is preparing to operate alongside the world's navies, offering protection to cargo vessels sailing around the Horn of Africa.
But unlike other private security firms which put guards on board other people's ships, it will offer vessels of its own.
The chief executive of Typhon, Anthony Sharpe, says the plan is to rendezvous with cargo ships which sign up for their protection and form them into a convoy.
The company says it will establish what it is describing as an exclusion zone of one kilometre around the ships.
The company is buying three boats, which are currently being fitted out in Singapore.
Each of its craft will have up to 40 security officers, drawn from former British Royal Marines, as well as a crew of 20.
The ships will be fitted with machine guns and the staff will have rifles.
But Mr Sharpe told the BBC it is not a question of out-gunning the pirates.
"It's not about lethal force matching lethal force," he said.
"It's more like applying a burglar alarm to the problem and the thief will be deterred - so will be looking elsewhere." Read more.
The 90th session of the International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) ended yesterday [Friday, May 25] after intense discussions regarding the future of the private maritime security companies (PMSC’s) increasingly seen aboard passenger, bulk freight and container ships travelling routes known to be home to the threat of pirate attack. The IMO is of course after all, the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping - Handy Shipping Guide.
The MSC heard how, worldwide, seven crew members were killed in 2011, up from two in 2010, while 569 crew members were reportedly kidnapped, with the majority of piracy incidents occurring off the East African coast totalling 223 in 2011, up from 172 the year before. The drop in kidnapped personnel (down from 1,027 in 2010) would seem to indicate that the tide is turning as regards the size of vessel now under threat with captures of small fishing craft for example virtually ignored by the world’s media.
With most of the major shipping nations seeing their native flag carriers using PMSC’s to protect their investments regardless of official policy, it was inevitable that retrospective action by the IMO would become necessary if only to protect the organization’s credibility. Following the debate the MSC agreed interim guidelines for PMSC’s providing contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area.
The MSC agreed that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) would be best placed to develop international standards based on the guidelines agreed upon so one seriously wonders just how long it will take to develop a uniform code of practice given that people are dying on both sides of an ongoing conflict. Given the plethora of nations involved, the huge variation in the size and value of pirate targets and victims and the abundance of national laws and regulations involved nothing would be more welcome than a standardisation of protective measures but just how long will such legislation take?
The other consideration is that any such legislation can probably never become mandatory and therefore will remain voluntary, as with the Best Management Practices which have done so much to aid shipping under threat, yet are still ignored by some vessels travelling in the danger zone. The MSC’s intent is excellent, now global shipping executives will look for rapid implementation or the cases of hijacking will have virtually disappeared in vessels of a size which warrant their own security team due to the major shipping companies own policies. Read more.
EU Naval Force Operation Commander was welcomed on board Flag Ship FS Marne to visit the ‘in theatre’ Force Commander and his staff - MarineInsight.
In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Operation Commander Rear Admiral Duncan Potts visited FS Marne and met EUNAVFOR Force Commander Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis and his staff. Admiral Potts exchanged views on the current situation in the area with different members of the task force staff. The meeting was an ideal opportunity to enhance cohesion between the task force and the EU HQ.
The French officers and allies from the staff, drew up an initial review of operations since the handover from the previous Spanish Flag Ship Patino on April 7, and emphasized the significant and encouraging decrease in pirate activity over recent months. Addressing the entire staff of the force, the Operation Commander congratulated them on their hard work and progress since the start of their tour.
Rear-Admiral Dupuis agreed that the improved situation is due to military action, coupled with the adoption by merchant vessels of security measures (Best Management Practices). The scourge of piracy is not eradicated and only the improvement of the situation in Somalia could allow a return to normality. In this sense, Operation Atalanta interacts with the navies of the region to help them further develop their own capabilities, as part of the comprehensive approach of the European Union in Somalia.
EU naval forces operating off the coast of Somali conducted their first raid on the Somali mainland earlier this month. In an email interview, Hans-Georg Ehrhart, the head of the Center for European Peace and Security Studies of the Institute for Peace Research and Security Studies at the University of Hamburg, discussed the EU’s anti-piracy operation - World Pollitical Review.
WPR: What is the makeup of the European Union's Operation Atalanta, in terms of force commitments and contributing countries, and how has it evolved over time?
Hans-Georg Ehrhart: Operation Atalanta was launched in 2008 and has seen its mandate extended several times, now running to the end of 2014. It operates off the coast of Somalia with up to seven combat vessels, one or two auxiliary ships, 1,400 sailors, eight helicopters, five maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and force multipliers such as medical support. Its main task is to protect vessels of the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) delivering food aid to displaced people in Somalia and of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Its secondary task is to protect vulnerable shipping and to deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery in the area of operation. Finally, Atalanta contributes to monitoring fishing activities. In addition to the European Union member states, non-EU countries including Norway, Croatia and Ukraine contribute to the operation.
WPR: What are the operational lessons learned so far, in terms of successes and challenges, as well as in terms of interoperability and command?
Ehrhart: Atalanta faces many challenges. One of them is the vast area of operation to be covered, one and a half times the size of the European mainland. On this front, coordination with other military missions, such as NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield and U.S.-led Task Force 151, independent deploying nations as well as the maritime industry has been improved considerably via innovative mechanisms such as the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction Center and the Maritime Security Center Horn of Africa. Another major challenge is the pirates’ ability to learn and to adapt their tactics. Atalanta has responded by expanding its area of operation. Furthermore, the rules of engagement have been adjusted continuously to provide the EU Naval Force with sufficient room to maneouvre.
WPR: What are the political lessons learned, in terms of EU defense policy and EU coordination with other multilateral efforts in the region? Read more.
Under cover of darkness, masked Netherlands marines in a small fast dinghy approach alongide the merchant vessel held hostage. With rope ladders they climb on board - OCEANUSLive. A few brief orders and there follows a rapid overthrow of the hijackers on the bridge of the vessel. The boarding exercise for the frigate HNLMS Evertsen over the weekend was successful.
With the release of the hijacked ship, a number of previous training scenarios come together. The Evertsen used the exercise to prepare for its participation in the anti-piracy operation Ocean Shield in the Horn of Africa. The air defence and command frigate serves as a flagship for a NATO fleet.
"A hijacked ship mission is extremely complex and risky," explains Evertsen Commanding Officer, Captain Boudewijn Boots, says. "Except where the special units and ship bring their expertise together." The frigate has a number of additional capabilities on board for this mission, such as a helicopter crew, a specialist medical team and a so-called enhanced boarding element of the Marine Corps. The vessel can disrupt piracy and hijacking attempts. Read more.
In response to the continuing interest in up to date information with regard to pirate attacks GAC and SMHI Weather Solutions, the alliance between the freight, logistics and marine support group GAC and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), has unveiled a new feature of its Fleetweb online application to alert users of co-ordinates and details of crimes against shipping - Handy Shipping Guide.
This latest upgrade adds a valuable new tool to Fleetweb, which already plays a vital role in providing operators with map-based intelligence about the locations of their vessels and the weather conditions they face, enabling constant monitoring and optimisation of fleet routing and performance. Through its unique filter systems, operators have an overview of how their vessels are performing in terms of speed and fuel consumption, bunker buyers can see on a daily basis what fuel volumes are required, and technical managers can better plan maintenance schedules.
With the addition of the Sea Crime Solutions, security personnel can now use Fleetweb to reduce the risk to their vessels. This latest upgrade provides rapid sea crime alerts with precise co-ordinates and incident details to allow operators to immediately inform their ships of attacks in their vicinity and along their planned routes. It also gives an accurate picture of the overall sea crime threat at any given time, particularly in high-risk waters. Lennart Cederberg, Global Product Manager of GAC-SMHI Weather Solutions, explains:
"Users are alerted in a highly visible way with a piracy attack icon on the Fleetweb map. This allows them to immediately assess the current location of their vessels in relation to the attack and to take the necessary precautionary steps. Fleetweb already helps owners to ensure safe, profitable shipping through comprehensive weather data that allows them to plot the optimal route. The addition of the sea crime alerts feature is in direct response to customers' needs, providing them with all the data they need to protect their vessels, crews and cargoes." Read more.
Russian Navy ships were not engaged in the armed incident off Kismayo on Somalia’s coastline, a military diplomat told Interfax in Moscow on Thursday - Horseed Media.
“Our ships did not take part in that incident. They could not have done that because they were traversing a different part of the Gulf of Aden,” he said.
Al-Qaida-linked radical Islamist Shabab insurgents said on Tuesday that they had fired at two foreign warships, which had approached their Kismayo stronghold.
A Shabaab representative said the warships fired at the shore in return. He did not say to which countries the warships belonged. That was the first incident of the kind since the deployment of warships of several countries in the Gulf of Aden in 2008. Read more.
World leaders and Somali politicians have started talks in Istanbul on how to end decades of anarchy in Somalia - BBC News.
The two-day talks are hosted by the Turkish government, which has tried to raise Turkey's profile in Somalia since last year's drought there.
Traditional elders, business leaders and civil society groups from Somalia are also due to attend.
They are expected to discuss the end of the transition period of the UN-backed interim government, due in August.
But the government only controls the capital, Mogadishu, and one nearby town, while al-Qaeda linked militants still run many areas of the country.
In recent months, troops from the African Union, Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as pro-government militias, have helped government forces gain territory from al-Shabab but the militants continue to stage attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere.
Kenya's government has accused al-Shabab of carrying out Monday's bombing in Nairobi, which injured some 33 people.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said that Mogadishu was now open for business, reports the AFP news agency. Read more.
Image - Turkey has been at the forefront of giving aid to Somalia and started commericial filghts to Mogadishu last year.
IMO helps strengthens international resolve to tackle piracy - a video update.
International forces cannot solve Somalia's security problems in the long term and the fragile country needs its own strong force to do the job, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday - Associated Press.
Ban spoke spoke at a conference in Istanbul that aims to support Somalia in a transition process calling for a new constitution and parliament, and the election of a president, by August 20. The Horn of Africa nation dissolved into anarchy in 1991 and has endured conflict and deprivation ever since. African Union troops have helped Somalia's transitional government in its fight against al-Shabab, an Islamic militant group with links to al-Qaida.
While significant gains have been made in that fight, Ban said the international community must help Somalia build its own security apparatus, establish the rule of law and shed a pervasive culture of impunity.
"In the face of terrorism, piracy and drought, Somalia needs solidarity," Ban said. "Partners have to step up and do their part." Read more.
Time is running out for Somalia's discredited transitional government. It is due to be replaced by mid-August and, after months of talks, it seems its members may have accepted that, this time, the deadline is immutable, comments the Guardian.
Augustine Mahiga, the UN secretary general's special representative to Somalia, certainly believes the end is near. After a three-day meeting of senior Somali politicians in Addis Ababa last week, he said the world should already be thinking about life after the 20 August deadline for naming a new president.
"Somalia is less than 90 days away from the most momentous event in its recent history," Mahiga said in Nairobi on Friday. "There is not a moment to spare as Somalia and its partners get down to work and ensure this process is participatory, legitimate, inclusive, transparent and, above all, Somali-owned." Read more.
It’s business as usual for the shipping industry following the recent EUNAVFOR raid on Somali soil. It’s timing can’t have been accidental, to coincide with the opening of the IMO session in London; ‘about time too’ was the general comment in the international and maritime trade media, writes Paul Gibbins of PGC Global. Whilst this operation has been broadly welcomed, it does little to address the root of the problem and in the longer term more likely to have a counterproductive effect.
But what has changed? In the short term, most certainly a heightened risk to those seafarers still held captive in the region and those NGO’s operating in Somalia, and also a clarion call from Somali fishermen to stop the attacks, concerned that they too might have their craft targeted. It is natural to assume that the pirates will go to greater lengths to avoid detection, blurring the distinction of pirate vessel and fishing boat. But will the attack actually dissuade pirates from plying their trade? Certainly, it will be harder, but the prizes are still there, albeit a minority of commercial ships, transiting without any security at all through the high-risk areas.
In some respects the majority of the shipping sector has reached a point of equilibrium in controlling piracy attacks, its implementation of Best Management Practice and the embarkation of Private Armed Security have stemmed the tide of successful attacks. Read more.
The international task force announced by the [UK] PM at the London conference on Somalia to look at the issue of ransom payments in piracy cases met for the first time on 30 May in London - FCO.gov.uk.
At its inaugural meeting, members of the task force examined options for preventing the payment of ransoms. Discussions were informed by an independent analysis of the options prepared by Chatham House and by views presented by representatives from industry and the Somali diaspora.
The taskforce is made up of 14 countries representing a range of Flag States, seafarer nations, countries with large merchant navies and those active in the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. It includes Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Liberia, Malaysia, Norway, Panama, the Philippines, Spain, Ukraine, the UAE, the USA, and the UK.
The establishment of the task force reflects concerns around ransom payments fuelling the piracy business model and incentivising the criminal activity that is putting the lives of seafarers at risk. It will explore a wide range of options for avoiding, reducing or preventing the payment of piracy ransoms.
The first three meetings will consider at options for preventing the payment of ransoms; options for avoiding the payment of ransoms/alternative strategies to paying ransoms; and options for reducing the size/frequency of ransom payments. After considering the range of views on these issues, the task force will recommend a set of policy options that will be presented to the wider international community to take forward.
Shipping costs could rise by 150 per cent over the next 10 years, if piracy in the Persian Gulf continues to increase - Supply Management.
A report said new criminals joining the ranks of pirates in Somalia would push up the cost of security and insurance premiums.
The study, Managing Supply Chain Risk: Understanding Piracy Threat, published by AT Kearney and the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) detailed three possible outcomes affecting supply chain costs in the Gulf depending on how the piracy problem is tackled.
The first of these - if pirate attacks increase - will dramatically raise supply chain charges. The current cost of pirate attacks off the coast of the Horn of Africa is estimated to be between $3 billion (£1.9 billion) to $6.5 billion (£4.15 billion).
In the second scenario – an increase in international counter piracy measures would contain the rate at 30 to 50 per cent of its current intensity. There would be no additional cost to the supply chain. Lower ransoms would help reduce costs, but these would be offset by higher spending on security. Insurer premiums would remain stable.
A third outcome - the economic stabilisation of Somalia - would be a permanent solution where piracy would be eradicated from the region. Additional costs would initially remain the same for the next two or three years, but would start to decrease later along with insurance premiums. Read more.
A special issue has just been published by the WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs (Springer Verlag). The issue aims at contributing to the ongoing discourse on maritime piracy and its various contexts: socio-political stability, development, economics, legislation, policy, law enforcement, regional security, international cooperation, human rights, health, and risk management, among others - Piracy Studies. The April 2012 issue is one of the very few issues of any journal that has dedicated an issue exclusively to the contemporary menace of piracy; even fewer such issues are readily accessible on line. Dr. Samuel Pyeatt Menefee (Maury Fellow, Center for Oceans Law & Policy, University of Virginia and Adjunct Professor, World Maritime University) and Dr. Maximo Q. Mejia Jr. (Associate Professor, World Maritime University) served as Guest Editors for the WMU Journal’s April 2012 issue. Read more.
Capt. Miro Alibasic from Croatia was en route to Oman aboard his crude-oil tanker Zirku - Safety4Sea. As they passed through the notorious Gulf of Aden, every sailor's nightmare since antiquity materialized before his eyes-pirates were attacking his ship from all directions.
Around 50 heavily armed Somalis in small skiffs, dispatched from a mother ship, surrounded the supertanker, attempting to board.
"I was trying to avoid it by zigzagging and using water canons. But once I lost speed, they hooked me. ... There was nothing I could do," recalls Alibasic.
The pirates boarded the ship and ordered Alibasic and his 34-man crew to kneel down. Alibasic refused and asked the pirates to put down their guns and invited them to come on board to talk.
The crew was locked up inside the ship and forced to stay put-some facedown on the floor.
It was only the first of an 87-day ordeal.
"I am not into mathematics. You can calculate how to navigate a supertanker or how to fly to the moon. But once you are in a warzone, what are you going to calculate?" Alibasic said about the chances of survival in such a situation. Read full article HERE.
More than half the crew members of a Norfolk-based container ship that was at the center of a piracy drama off Somalia in April 2009 are seeking damages totaling nearly $50 million NECN.com.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Saturday that the lawsuits have been filed by 11 crew members aboard the Maersk Alabama. The five-day standoff ended when Navy SEALs killed three of Capt. Richard Phillips' captors.
While Phillips was hailed as a hero, his former crew members allege the New Englander's actions put them in grave danger when the ship sailed within about 250 miles of the African coast despite warnings to stay at least 600 miles offshore because of the threat of piracy.
The ship's owner and a contractor are named in the suits, filed in Norfolk and Alabama.
The Guardian reports one of the most remarkable stories of derring-do on the high seas in modern times has become mired in lawsuits, it has emerged.
The saga of the Maersk Alabama, which was attacked by Somali pirates three years ago, is set to be made into a Hollywood film starring Tom Hanks.
But real-life crew members are engaged in legal mutiny, with more than half now suing the vessel's owner and operator claiming their lives were endangered, the Virginia-Pilot newspaper has reported.
The 2009 incident captured the world's attention after the ship's skipper Captain Richard Phillips offered himself as hostage to the pirates in return for his crew and ship's freedom.
The brigands accepted, but the incident ended when elite US navy Seals snipers later shot three of them dead and freed Phillips.
Out of a 20-strong crew, 11 members have launched legal actions against their former corporate bosses claiming that it – via Phillips' actions – put them at risk. Read more.
A relative of one of the sailors on board the hijacked cargo ship MV Albedo is worried that a US$2.8million ransom may not have reached the pirates - Safety4Sea.
Fathima Farhana, daughter of the ship's second engineer Mohammed Bisthamy, said she had recently been contacted by her father, one of the ship's crew, who said he was being tortured.
"We do not know what is happening as we are not getting any updates," said Ms Farhana, a schoolteacher in the Maldives.
"It has suddenly become silent. My father said they have not received the amount."
She said he was exhausted from his ordeal. "My dad said he is weak and cannot even stand anymore."
The cargo vessel was hijacked in November 2010 in the Gulf of Aden after leaving Jebel Ali for Kenya. Seven Pakistanis, seven Bangladeshi, six Sri Lankans, an Indian and an Iranian are being held by Somali pirates for the Dh10.2m ransom.
Two weeks ago, after several extensions to the pirates' deadline, it was announced that the ransom had been raised.
Half of the funds were raised by philanthropists, businessmen and relatives. The Malaysian-based ship owner, Omid Khosrojerdi, had also agreed to raise at least half of the ransom.
Ahmed Chinoy, the chairman of the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee in Karachi, which represented the relatives in negotiations with the pirates, had said the 22 crewmen were expected to reach Jebel Ali early next month. Read more.
At its Annual General Meeting in Port Douglas, Queensland, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) elected a new Chairman, Mr Masamichi Morooka (Japan) - Shiptalk.
ICS is the principal international trade association for shipowners, with a membership comprising national shipowners’ associations from 36 countries representing all sectors and trades and over 80% of the world merchant fleet.
With immediate effect, Mr Morooka has been elected to succeed Spyros M Polemis (Greece) who has decided to stand down after six years in office. Being at the helm of the industry’s most influential international trade association, Mr Morooka will serve as a leading representative of the global shipping industry, overseeing its liaison with international regulators such as the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization. Read more.
Somalia Report publishes video of US/German journalist, Michael Moore, held hostage by Somali kidnappers.
Hijacks:
Unsuccessful Attacks/Robberies (All regions):
-
South China Sea - LATE Report | A Malaysia-flagged tug, Manyplus 18, towing a laden barge departed from Sasa port, Davao City at 1400 LT at slow speed heading to Thailand as port of destination at 1530 LT: Off Talicud Island, Philippines. 90 minutes after departure, the duty crew noticed 10 small boats surrounding the barge and around 30 pirates boarded the barge, stole and transferred the cargo to their waiting boats and escaped. Incident report to Philippines police. Reported (via IMB) 17 May.
-
East Africa - LATE Report | (Robbery) A robber armed with knife boarded an Isle of Man (UK) chemical tanker, Elisabeth Schulte, at berth during cargo operations at 0020 UTC: in position 04:2.9S - 039:38.7E, Berth No. 8, Mombasa Port, Kenya. The robber attacked the duty officer on deck rounds, injured him, stole his personal belongings and escaped. Master reported to port police and agent who boarded the vessel for investigation. Reported (via IMB) 24 May.
-
Mediterranean - LATE Report | (Robbery) A fishing boat was seen drop anchor to the stern of a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, Joanna A, at anchor at 0355 LT: El Dekheila Outer Anchorage, Egypt. Duty A/B remained near the stern during his watch. Later the C/O noticed two robbers armed with knives near the forecastle lowering ship stores. Seeing the robbers with the knives the crew waited until the robbers had departed before going forward to investigate. It was noticed that teh hawse pipe cover was removed and the paint store padlock was cut using a hacksaw blade. Reported (via IMB) 25 May.
-
S America (P) - Four robbers armed with knives boarded a berthed Hong Kong, China container ship, Maersk Niamey, during formal inspection by the immigration and customs dept at 2355 LT: in position 02:17.0S - 079:54.1W, Contecon Guayaquil Terminal, Ecuador. Duty bosun noticed the robbers boarding the vessel from seaward side using ropes and hooks. One of the robbers proceeded aft towards the accommodation. Bosun reported to Master and Chief Officer via walkie talkie and alarm raised. On seeing the alert crew the robber on deck ran towards the bosun waving his knife. All four robbers jumped overboard and escaped with their three accomplices waiting in the boat. Port authority informed and a coast guard boat was dispatched to search the area. Reported (via IMB) 27 May.
-
Mediterranean - Duty crew at aft mooring deck onboard a berthed Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, Falcon Trader, noticed two robbers trying to open the port life raft. He reported to D/O who raised the alarm and crew mustered. Upon seeing the alert crew, the robbers dropped the life raft into the water, jumped overboard and escaped empty handed by jumping on the pier. Crew managed to recover the life raft and brought it back onboard the ship in open position. Port control informed. Reported 30 May.
EUNAVFOR (latest) figures state 8 vessels and an estimated 235 hostages held captive (Updated 24 May). Somalia Report states 20 ships with 277 hostages and a further 25 hostages held on land bringing the number to 302 held. See Piracy Report. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) figures at 18 May are: 13 vessels and 200 seafarers held hostage.
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.
An interactive version of this situational map is available through registration of verified access to OCEANUSLive
OCEANUSLive.org permits the reproduction of this image providing source and link are published (Map ToU)
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
