Latest piracy news (April 17, 2011) (Update)

(BRUSSELS2) The offensive action of the multinational forces continues resulting in a resumption of force or the destruction of the pirate mother ships or dhows that could be used as mother ships. This week, at least three dhows have been taken over.

A summit to seek a common approach against piracy... and funding
A major meeting is being held Monday and Tuesday in Dubai, bringing together representatives of the maritime industry and governments from 50 countries, at the invitation of the United Arab Emirates and the maritime operator DP World. Objective of this conference called "Global Challenge, Regional Responses: Forging A Common Approach to Maritime Piracy": to find short-term security, economic and longer-term development solutions. On the sidelines of the conference, the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations are meeting with the various partners of the Trust fund, to raise funds, public and private, intended to set up the various projects authorized by the recent UN resolution: prisons in Somalia, Somali jurisdiction to try pirates, fishing development projects… See the site.

Friday (April 15) Despite the ransom, part of the crew is not released.

L'Asphalt adventure, a Norwegian ship captured on September 28, 2010, was released for a ransom of $3,5 million. But not the whole crew! Of the 15 Indian sailors who formed the crew, only 8 are free. 7 others are held hostage by the pirates. This is the first time that such a division of the crew has been done after the delivery of the ransom. One can think of reprisals against the action, particularly offensive, of the Indian navy. This has not only arrested many pirates (120 in recent months). But the hard way used - sinking the mother ship concerned - caused many victims among the pirates.

Wednesday 13 April). A ransom negotiator arrested in Somalia and transferred to the USA.

US justice has indicted, a Somali, Mohammad Saaili Shibin, who was one of the accomplices in the capture of the American yacht, S.V. Quest. Its occupants had all been killed in the assault. He was transferred to Norfolk, Virginia, where he had previously been charged. He was arrested on April 4 on Somali territory by the FBI, US and Somali forces. He is the first "pirate" to be arrested in Somalia, since the suspects from Ponant taken ashore by French commandos. But he's not quite a pirate of the seas. It was rather one of the rear supports of the operation. He had been identified in particular as researching the internet who exactly were the hostages to determine the amount of the ransom that could be demanded. He would also have been involved in other business, in particular for the negotiation of the German ship Marida Marguerite. Shibin explained to the FBI that he received $30.000 for this work. Read also: The 4 hostages of the SV Quest are dead: in the assault?

Wednesday 13 April). Two ships released for ransom

The German ship owner Beluga, the Beluga Nomination, was released against a ransom of $5 million. The deaths of two sailors have been confirmed. Also read: The capture of the Beluga Nomination by the pirates goes wrong. The day before, the Thai freighter Mv Thor Nexus was released, confirmed the European anti-piracy HQ. He had been captured on Christmas Day 2010. The ship and its crew of 27 sailors are heading for a safe port.

Tuesday, April 12). Piracy in good shape in the Indian Ocean.

The report published by the International Maritime Bureau sets a new record. For the first quarter of 2011, 142 pirate attacks, including 97 in the Indian Ocean, more than double for the same period last year (35). 45 boats were boarded and 45 others were fired upon. But... only 18 were captured by the pirates: 15 in the Indian Ocean or in the Arabian Sea and 1 in the Gulf of Aden.

Tuesday (April 12) A destroyed pirate skiff.

The USS Mason (member of the CTF 151 force), locates a suspicious dhow, thanks to the helicopter on board, an SH-60B Seahawk. During the discussions by radio, the American soldiers observe that the suspects get rid of numerous piracy materials, in particular a skiff and a ladder. The skiff is destroyed.

Monday april 11th). Freeing a Yemeni dhow held by pirates.

The Australian ship HMAS Stuart (member of the CTF 151 force) releases another Yemeni dhow, the Al Shahar 75, held by the pirates, west of the island of Socotra. He had been captured 20 days earlier. 18 people were on board. Three crew members were freed (the other crew members had been transferred a few days to another pirate ship, using a now common technique of dividing the crew). And 15 suspects arrested. “The operation was carried out without firing on either side,” announces the Australian Navy. On board were found 11 AK47 rifles and 16 ammunition stores, one RPG. The weapons were seized and the suspects released, the Yemeni dhow escorted to a safer area…

Sunday (April 10). Another dhow released

USS Mason (CTF 151) frees a dhow captured by pirates. THE F.V. Nasri had been spotted by an Australian maritime patrol aircraft the previous day which had detected a skiff with ladder and numerous barrels of petrol. 11 suspects were identified and 5 crew members released.

Saturday (April 2). An Iranian dhow released by the Danish Navy.

The Danish frigate Esbern Snare (NATO / Ocean Shield) freed a dhow (Hormuz) by force on April 2. 18 hostages - 16 Pakistanis and 2 Iranians - were freed. The warning shots were not enough. The pirates would have replied according to the Danish sailors. During the exchange of fire, 3 pirates are injured during the assault. On board a whole arsenal: 14 grenade launchers, nine AK-47 machine guns, two large boxes of machine gun ammunition, six ladders and three attack skiffs with powerful outboard motors, according to the Danish command. The injured were treated by the Danish ship's doctor and the medical team of the Dutch frigate De Tromp, which arrived as reinforcements. Their condition is considered "stable" indicates the Danish command. The vessel was escorted into territorial waters. The suspects were kept in custody on board the ship and the special prosecutor's office for international crimes seized.

NB: The news was only revealed on April 11 by the Danish Operations Command (SOK)