More Piracy Near Somalia

[davidbfpo]

I seem to recall posting on how the various navies would co-operate dispite politics and the state of diplomatic relations; this helps to explain: http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htt.../20090923.aspx

davidbfpo

[Tom Odom]

Target identification works both ways

Somali Pirates Mistake French Military Vessel for Commercial ShipPARIS — Somali pirates in two skiffs fired on a French navy vessel early Wednesday after apparently mistaking it for a commercial boat, the French military said. The French ship gave chase and captured five suspected pirates.

No one was wounded by the volleys from the Kalashnikov rifles directed at La Somme, a 3,800-ton refueling ship, said Rear Admiral Christophe Prazuck, a military spokesman.

[davidbfpo]

Tom,

In March 2009 pirates fired on a German naval supply vessel:

Somali pirates by mistake attack a German Navy supply vessel, Germans fire back and chase ensues: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090330/...eXORo9.P9vaA8F

Now a French naval vessel. Makes one wonder why pirates cannot distinguish between a warship (presumably in grey) and merchant ships.

davidbfpo

[davidbfpo]

Clearly the Somali pirates have not gone away and here are just a few recent reports:

UK yachting couple seized as RN auxiliary watches:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-Chandler.html

Gunmen kill Somalia pirate judge:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8356228.stm

Somali pirates have attacked an oil tanker some 1,000 nautical miles (1,850km) off the coast, the EU's anti-piracy mission says:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8350850.stm

davidbfpo

[davidbfpo]

Somali pirates have released a Spanish fishing boat and its crew after holding it for six weeks, Spain's prime minister has confirmed. The pirates earlier told reporters they were leaving the ship after being promised a ransom of $3.5m (£2.1m). There was no immediate government confirmation of money having been paid.

The bad news:

More than 10 ships and 200 hostages are currently being held by pirates operating in waters off Somalia.

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8364530.stm

[davidbfpo]

On SWJ Blog today a startling report that all is not well: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...rmen-in-yemen/

One third of the piracy in the world takes place in the gulf, a roughly 200-mile wide strip of water that separates Yemen from Somalia. ...despite the display of military might, piracy in the area doubled in 2009, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). One of the world's busiest sea lanes, more than 25,000 merchant ships pass through the Gulf of Aden every year. Between January and September this year, there were 100 attempted and actual pirate attacks. There were half as many during the same period last year. In 2005, there were eight.

[davidbfpo]

Two updates: The Dutch navy has arrested 13 Somali pirates who attempted to hijack a cargo ship south of Oman, 275 km offshore (150 miles); http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8392669.stm (3/12/09)

The Greek-owned Maran Centaurus, a 300k oil tanker (full) was about 1,300km (800 miles) off Somalia when it was hijacked on Sunday, said the EU Naval task force (Navfor); http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8385845.stm (30/11/09)

As Somalia sinks, with a steady flow of refugees to Yemen, only the robber-pirates, fanatics and the unlucky will be left.