Tag: maritime piracy

Piracy activity was low During the reporting period (21-28 Apr 2011) overall piracy activity was low. There were two attacks in the Somali Basin, one approach each in the southern Red Sea, and the Somali Basin.As a result of the successful disruption of one pirate mother ship dhow in the Arabian Sea, it is now assessed that there are probably no PAGs currently deployed in that region.However, based on the activities in the south, it is assessed that at least one dhow and another unknown PAG is operational in the southern Somali Basin east of the Seychelles. Gulf of Aden/Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) Pirate activities werelimited to one approach in the southern Red Sea during the last week, although we continue to assess that the IRTC is not pirate free. The judgment that pirate skiffs may blend into the local traffic and commence an attack at any time without any warning remains valid. Arabian Sea/Greater Somali Basin Although reduced to two attacks and one approach, the overall threat assessment for this area remains high. The current assessment is that there may no longer be any dhow PAGs active in the Arabian Sea. This situation could change rapidly, however, and ...

Ongoing processes Indonesia and Singapore are working together to free the MV Gemini, a vessel operated by Singapore-based Glory Ship Management, which was seized by Somalian pirates on Saturday while on its way to Kenya from Malaysia.We are cooperating with the Singaporean government so our sailors will be treated well, given protection and freed soon, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters as quoted by news portal Detik.com.Marty refused to explain in detail how the two countries are cooperating.There are ongoing processes and it is not a simple matter, he said.Glory Ship Management said in a statement on Sunday that pirates were believed to have seized the Singapore-registered MT Gemini and its more than 28,000 tons of crude palm oil.The ship had 25 crew members on board, including of 13 Indonesians, five Chinese, four South Koreans and three Myanmar citizens.Source: Jakarda Globe

Pirates used two skiffs A Singaporean chemical tanker has survived a holiday brush with pirates off Somalia.Shots were fired at the 33,374-dwt Atlantia on Easter Sunday as a gang looked to take control of the ship, TradeWinds has learned.Pirates used two skiffs to launch the attack which occurred half way between Somali and Madagascar, sources say.The vessel, owned by Glory Shipmanagement of Singapore, did not have armed guards on board but was able to survive the hit.It is not known how many crew members were on board the tanker or whether it was damaged during the incident.Source: Tradewinds

26 April 2011 update EU Navfor has issued a press release concerning the estimated total number of hostages held and the total number of vessels under pirate control.To view the press release please click hereSource: EU NAVFOR

25 personnel on board On 30 April, the product tanker MV GEMINI was pirated approximately 180 NM East of Malindi, Kenya.The 20,989 tonne, Singaporian flagged and owned vessel was on its way to Mombasa (Kenya) from Kuala Tanjung (Malaysia) when it was attacked.The MV GEMINI has a crew of 25 (4 Korean, 13 Indonesians, 3 Mayanmar, 5 Chinese). There is no further information about the crew at present.The MV GEMINI was registered with MSC(HOA) and was reporting to UKMTO.EUNAVFOR are continuing to monitor the situation.Source: EU NAVFOR

Ship is now sailing to a safe port On the 23rd April, the bulk carrier MV RENUAR was released from pirate control after 133 days in captivity.The Liberian owned, Panamanian flagged vessel and her crew of 24 Filipinos had been pirated on 11th December 2010, 550 nautical miles off the coast of India. She was on route to Fujairah (UAE) from Port Louis (Mauritius), when she was attacked.The ship is now sailing to a safe port.Source: EU NAVFOR

Carrying 24 crew members Somali pirates on Saturday released a Panama-flagged vessel carrying two dozen Filipino crew members, the Filipino government confirmed on Tuesday.The MV Renuar, a Panama-flagged and Liberian-owned bulk cargo vessel, was hijacked on December 11, 2010, about 1,050 nautical miles (1,944 kilometers) east of the Somali coastal village of Eyl, or about 550 nautical miles (1,018 kilometers) from the coast of India.The vessel was en-route to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates from Port Louis in Mauritius when it was taken over by a group of Somali pirates, who have together hijacked hundreds of vessels in recent years."The attack was launched from two attack skiffs, supported by a mother ship, with pirates firing small arms and rocket propelled grenades at the merchant vessel," EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) spokesman Per Klingvall said in December. "Since the attack, the pirates have confirmed that they have control of the ship which is now heading West towards the Somali Coast."The crew of 24, all whom are Filipino, had tried to evade the pirate attack for a while, but failed. Eventually, after several attempts, the pirates were able to board the vessel and take over the ship.A statement from the Department of ...

Close to zero incident level Four Southeast Asian nations jointly patrolling the Malacca Straits have achieved "close to zero incident level" in piracy, but concerns about terrorism and robbery at sea persist, a top military official has said.Malaysian Defence Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin said the Straits of Malacca last year achieved a "close to zero incident level" due to the collaboration among the countries which formed the Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP) - Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand."The four countries have been working closely in ensuring the security of the straits," he said, adding that this would be the fifth year since the establishment of the MSP.Azizan said the number of sea robbery cases had seen a dramatic reduction - from 38 in 2004 to only nine in 2006.He added that the 2010 International Maritime Bureau Piracy Report showed that the threats in the straits was now close to the zero incident level.However, he said, the emergence of activities such as terrorism and robbery at sea was a growing concern that needed to be addressed, The Star reported Thursday.He said research showed that 80 percent of oil and gas imports from East Asia and 30 percent of global ...

State of lawlessness The worldwide shipping industry as well as the ITF and unions have roundly condemned the latest development in the Indian Ocean piracy crisis. The incident involves the ordeal of the Indian crew of a merchant ship, who are being held by pirates despite payment of a ransom.The 15 crewmembers of the tanker Asphalt Venture were held following the hijack by Somali pirates on 28 September. After a ransom was paid, the ship was released on 15 April. However, six officers and one rating were forced to accompany the pirates ashore, in spite of dialogue with the owners during which it was agreed that all hostages would be released.It has been suggested that pirates in Harardhere in Somalia decided not to honour the agreement in retaliation for the recent arrest of Somali pirates by the Indian navy.In a statement released on 18 April, shipping industry bodies, the ITF and its affiliates the National Union of Seafarers of India and the Maritime Union of India said: "This is a fundamental change to previous practice and moves the issue from being just between the ship owner and the pirates to being between the pirates and a government. It is a ...

Under pirate control for 199 days The general cargo ship MV ASPHALT VENTURE was released from pirate control on 15th April 2011. She had been under pirate control for 199 days.The Panama flagged vessel, had been pirated on 28 September 2010 approximately 100 nautical miles South-East of DAR ES SALAAM in the Somali Basin, the vessel was on route to Durban when it was attacked.She is on route to a safe port.Source: EU NAVFOR