A German warship stopped and boarded a suspicious group of two small boats
Naval patrols have prevented attacks on shipping by Somali pirates in the last week.
On 28 September, a German warship stopped and boarded a suspicious group of two small boats, a whaler and skiff 70 nautical miles off Mogadishu, Somalia. The crew threw weapons and other items overboard. The skiff and whaler were destroyed to prevent their potential use for piracy, and the crew were released close to the Somali shore.
On the following day, the same warship located and destroyed a suspicious whaler 100 nautical miles south west of Mogadishu. The whaler was loaded with piracy equipment but no crew were seen on board.
The Indian navy also thwarted potential hijacks by Somali pirates of two cargo ships, Fairchem Bronco and Conqueror, in the Gulf of Aden in separate incidents on 20 and 24 September. A naval patrol vessel escorting the ships warned pirates in approaching high-speed skiffs to stay clear. The patrol vessel sent marine commandos to investigate the skiffs, where they found pirates and recovered arms and ammunition.
In a further incident, pirates boarded the Turkish-owned Cihan in the Red Sea over the weekend of 24/25 September but abandoned the vessel after the crew hid in the secure citadel.
There are concerns that Somali piracy will be on the increase again as the monsoon season draws to a close.
Figures from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) for 27 September show the current number of those held captive by Somali pirates to be about 15 vessels and 277 hostages. Hostages continue to include seven Indian seafarers from the Asphalt Venture still held captive despite the payment of a ransom in April.
Other recent incidents reported to the IMB’s worldwide Piracy Reporting Centre include:
- Armed pirates in a skiff approached a chemical tanker 500 nautical miles east of Socotra, Yemen on 29 September. The ship took evasive manoeuvres and the onboard armed security team fired warning shots. The pirates returned fire before abandoning their attack.
- Ten to 12 robbers armed with guns and knives boarded a cargo ship anchored at Conakry, Guinea on 29 September and assaulted and injured crewmembers. They stole crew and ship’s cash and property.
- Four pirates chased, fired on and attempted to board a chemical tanker in the Red Sea on 28 September, but abandoned their attack after the vessel took evasive measures.
- A skiff with armed pirates approached a containership in the Red Sea on 28 September. The alarm was raised, the onboard armed team alerted and the crew retreated into the citadel. The armed team fired warning shots and the skiff moved away.
- Pirates chased and fired on a bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden on 24 September. The alarm was raised and the crew retreated to a safe area. The pirates moved away after an onboard guard fired warning shots.
- Four boats approached a chemical tanker anchored at Lome, Togo on 24 September, with two securing themselves to the rudder. The Togo Navy was informed and detained the four boats.
- Three boats approached a chemical tanker anchored at Lome, Togo on 22 September. The Togo Navy was informed and detained two boats; the third escaped.
All attacks and suspicious sightings should be reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Tel: +603 2031 0014 (24 hours), Email: [email protected]
Source: ITF
