Arabian Sea

Pirates Low Profile in Monsoon Season

NATO Shipping Centre promulgates its latest weekly piracy assessment for the 'High Risk Area' During the reporting period 7 – 13, June 2012, the number of piracy incidents in the High Risk Area (HRA) has remained low, with no incidents reported. Due to the South-West monsoon between June and September, sea conditions in the HRA are expected to be generally unfavourable for small boats. Pirate Activity Groups (PAG) will likely continue to focus their limited efforts in the Northern Arabian Sea (NAS), Gulf of Oman (GOO) as well as in the Gulf of Aden (GOA) and South Red Sea (SRS). Southern Red Sea (SRS)/Bab Al Mandeb (BAM) / Gulf of Aden (GOA)/Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC): There have been no significant changes over the past week. Masters are advised that fishing activity is expected to continue and likely increase in this area over the next few months. Arabian Sea (AS)/Greater Somali Basin (SB)/Gulf of Oman (GOO)/Mozambique Channel (MC): There have been no significant changes over last week in this region.      

Pirates Board SuezMax Oil Tanker off Somalli Coast

Operators Dynacom Tanker Management report their motor tanker 'Smyrni' hijacked by pirates in the Arabian Sea At approximately 1115 UTC on 10 May, 2012, an oil tanker managed by Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd. was reported hijacked while it was transiting the Arabian Sea. The Liberian-flagged Tanker, the M/T SMYRNI, is carrying a cargo of 135,000 MT of crude oil. The operators say that no communications have been received from the ship since the ship was boarded.

Indian Sub Collides with Ship

According to NDTV, an Indian Navy Submarine called Sindhughosh collided with a merchant navy ship in the Arabian Sea. The submarine was trying to surface in Arabian sea near 300 km north of Mumbai. Sindhughosh was on a routine fleet-level war game exercise when the collision occurred and slightly damaged its fin. There were about 60 crew members on board and apparently it made back to the base in Mumbai without any help.

Maritime Intelligence Agency Counsels Against Pirate Complacency

Dryad Maritime predicts that, despite industry optimism of 2012, the end of the South West monsoon season will see the resumption of pirate attacks. Pirate operatives have awoken from their hibernation to venture forth from safe havens and launch long-range mothership-enabled pirate operations with the first confirmed attack in the Arabian Sea earlier this week. Dryad Maritime’s combination of monitoring and regular observation of environmental conditions has confirmed that

Navy Rescues 20 from Pirates

The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard reportedly intercepted a vessel used by Somali pirates, 200 miles off Kochi in the Arabian Sea, following a joint operation. They rescued 20 fishermen from Thailand and Myanmar, held hostage on board the vessel. They also rescued 15 pirates who jumped into the sea during the operation and took them into custody. The vessel, Prantalay, belonged to Thai fishermen. It was hijacked by the pirates in April 2010.

This Day in Naval History - Oct. 4

From the Navy News Service 1821 - Lt. Robert F. Stockton sails from Boston for Africa to carry out orders to help stop the international slave trade. 1944 - Aircraft from USS Ranger (CV 4) sink five German ships and damage three others in Operation Leader, the only U.S. Navy carrier operation in northern European waters during World War II. 1952 - Task Force 77 aircraft encounter MIG-15 aircraft for the first time.

NATO Chief Warns of Increasing Pirate Activity

In the last few days the number of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has increased highlighting the fact that now the monsoon is weakening, the pirates are once again ready to attack merchant ships transiting through the Indian Ocean.   MC Northwood's Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Hank Ort (NLD N) states, "in the last few years, it has been the case that come October when the South West monsoon weakens

NMIA Issues Worldwide Threat Advisory

The U.S. National Imagery and Mapping Agency

Pakistan Introduces Submarine

Pakistan’s navy inducted its first locally built submarine in an effort to bolster its marine force, according to an AP report. Pakistan has already built two Agosta submarines with help from France, this is reported to be the first submarine from local manufacturers. Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was reportedly the chief guest at the launching ceremony of the Hamza submarine near the port city of Karachi on the shore of the Arabian sea.

Northrop Grumman Awarded $42M Planning Contract

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a planning contract from the U.S. Navy valued at approximately $42 million that will facilitate continued preparations for the overhaul and refueling of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson scheduled for 2004. This contract is the first modification to one originally awarded in May 2001, bringing the total contract value to date to approximately $52 million