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Latest piracy news (February 11, 2012)

(BRUSSELS2) Somali pirates have increased their activity in the Arabian Sea, around Oman, and in the Indian Ocean around the Seychelles in recent days, say the maritime forces of the anti-piracy coalition. They currently hold according to the HQ of Atalanta, the European anti-piracy operation, 6 ships and 176 hostages, this without counting a certain number of dhows and small fishing vessels (Yemenis, Iranians, Indians).

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Italian VPDs prevent the seizure of a ship by pirates

The team of six soldiers from the San Marco regiment did not have to justify for long why they were embarked on board the Jolly Arancione. This ship of the "Linea Messina" company, which left Muscat (in Oman) for Genoa, was the object of an attempted attack by pirates around 10:30 am on Friday (February 10). The pirate skiff came very close to the boat - a mile to a mile and a half - before turning around, without asking for its remainder. " There were no exchanges of fire According to the captain of the boat, Armando Cervetto, quoted by the Italian press. " The pirates probably saw the soldiers on board ". The ships of this company have embarked servicemen for about a month and a half.

8 pirates convicted in Galguduud region

8 pirates were sentenced on Thursday (February 9) in the court of Guriceel, in the region of Galguduud (central Somalia). 5 of them were sentenced to six months in prison and banished from areas under the control of ASWJ forces (a pro-government militia), 3 others to 2 months in prison, according to information from Somalia Report. They had been arrested a week ago by ASWJ forces.

A Greek ship captured by pirates

A Greek merchant ship, flying the Liberian flag, the MV Free Goddess was captured by pirates on Wednesday (February 8) in the Arabian Sea (at 16° North, 06° East), while en route from Singapore to Egypt. 21 Filipinos make up the crew.

Piracy in 2011 = 7 billion $, much more expensive than what it brings to pirates

Somali piracy costs the global economy just under $7 billion a year (€5,4 billion), according to a study released on Wednesday (8 February). Produced by the One Earth Future foundation, the study takes into account the costs of governments to control the threat ($1,3 billion / €1 billion) and those of the maritime industry ($5,5 billion / €4,23 billion €) What is interesting is the breakdown of this sum: 2,7 billion $ for the acceleration of the speed, 486 to 680 million for the, and almost 200 million $ in additional costs for the crews (bonuses or personnel additional). It can be noted that $1 billion for private security guards (a rapidly increasing figure, approximately 1 out of 2 ships insured by international companies would now be protected by armed guards against an average of 25% last year). This figure is related to the ransoms paid to pirates: $160 million in 2011. Download the report

South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania join forces

Tanzania joined the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on maritime security already concluded by South Africa and Mozambique last November. The signing took place on Tuesday (7 February) in Dar es Salaam. This MoU allows the exchange of information between the countries of southern Africa, joint surveillance, joint military exercises and even operations. According to the Tanzanian Minister of Defence, 29 incidents were observed off the coast of Tanzania in 2010, and only 9 in 2011. A South African ship equipped with a helicopter and a maritime patrol plane now regularly monitor the Mozambique Channel to deal with the threat of piracy.

Miscarriage of justice

5 suspects arrested by the maritime coalition and detained so far in the Seychelles have been released and arrived in Mogadishu, reports Somalia Report. TFG officials explained that the five people were in fact fishermen, who had been wrongfully detained and eventually released after a lengthy investigation.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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