More Piracy Near Somalia

[Stan]

Estonian special forces recently completed training in Germany and will be joining ships crews off Somalia by November, Estonian TV reports

Not too sure who will take the armed crew members aboard, but looks like a step in the right direction.

Estonian Public Broadcasting in English

[davidbfpo]

A report in The Daily Telegraph starts with:

Figures gathered by the London-based International Chamber of Commerce’s Commercial Crimes Services show that while the total number of attacks has declined, the numbers of crew kidnapped and ships hijacked has not. The pirates have had more success with less effort.(My emphasis).

(Finishes with)Eventually, an Indian naval officer involved in the counter-piracy mission told The Telegraph, a solution will have to involve dismantling the infrastructure of pirate gangs operating out of Somali ports—a fraught military enterprise no country wishes to become involved in.

Almost worthy of an essay question; so, Given the dilemma posed by Somali piracy (as outlined above) what should the international community do?

Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...s-hostage.html

[davidbfpo]

Paid out:

Somali pirates are reported to have received a total of $12.3m (£7.6m) in ransom money to release two ships.

They are believed to have been paid a record $9.5m (£5.8m) for Samho Dream, a South Korean oil tanker, and nearly $2.8m (£1.7m) for the Golden Blessing, a Singaporean flagged ship.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11704306

Not exactly encouraging news, except for those held captive.

[davidbfpo]

I've not posted the news that the Chandlers, two British hostages have been released this week, after a year in pirates custody; nor a passing story that the USA was considering official support to Puntland.

Being a Sunday the UK press sometimes reports odd stories and this is one:

The Government is in secret talks to send taxpayer-funded British mercenaries to war torn Somalia to confront the pirates attacking commercial shipping and behind the kidnapping of Paul and Rachel Chandler.

Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...i-pirates.html

A host of issues, let alone the practicalities and relying on the loyalty of the Somali recruits themselves.

Returning to the Chandlers and no doubt others. How do Somali pirates locate a yacht six hundred miles offshore? Yes, I know some stated the Chandlers had advertised their route, I doubt if merchant ships do. Secondly, how do the skiffs we see usually carry enough fuel for such a journey?

[davidbfpo]

My attention was drawn to this incident by an Australian think tank's email, although dependent on a USN Central Command news release:

Firstly, news has emerged that the US Navy and PLA Navy cooperated during a piracy response operation over the weekend. USS Winston Churchill and USNS Lewis and Clarke initially responded to a distress call made by MV Tai An Kou, which was being attacked by pirates in the North Arabian Sea. The PLA frigate Xuzhou then joined with the US ships and, following a handover, conducted the boarding operation. The US and Chinese ships remained in communication throughout.

Analysis: while the focus is on friction between the US and Chinese in East Asia and the South China Sea, don't miss the important steps towards cooperation and collaboration occurring further west.

Australian link, which starts on this and covers other developments:http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/...elopments.aspx

USN news release:http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/articles/2010/CMF070.html

Aside from the co-operation I noted several facts: an attack in the North Arabian Sea, 100 miles from Oman (so not Somali pirates), then who; the response times (10hrs) and the cordial handover.

Not seen this reported elsewhere, but have not searched.

Mod's Note on 6/12/10 moved four posts from a separate thread to this, the main Somali Piracy thread.

[Kevin23]

My attention was drawn to this incident by an Australian think tank's email, although dependent on a USN Central Command news release:

Australian link, which starts on this and covers other developments:http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/...elopments.aspx

USN news release:http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/articles/2010/CMF070.html

Aside from the co-operation I noted several facts: an attack in the North Arabian Sea, 100 miles from Oman (so not Somali pirates), then who; the response times (10hrs) and the cordial handover.

Not seen this reported elsewhere, but have not searched.

On who is behind the pirate attack, it could be Somali pirates as I've read it's not unheard of them attacking ships that far away from the horn of Africa. Even though in this case there is a strong chance that is indeed unlikely.

[bourbon]

Aside from the co-operation I noted several facts: an attack in the North Arabian Sea, 100 miles from Oman (so not Somali pirates), then who; the response times (10hrs) and the cordial handover.

This past year Somali pirates have begun hijacking ships 100 miles off the coast of Oman. By using motherships they have extended their range into the Indian Ocean, almost to the Maldives.

[Kevin23]

This past year Somali pirates have begun hijacking ships 100 miles off the coast of Oman. By using motherships they have extended their range into the Indian Ocean, almost to the Maldives.

Speaking of range, suspected pirates from Somalia have seized a Bangladeshi ship off the coast of Southern India, according to officials in the country of the ships origin.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11923676

[davidbfpo]

From the BBC News:

Somali pirates have freed a German-owned chemical tanker, reportedly after a $5.5m (£3.6m) ransom was paid....(which was) seized in May...

Pirates now hold 25 vessels and 587 hostages after they seized another German-owned ship on Monday...taken..about 200 miles (325km) north-east of the port of Salalah in Oman.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12086627

[davidbfpo]

The BBC report on the latest IMB report, global issue with a focus on this aspect:

Pirates took a record 1,181 hostages in 2010, despite increased patrolling of the seas, a maritime watchdog has said. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said 53 ships were hijacked worldwide - 49 of them off Somalia's coast - and eight sailors were killed.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12214905

[davidbfpo]

At last! From an unexpected partner too:

.stormed a hijacked ship off Somalia, killing eight pirates, arresting five and releasing the crew of 21 to safety.

Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...i-pirates.html

Added later, Malaysian action in the Gulf of Oman, pirates arrested:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12258442

[davidbfpo]

A well known UK retired journalist was aboard a cruise ship that was attacked, so some value in his article and then he adds a lot of familiar context, almost a litany of criticism:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...i-pirates.html

[carl]

David:

A very interesting article. Two quotes jumped out at me.

But a Ministry of Defence directive since has forbidden RN captains to confront or arrest pirates "for fear of breaching their human rights.

and

The safest ships of all are flying the Russian flag: armed guards aboard them simply blow pirate boats out of the water and leave any survivors to drown. Attacks on Russian vessels have abruptly ceased.

What more can be said?

[Stan]

Thanks David !

I really enjoyed the comments from Peter... He could in fact be our very own Council Member JMA both sharing a fondness for missile attacks

Following a ship being taken by pirates here is the sequence of events -
1) Follow ship
2) Cruise missile attack any settlement near where ever the ship anchors
3) Cruise missile attack any satellite phone call trying to arrange ransom
4) If vessel and crew not released - continue 1 to 3
5) If crew harmed obliterate all settlements with in 15 miles of where the ship is anchored - repeat doubling the radius of destruction for each offense

We've said this before in many of the Africa threads...
If we are not prepared to play by their rules then we should not be there. Even if someone finally manages to prosecute pirates that life behind bars will probably be hundreds of times better than life as a Somali.

The South Koreans have managed to both kill pirates and take any survivors home for prosecution !

[JMA]

Thanks David !

I really enjoyed the comments from Peter... He could in fact be our very own Council Member JMA both sharing a fondness for missile attacks

Well Stan who ever that Peter is his plan would work. This Somali based piracy would be finished in a week. But which country has the balls to do that? Russia maybe, any number of African countries if they had the means, certainly.

It would be a step in the right direction to accept that what Peter says would wrap it all up very quickly and with the acceptance that what is being attempted currently is not dealing with the core and home base of the problem.

We've said this before in many of the Africa threads...
If we are not prepared to play by their rules then we should not be there.

Agree fully with that. If you can't be there then use proxies.

Even if someone finally manages to prosecute pirates that life behind bars will probably be hundreds of times better than life as a Somali.

Arrest them? Is there some Law of the Sea fine print which demands that they be arrested? What happens if they fire a shot?

[carl]

Recently, the South Korean, Malaysian and Indian navies have dealt with pirates decisively, TIA decisively. The Indians have acted in the last few days. All those navies are non-European. I think that interesting.

[Stan]

Agree fully with that. If you can't be there then use proxies.

Hey JMA,
I'm of the same opinion. The State Department already hashes out their deeds to contractors, so what would be the big deal this time around ? Although, "lowest bidder to a government contract" would probably mean no cruise missiles

Arrest them? Is there some Law of the Sea fine print which demands that they be arrested? What happens if they fire a shot?

Hmmm, just what is the fine print in the Law of the Sea anyway ? Is there such a thing ?

[davidbfpo]

For reasons that elude me, from a landlubbers armchair, the reported mother ships for the pirates have escaped attention. So congratulations to the Danish warship:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12442330

Note the impressive map on the range of attacks.

[Bill Moore]

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/storie...02-16-10-32-49

Jacqueline Smith, president of the Norwegian Seafarers Union, described Stolt-Nielsen's views as "barbaric" and said killing pirates could endanger the 700 seafarers now held as hostages in Somalia

another view is if we did follow the good captain's advice we may not have 700 seafarers held hostage in Somalia, and of course Jacqueline didn't offer any other suggestions for suppressing this problem.

[carl]

Here is another story about what the Norwegian said.

http://www.marinelog.com/index.php?o...ews&Itemid=107

There is a Norwegian movie that I like called The Last Lieutenant. In it the protaganist (sic), a beached Norwegian merchant sea captain is making a bomb to blow up Germans. One of the other characters asked him where he learned to do that and he replied that this is what they used on pirates off the coast of west Africa. Glad to see things don't change much.

Viva Norway.