54 hostages and 2 ships in the hands of the pirates
(BRUSSELS2) According to European sources, questioned by B2, after the release of the six sailors from the MV, the Somali pirates still hold 2 merchant ships (MV Albedo and FV Naham) and 54 hostages. Here is the list - supplemented with information from the B2 database:
- 4 of the Thai fishing vessel "FV Prantalay 12",captured in April 2010! Used as a mother ship by pirates, this ship was sunk during a decisive action carried out in the spring of 2011 by the NATO fleet against several mother ships. The other two "Prantalay" ships captured at the same time had been released by the Indian Navy shortly before. Read : The offensive against the pirate motherships continues (Updated 2)
- 7 Tanker Indians Norwegian MT Asphalt Venture, captured on September 28, 2010 off Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). The ship and 8 Indian sailors were released against payment of a ransom of approximately $3,5 million in April 2011. The pirates refused to release the entire crew. Read : MV Asphalt Venture captured by pirates near Tanzania
- 15 sailors (7 Bangali, 6 Sri Lankan, 1 Indian, 1 Iranian) from the Iranian vessel flying the Malaysian flag "MV Albedo" captured on November 28, 2010. 7 Pakistani sailors were released in August 2012 against payment of a ransom of $1,1 million, collected from the population. 1 Indian sailor died during the capture of the ship. Read : A Malaysian ship captured by pirates
- 28 sailors (Chinese and Taiwanese, Indonesians, Filipinos, Vietnamese), of the Thai ship flying the flag of Oman, FV Naham 3, captured on March 26, 2012. One of the sailors (Taiwanese) died in captivity according to Somalia Report.
NB: These figures do not normally include local sailors (Yemenites...) "requisitioned" or taken hostage. But this number of mother ships has also decreased, the multinational anti-piracy forces (Eunavfor, NATO, CTF) as well as the Indian navy having endeavored to destroy or pursue them in a fairly systematic way (one of the most effective techniques used against hackers).