Latest piracy news (October 15, 2011). The attacks continue
(BRUSSELS2)
Two sailors from the MV Blida freed by their captors
On October 12, Somali pirates released two sailors from the MV Blida, an Algerian ship captured almost a year ago. They are a Ukrainian and an Algerian, released for "humanitarian reasons". They would have suffered from heart trouble.
Disappearance of a ship used as a mother ship
Le "MV Socotra 1", a Yemeni ship in the hands of pirates and used as a mother ship, is said to have disappeared. According to the NGO Ecoterra reporting testimonies from Somalis, the ship was near the Seychelles when it came under fire from an unidentified warship. Following the exchange of fire, it would have sank. Ecoterra indicates that no rescue attempt was made. And only a few men could have escaped unscathed; 39 people (figure not confirmed) would have died in this way.
Whaler Destroyed, 4 Suspects Arrested Off Tanzania... Then Released
A suspect whaler was seized on October 7 by the German frigate FGS Cologne which is part of the EU anti-piracy operation Atalanta, about 200 miles east of Tanzania. The suspect vessel had previously been located by the Norwegian maritime patrol aircraft (of the NATO mission, "Ocean Shield"). And when the Köln relocated it, the photos clearly showed it was the same whaler, with a skiff in tow and 4 people on board. The team of German soldiers boarded the whaler, seized the equipment used for piracy and destroyed the ship. The 4 suspects were arrested and then released ashore in Somalia.
The M/V Dover released
The Greek Ship, MV Dover, flying the Panamanian flag was released on September 30 after payment of a ransom confirms the European anti-piracy HQ EUnavfor Atalanta. The crew of 23 sailors (3 Romanians, 1 Russian and 19 Filipinos) and the ship arrived safely at the port of Salalah in Oman on October 3. It had been hacked on February 28, 260 miles northeast of Salalah in the Arabian Sea while on its way from Port Quasim (Pakistan) to Saleef (Yemen).
Danish ship escapes attack in Arabian Sea
Somali pirates on Thursday (September 29) attacked a Danish tanker, the Torm Republican, in the southern part of the Arabian Sea. Shots were exchanged between the pirates and the private (British) guards on board the ship. The pirates gave up the attack. None of the 22 crew members (Indians) were injured. We do not know the fate of the pirates.
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