Tag: maritime piracy

A two day operation in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea After a two day hunt in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea, NATO's flagship HNLMS Evertsen boarded a pirated dhow on June 29 and released seven hijacked Indian and Bangladeshi crew members. The Omani flagged dhow Nebarkad had been hijacked on 20th June off the coast of Oman, and was used by the pirates to attack merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea.The two day operation was the conclusion of a longer period in which a group of suspected pirates used dhows to conduct attacks on merchant vessels throughout the Arabian Sea. On 27th June an alarm call came in from the MV Namrun a Maltese flagged bulk carrier. The captain stated that an unknown dhow had attempted to attack it and shots were fired.After swift consultation with the other maritime forces, including the EU, in the operating area the commander of NATO's Task Force, Commodore Ben Bekkering, dispatched the Evertsen.The warship covered almost 300 nautical miles in 10 hours to the area north-east of Socotra. Although known positions seemed to indicate the dhow was heading south toward for Somalia, the bad weather caused by strong monsoon winds ...

The six pirates chased the tanker and shot at it, slightly damaging the vessel An international watchdog says pirates have attacked an oil tanker off Nigeria but failed to board it or harm its crew.The attack occurred early yesterday in the Gulf of Guinea off western Africa, according to the London's-based International Maritime Bureau.The six pirates chased the tanker and shot at it, slightly damaging the vessel. The watchdog's brief statement did not name the tanker or say where it is based or where it was traveling.Piracy off Nigeria's oil-rich delta has escalated from low-level armed robberies to hijackings and cargo thefts. Some believe militants involved in fighting in Nigeria's southern delta now take part in the piracy. Source: AP

Combating piracy in neighbouring regions remains one of the major challenges A senior shipping industry official has called on the international community to join hands together to contain maritime piracy.Addressing the Counter Piracy Conference currently underway in Dubai, Chief Executive Officer of ADNATCO- NGSCO and President of the United Arab Emirates Ship-Owners Association Ali Obaid Al-Yabhouni stressed that combating piracy in neighbouring regions remains one of the major challenges facing the international community."This issue is of great concern to members of the UAE Shipping Association, which has a membership of more than 30 companies or organisations", he said.More than a third of our members are either ship-owners or ship operators. Including Abu Dhabi National Tanker Company and National Gas Shipping Company, (ADNATCO '&' NGSCO), which together form the shipping arm of ADNOC, operating the newest and fastest growing fleet in the region, noted Al-Yabhouni.It goes without saying that shipping is of enormous strategic importance to the entire Arabian Peninsula. Almost all the region's oil and gas exports are transported by ships to global markets, and the vast majority of our imports, including food, are also brought in by sea. Rail links are almost non-existent and the land transportation corridor connecting ...

Top officials, however, say new rules needed to guide security trend The adoption of private armed security forces on ships traversing the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden shipping corridor has led to a serious drop in piracy incidents in 2012, delegates heard on Wednesdayday at the second international piracy conference in Dubai.Mike Penning, Minister of Shipping for the Department of Transport in the UK, said the adoption of more self-defensive measures by private shipping companies to fend off pirate attacks is certainly helping to stem the onslaught of marauding pirates.Statistics by EU Naval Force for the first six months of 2012 show 30 recorded piracy incidents off Somalia as compared to 176 incidents reported last year."There are different reasons. The international military community has really gotten its act together. The weather has played its part this year. We all know about the downtime season. But no ship with an armed guard have been attacked since we changed the rules," Penning told Gulf News yesterday in Dubai.Efforts are now underway, he said, through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and partners to establish a set list of international protocols by which private armed guards aboard commercial shipping vessels would adhere.The establishment of ground ...

He also points out that the easiest way to counter piracy is to stop ransom The chief of Somalia's anti-piracy task force has thanked the UAE government for contributing to a programme that is helping the war-ravaged African country turn the tide in the battle against pirates.In an interview with Khaleej Times, Dr Muhyadin Ali Yosif said funds from the UAE have helped get the Somalia Maritime Security Forces (SMSF) off the ground."Funds from the previous year were managed to develop the capacity building of the Somali Maritime Security Forces," said Yosif. "This team aims to fight pirates from their home base within Somalia. And with their development through international fund-raising strategies, the force will have new systems and logistics that could easily lead them to the source of these pirates and capture them before launch."Yosif also highlighted the success of inland counter piracy. By detecting informants on land, the force is able to quickly apprehend pirates out at sea. "We've recently discovered that many undercover members, linked to the pirates, send information about the ships' destinations, timing, crew and cargo to the pirates. However, we are developing a new system that could possibly detect such information and the source, ...

To finance Somalia's navy and army A million-dollar grant from the Government will go to financing Somalia's navy and army.The UAE is the first to dedicate funds to Somalia armament, according to Faris Mohammed Al Mazroui, assistant to the Foreign Minster for Security and Military Affairs."This initiative started by the UAE is expected to be developed with other countries. Our objective is to go for US$5million and there are a lot of nations who showed interest," he said.The $5m will be used primarily to develop a national guard in Somalia, Mr Al Mazroui explained."We need to set up a national guard base, equip them and train them, as well as provide boats."With the initial million, he added, Somalia will be able to set up a coastguard through the United Nations."We will put the funds under the UN system, which will be worked out from now until September finding the right window and dimension to utilise it," he said.According to the latest figures, 185 seafarers and 13 ships are currently held captive by Somali pirates."These are sailors from around the world. Some of these ships belong to UAE-based companies, although none is UAE flagged," he said.The Somali deputy prime minister and ...

As UAE Hosts 2nd Counter-Piracy Summit HH Sheikh Abdullah calls for inclusive, long term, sustainable solutions to eradicate maritime piracy, in a speech delivered by HE Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. HE Sultan Bin Sulayem highlights the role of Public Private Partnerships.Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 26, 2012:- The human and economic cost of maritimepiracy and exploring ways to enhance the effectiveness of a regional response are the focus of the 2nd high-level, public-private UAE Counter-Piracy Conference, co-convened by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and global marine terminal operator DP World, that begins tomorrow (June 26).His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, will host guests at the beginning of this two day high-level conference, being attended by more than 400 delegates including Foreign Ministers, the United Nations' International Maritime Organisation, industry leaders, welfare organisations and academic experts. The Conference Keynote Address will be given by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.Prominent speakers at the event from the government sector include HE Reem Al Hashemy, Minister of State, UAE, HE Hussein Arab Isse, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, ...

Three shots from the pirates hit the ship Pirates have attacked an MOL LNG carrier off the coast of Oman.Pirates fired guns and rocket propelled grenades at the 126,300-cbm LNG Aries (built 1977) close to of Masirah Island yesterday.According to the IMB, who did not identify the vessel, three shots from the pirates hit the ship.The incident is sure to raise concerns in the LNG sector which jealously guards its strong safety record.Accounts of the incident suggest five or six pirates in the skiff moved alongside the vessel which was sailing in winds of up to force seven.Rifle shots were then directed at this ship. However, it is unclear if there was any damage with an inspection not possible until weather conditions improve.It is understood there were no armed guards on board the LNG Aries, which was loaded with a cargo bound for Suez. The crew are said to be shaken but unharmed.Anti-piracy sources say it is equipped with razor wire and, perhaps unusually for a unit of its age, also has a citadel.The LNG Aries attack comes just a month after the ship secured a two-year extension to its charter contract with Qatargas.Source: Intermanager

Somalia can eliminate piracy in a year if they are given the funds they need Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, president of Somalia's transitional federal government, yesterday called on the international community to spend money arming his navy."These pirates do not live at sea; they live in Somalia. Who better to battle them than the people of the land," he told a gathering of 400 delegates at the second UAE Counter-Piracy Conference in Dubai."We are completely ready to combat this problem. Despite our limited funds we are ready to train and set up a marine force that would attack and dispel all pirate activities."Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, agreed that a regionally led solution was vital. He said the UAE would donate Dh3.67 million to finding a home-grown solution."The UAE is happy to announce a contribution of US$1million to maritime forces in Somalia to enhance counter-piracy measures and help bring peace," he said. "This conference is a clear message that regional partners will always work together to achieve solutions."According to the European Union Naval Force, which provides security to vessels sailing in affected waters, there are more than 200 seafarers being held hostage by Somali pirates.So far ...

Piracy has wreaked havoc on shipping industry, say specialist energy attorneys Maritime piracy poses a significant threat to the feasibility of east Africa's natural gas reserves, says Luke Havemann, founding director of specialist energy attorneys, Havemann Inc.Mr Havemann was speaking at the Natural Gas Southern Africa Conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday."Maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia has been on the increase since 2008 and has wreaked havoc on the shipping industry," he said."It (piracy) has resulted in significant increases in associated costs as ships either take a longer route to avoid this area, or race through this area at high speeds, which is heavy on fuel."Insurance premiums have skyrocketed and shipping companies now hire specialist security services to accompany ships," Mr Havemann said.Source: Business Line