Hijacked Ship

Somali Pirates Rescue Crew as Ship Burns

According to a report from Voice of America, Somali pirates said they have evacuated 19 crew members from the hijacked ship, Panama-flagged cargo carrier MV Orna,  that caught fire on June 15. The ship's crew remains held by the pirates.   Source: Voice of America    

NGA Issues Warning for Somali Coast

The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) issued a Special Warning stating that mariners are advised to avoid the port of Mogadishu and to remain at least 200 nautical miles distant from the Somali coast. Pirates are reported to have used previously hijacked ships as bases for further attacks. They are also reported to issue false distress calls to lure ships closer to shore. Be constantly alert if in this vicinity.

Piracy Attacks Rise

Piracy and armed robbery attacks against ships rose 14% in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2006, the second consecutive quarterly increase in attacks, as the coastal waters off Nigeria and Somalia became ever more dangerous, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported. In the first nine months of the year, 198 attacks were reported versus 174 attacks reported in 2006 during the same time frame

Tanker Hijacked Near Somalia

A Chemical tanker, with 22 crew members on board, has been hijacked by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden near - the 12th ship to be seized in the waterway since July 20, a maritime official said on Tuesday. The vessel from Hong Kong was heading towards through a maritime security corridor in the Gulf, patrolled by an international naval force, when it was attacked on Monday, Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said.  

India to Hijackers: Get Out

India has asked an Italian merchant ship and 14 stowaways who hijacked it last week to leave the country as soon as possible, a Coast Guard official said. The ship called MV Med Star is anchored off Bombay. Indian immigration officials have been interrogating the stowaways, 10 Iranians and four Iraqis, who had wanted political asylum in a European country. The 15,000-ton cargo ship, initially destined for the port of Kandla in Gujarat

Pirate Threat Increases on W. African Coast

The ICC International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre recommends extreme vigilance aboard ships in West African waters. Since mid-August three vessels have been hijacked by pirates in this region. These recent attacks are notable as they have all been against tankers, with the purpose of stealing the valuable cargoes on board. Furthermore, the incidents reported off West Africa are characterised by the degree of violence used against crew.

Navy Says Crew of Hijacked Ship is OK

On October 3, the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet released this photo of the crew of the MV Faina.  The crew on the hijacked cargo ship appear to be in good health, the Navy reported.  The ship's Russian captain died of a heart condition nearly two weeks ago, reports said.  The Belize-flagged cargo ship, owned and operated by , , was seized by pirates Sept. 25 and forced to proceed to anchorage off the . The ship is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related military

Pirates Seize Second Stolt Ship

According to a Reuters report, Somali pirates have hijacked a second ship chartered by chemical tanker shipping group Stolt-Nielsen. Gunmen seized the Stolt Strength in the Gulf of Aden on the afternoon of Nov. 10, nearly two months after they hijacked Stolt Valour, a chemical tanker on its way to India. (Souce: Reuters)

Hijacked UBT Ocean Arrives off Somalia

On March 8, the chemical tanker Marshall Island flagged UBT Ocean hijacked on March 5, was reported to be in the vicinity off the pirate stronghold east of Haradere. UBT Ocean has a crew of 21 and they are all from Myanmar/Burma. UBT Ocean with deadweight of 9,380 tones was heading from United Arab Emirates to Dar Es Salam when hijacked on Friday morning.

Maersk Pirate Deserves 27-Years According to His Lawyers

According to a report from Bloomberg, Abduwali Muse, a Somali pirate who pleaded guilty to hijacking the container ship Maersk Alabama, should get 27 years in prison when he is sentenced this month, his lawyers said, citing his youth and poverty. Muse admitted in May to two counts of hijacking maritime vessels, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of hostage taking. He faces 27 years to 33 years and nine months in prison under a range agreed to by his lawyers and the U.S.