Somali Pirates

Somali Pirate Hijackings Increase to 15-Month High: AKE

Somali pirates hijacked 10 ships in March, the most since December, 2010, and may attack larger merchant vessels this month, AKE Intelligence said, Bloomberg reported. Four of the seized craft were used to make more attacks, rather than being held for ransom, said Rory Lamrock, a piracy analyst at the Hereford, England-based security and risk-assessment company. “Pirate syndicates will be emboldened by the latest hijackings, spurring them on to conduct more attacks over the coming weeks,” Lamrock said. “Weather conditions are also forecast to be relatively calm in April, which will make it easier for pirates to launch skiffs and gain access to the deck of a targeted vessel.” Somali pirate attacks rose to a record 237 in 2011 with ransoms worth $160 million paid to release 31 hijacked vessels, a One Earth Future Foundation report showed. Pirates based in Somalia cost governments and the shipping industry as much as $6.9 billion last year, One Earth estimates. Pirates are holding 13 vessels with a total of 197 hostages, according to the London-based International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre (Bloomberg).  

Counter Piracy Commander Warns of Continuing Threat

The Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, has issued a renewed warning that Somali pirates are still determined to get out to sea and, if presented with an easy target, will attack. “I am very concerned that seafarers and nations will lower their guard and support for counter piracy operations in the belief that the piracy threat is over. It is not; it is merely contained," he said

Hijacked Vessel Released, Crewmember Dead

According to a report from the Associated Press, the Dutch Defense Ministry said Somali pirates have released a hijacked cargo ship, the Dutch Antilles-flagged MV Marathon. The ministry reported that one of the 19 crew members died of a gun shot wound sustained when pirates seized the ship on May 7. Another crew member was reportedly injured. (Source: Associated Press)

S. Korea Pledges to Protect Ships from Piracy

According to a Jan. 17 report from Yonhap, South Korea condemned piracy and pledged to take better measures to protect its ships from the "unacceptable" act after Somali pirates were suspected of seizing a cargo ship over the weekend. On Saturday, Jan. 15, an 11,500-ton South Korean chemical freighter, the Samho Jewelry, was hijacked in the Arabian Sea as the ship was en route to Sri Lanka from the United Arab Emirates with 21 crew members aboard. (Source: Yonhap)

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.

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    

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)

Ships Held by Somali Pirates

According to a report from Reuters, Somali pirates seized a British-owned ship operated by an Italian company on April 6, after taking three other ships over the weekend, a maritime official said. (Source: Reuters)

Somali Pirates Seize Singapore Ship

According to an Oct. 15 report from VOA News, Somali pirates have hijacked a Singapore-owned and flagged container ship in the Indian Ocean. The MV Kota Wajar was seized early Oct. 15 about 550 kilometers north of the Seychelles islands. (Source: VOA News)

Another Tankship Released by Somali Pirates

EU Naval Force Flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez assists 'MV Smyrni' after it sails out of the Somali pirate's holding anchorage. MV Smyrni, with a crew of 26, was carrying 135,000 tonnes of crude oil when she was hijacked on 11 May 2012.  After ten months of being held in a pirate anchorage off the Somali coast, it is understood that a ransom was paid for the vessel, and on 10 March 2013, she was released by her captors.