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Piracy attacks continue but action steps up
5 December 2008
The Gulf of Aden continues to be a high risk zone for shipping, but action has stepped up with renewal of the UN Security Council resolution 1846 (2008) authorising naval interception against pirate attacks, and extension of the danger zone in which seafarers receive double pay.
The latest incidents in the region include:
- The hijack on 28 November of a Singapore-managed, Liberia-flagged, chemical/oil tanker, MT Biscaglia, with a crew of 25 Indians and two Bangladeshis. Although there were three British security personnel on board, these men apparently jumped overboard during the attack by five Somali pirates and were later rescued by a German navy helicopter. The security personnel were unarmed.
- The crew of a V Ships vessel who witnessed the Biscaglia hijack refused to sail the ship further and it remained stranded in the Gulf of Aden awaiting a secure escort.
- On 30 November, Somali pirates opened fire on a cruise ship, the Nautica, carrying 684 passengers. The vessel, which was within the Maritime Safety Protection Area, evaded capture with no injuries.
- A suspected coordinated attack by up to 20 pirate vessels on five ships in the Gulf of Aden on 2 December was thwarted. The Italian Navy was said to have pressed all five ships to deploy their water hoses as a preventative measure. The ships involved were believed to have been the Hong Kong chemical tanker Overseas Hercules, the lumber carrier Iran Esteghlal, the German-owned, Liberia-flagged tanker Hamburg Star, the German-owned, Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Alexander Sibum, and the Singaporean Sea Queen.
Meanwhile, pirates released the Yemeni cargo ship Adina – captured a month ago – without receiving a ransom, an official from the semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland has said. All eight crew were reported to be well.
About 40 ships have been hijacked by Somali pirates this year, with around 15 ships and up to 300 crew still held for ransom.
The continuing threat of piracy is leading some shipowners to consider reflagging their vessels from flag of convenience countries to those whose navies are patrolling the Gulf of Aden to protect their national shipping.
All attacks and suspicious sightings should be reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Tel: +603 2031 0014 (24 hours), Email: imbkl@icc-ccs.org
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