Latest piracy news (May 6, 2011) (Update)
(BRUSSELS2) 23 ships and at least 518 people are held hostage by Somali pirates, according to the HQ of the European anti-piracy operation (Atalanta); this does not include dhows and other Yemeni, Pakistani or local fishing boats. According to the NGO Ecoterra, which takes these ships into account, the pirates hold 47 ships and 739 hostages.
succession within the Eunavfor Atalanta operation. The Finnish ship pohjanmaa, Cheetah, the Spanish frigate Canary Islands, go away. And the Spanish frigate Santa Maria arrived (among others). In all there are currently six ships including the Vasco Da Gama (Portugal), the Nivose (France), the Niedersachsen (Germany), and 4 planes (1 Spanish P3 Orion and 1 German, 2 Luxembourg Merlin III).
Thursday (May 5) Suspect whaler destroyed near Somalia
A whaler with 4 men on board is intercepted 10 miles off the Somali coast by the Dutch frigate HNLMS Trump who commands the NATO mission, Ocean Shield. The whaler was destroyed and the 4 suspects released near the coast, after interrogation. It was a Spanish patrol plane from Eunavfor Atalanta which had spotted the suspicious boat the day before, containing a skiff and fourteen barrels of gasoline. It could serve as a mother ship or rather as a logistics ship for pirate teams already deployed offshore.
Tue (May 3) Alakrana kidnappers sentenced to 25 years in prison
439 years in prison is the total sentence inflicted by theNational Court Spain to the two Alakrana pirates, Abdu Willy and Raageggesey Adji Haman, The two pirates were found guilty of conspiracy, illegal detention, robbery and 36 other crimes against the integrity of persons, the Spanish press tells us . Under national law, the two Somalis will serve a maximum sentence of 25 years. They were also ordered to pay each crew member the sum of 2500 euros for stolen property and the sum of 100.000 euros for non-pecuniary damage. The Alakrana was caught on October 2, 2009 while fishing about 120 nautical miles off the Somali coast. The text of the judgment specifies that a ransom was indeed paid by the Spanish authorities of less than half of the sum demanded by the pirates (10 million euros) for the release.
Tue (May 3) Pakistani dhow used as mother ship released
This is the American ship USS Bainbridge who is carrying out the operation. The approach of Al Saadi takes place under cover of night. And at first light, the boarding forces stormed aboard RHIBs protected by an SH-60B helicopter from 48 Light Squadron, according to the US Navy and Virginia Pilot. At the sight of the ship, the pirates surrender without violence. All 15 crew members were released. 7 suspects apprehended. On board, weapons (seven AK47s, 2 RPGs) and several ammunition as well as grappling hooks. According to the ship's captain, they were captured more than six months ago and were serving as a mother ship. They have thus participated in at least three attacks carried out by different pirate groups. Sailors taken care of by the US Navy, particularly at the medical level, and refueled, before returning to sea. The pirate suspects were released to Somalia.
Sun (May 1) The Mv Sinar Kudus is free
Captured on March 16 by pirates while sailing towards Suez from Singapore, the MV SINAR KUDUS was released by the pirates, confirmed the European anti-piracy HQ Atalanta. This Indonesian ship was picked up and taken to Oman, escorted by the Indonesian Navy.
Sun (May 1) Danes release 15 suspects after month in detention
The Danish frigate Esbern Snare which had been holding 15 suspects on board for a month after the action against an Iranian fishing boat as part of Operation Ocean Shield (NATO), has released them, announces the national operation HQ. The Special Prosecutor for International Crimes, after reviewing the case, finds that there was " no grounds to prosecute under Danish law or sufficient evidence. The suspects are laid ashore. We can specify that if the Danish frigates have been very active for 3 years in the Gulf of Aden, they systematically release apprehended pirates, the Danish courts refusing to take up cases of piracy. Denmark having a defense opt-out cannot participate in EU defense operations, and although it is an EU member, cannot benefit from "pirate transfer" agreements either. signed by the 27, as part of Operation Atalanta.
Sat (April 30) A ship escapes an attack near Karachi (Pakistan)
According to the Iranian news agency FNA, an Iranian cargo ship narrowly escaped a pirate attack in the Arabian Sea, not far from the Pakistani coast. The Zarsan was indeed attacked by two pirate skiffs 30 nautical miles from the Pakistani port of Karachi. It was the intervention of the Iranian 13th fleet, deployed since March 17 to fight against piracy, which caused the attack to fail. Iran has participated in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 after the capture of the Iranian ship MV Delight. But it is the only country not to be linked to the multinational system "Mercury".
Sat (April 30) The Mv Gemini captured by pirates
This Singapore vessel carrying 28.000 t of palm oil was captured around 7 am, very south of the Indian Ocean, off the Kenyan or Tanzanian coasts (according to information). It includes a crew of 25 sailors (13 Indonesians, 5 Chinese, 4 South Koreans - including the captain - and 3 Burmese). Diverted from his destination (Mombasa), he then made his way to Somalia.
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