No Christmas truce for pirates
(updated 30 Dec, 1 and 2 January) Somali pirates have not remained inactive at the end of the year in the Indian Ocean: 5 ships have been caught and 1 freed since Christmas. According to the European anti-piracy headquarters of the Eunavfor Atalanta operation, there are today 28 ships and 654 hostages held by Somali pirates. According to the NGO Ecoterra, which also counts ships in the region (uninsured), there are 44 foreign ships and more than 771 hostages in the hands of Somali pirates.
• The Mv Thor Nexus was hacked, on Christmas Day, in the early hours of the morning about 450 miles North East of the island of Socotra, in the Indian Ocean. Thai vessel of 20.375 tons, it was on its way to Bangladesh from Jebel Ali (United Arab Emirates). It has a crew of 27 men on board, all Thais.
• The Mv Ems River was hijacked in the early hours of December 27, about 175 nautical miles northeast of Salalah (Oman). german freighter 5.200 tons, flying the flag of Antigua and Barbud, she was on her way to San Nicolas (Greece) coming from Jebel Ali (United Arab Emirates). It has a crew of 8 sailors (1 Russian , 7 Filipinos) and is carrying a cargo of oil.
• The Mv Marida Marguerite was released on December 28 at 13:30 p.m. GMT. The Mv Marida Marguerite is a German ship, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, had been hijacked on the morning of May 8, 120 miles south of Salalah, Oman. It has a crew of 22 sailors (19 Indians, 1 Ukrainian and 2 Bangali).
• The Thai ship FV Shiuh Fu #1 a was attacked by pirates 120 miles northeast of Madagascar on Christmas morning. No news of the ship has been obtained since, the European anti-piracy HQ was told on December 30. But he "there are strong indications that the ship was hijacked. The ship was chased by a skiff (probably a pirate). And all communications were cut off afterwards". This fishing vessel has a crew of 26 sailors (Taiwanese, Chinese and Vietnamese).
• A Mozambican fishing vessel, the Vega 5, was captured by pirates on December 31, between Mozambique and Madagascar, 200 miles southwest of the island of Comoros. This vessel had been reported missing by its owner. An attack by a pirate skiff had taken place. And no answer had been obtained from the ship. The European anti-piracy HQ has confirmed his capture. It has a crew of 14 sailors.
• An Algerian bulk carrier, the Mv Blida, was captured on the afternoon of January 1, about 150 miles southeast of the port of Salalah (Oman). It was destined for Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and has a crew of 27 sailors (Algerians, Ukrainians, Filipinos). The ship was registered at MSCHOA, the European assistance center for ships transiting the Indian Ocean.
