Latest piracy news (July 17, 2011) (update2)
(BRUSSELS2) Somali pirates are currently holding 589 hostages, 35 boats and 17 smaller ones according to the latest report from the NGO Ecoterra
Monday (July 18) German relay in the Indian Ocean
The German frigate Bayern (F-217) leaves Wilhelmshaven to join the European anti-piracy operation Atalanta. It should take around 14 days to reach the Horn of Africa and relay the frigate Niedersachsen. Under the command of Andreas-Peter Graf von Kielmansegg, 240 sailors as well as two Sea Lynx MK88A helicopters from the 3rd naval squadron “Graf Zeppelin”.
Saturday (July 16) Indian and German navies foil attack on Greek freighter
The Greek cargo ship MV Elinakos narrowly escapes capture by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. A team of 8 pirates was in a skiff near the ship, ready to attack. The alert is given. The INS Godavari - of the Indian Navy - which was escorting four merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden sends a team of marine commandos "in coordination with the German frigate Niedersachsen (part of the European anti-force) piracy) according to a press release from the Indian Navy. As they approach, the pirates throw weapons and ammunition as well as the rest of the equipment overboard and flee without asking for their remainder.
Saturday (July 16). Emirates tanker hijacked in Gulf of Aden
The MV Jubba XX was hijacked in the northern Indian Ocean on the regular route from the United Arab Emirates to the port of Berbera (Somalia/Somaliland). The vessel was located by a maritime patrol aircraft 100 miles northwest of the Socotra Islands towards the northern coast of Somalia, Eunavfor Atalanta's anti-piracy HQ confirmed. No other information except the presence of 9 pirates on board. The MV Jubba XX, a tanker from the United Arab Emirates, was not registered in the MSCHOA system. And it has a crew of 16 people (1 Sri Lankan, 5 Indians, 3 Bangladeshis, 1 Sudanese, 1 Burmese, 1 Kenyan and 4 Somalis).
Friday (July 15) An Indian ship captured and then freed
The MV Al Nisar, an Indian cargo ship flying the flag of the United Arab Emirates loaded with livestock, was freed by its captors according to the authorities of Puntland (autonomous province of Somalia). He was captured on Wednesday (July 13), some 48 miles from Bossaso. According to the NGO Ecoterra, it was the intervention of one of the “investors” of Somali piracy which enabled this rapid outcome; he had “interests” in the trading undertaken (cattle and rubber). NB: India normally prohibits merchant ships carrying its flag from sailing in Somali waters, which does not regularly prevent some ships from crossing the prohibited zone.
Wednesday (July 13). An attack foiled by the Iranian navy
An Iranian ship has foiled a pirate attack on the southern coast of Somalia on a cargo ship, Iranian television PressTv announces. Question: What was the Iranian navy doing in this sector, far from the Gulf of Aden?
