Sirius Star News

Star Bulk Carriers Corp., a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargos, has announced that it has taken delivery of M/V Star Sirius a Post - Panamax bulk carrier of approximately 98,000 deadweight tons carrying capacity. The Star Sirius is the second of the two modern Post-Panamax bulk carriers to be delivered to the company, pursuant to the relevant binding agreements announced on January 29, 2014. The vessel has commenced a time charter with the sellers of the vessel, Glocal Maritime Ltd., for a period between 28-32 months, at a gross daily hire rate of $15,000 less a 1.25% address commission on gross revenues. The vessel is expected to generate approximately $12.4 million in charter revenues over the minimum contracted period.

Star Bulk Carriers Corp., a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargos, announced that it has taken delivery of M/V Star Vega, a Post-Panamax bulk carrier of approximately 98,000 deadweight tons carrying capacity. The vessel has commenced a time charter with the sellers of the vessel for a period between 30 months to 34 months, at a gross daily hire rate of $15,000 minus a 1.25% address commission on gross revenues. The vessel is expected to generate approximately $13.4 million in charter revenue over the minimum contracted period.

Regional insurance brokerage and risk management company AAIB first to be granted license to operate in Somalia as economic opportunities drive demand. Regional specialist in broking, risk management and consultancy Anglo Arab Insurance Brokers (AAIB), has broadened its footprint, within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region being the first international insurance broker to have been granted a licence to operate in Somalia. Formed in 2005 to focus exclusively on emerging markets…

As pirates raise the stakes on a number of key ocean trades, simple, cost-effective preventive measures can be put in place to protect ships and their crew in a matter of hours, according to Paul Friedberg, President of Goltens Worldwide Services. "We offer a service out of our Fujairah facility which encompasses the installation of a combination of razor wire and hoistable spikes which effectively prevents the boarding of merchant vessels by pirates," he explains. "I realize there are complex issues relating to the deployment of armed guards on merchant vessels…

Somali pirates have recently hijacked an Indian ship and used it to launch an unsuccessful attack on a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, according to VOA News. The large crude carrier Elephant is similar to the Saudi-owned Sirius Star that Somali pirates hijacked in November 2008 and held for two months. The hijacking of the Indian ship brings the number of vessels being held by Somali pirates to at least 15. The United States, China, NATO and other world powers are conducting naval patrols off Somalia in an effort to protect commercial shipping.

Following a series of attacks off the eastern coast of Somalia, Combined Maritime Forces issued an updated special maritime advisory message. The message highlights several recent attacks that occurred hundreds of miles off the Somali coast and states that merchant mariners should be increasingly vigilant when operating in those waters. "We continue to highlight the importance of preparation by the merchant mariners and the maritime industry in this message," said Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, Combined Maritime Forces.

Contrary to the romanticized portrayal of pirates that have populated folk tales and captured youngsters' imaginations, modern-day pirates pose a clear and present threat to lives, commerce and the environment as they lurk over shipping lanes attacking ships and crew without regard for nationality or cargo. Piracy in the Gulf of Aden not only poses a threat to global commerce, but also threatens aid delivery by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to victims of the ongoing civil war in Somalia.

The quick response of the Royal Malaysian Navy has helped to thwart the attempted hijacking of a vessel by Somali pirates. The ICC International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) received the distress call from the Chinese heavy lift vessel, Zhen Hua 4, which was broadcast immediately to all the naval commands in the area. The Zhen Hua 4 had been boarded by pirates who had not been able to enter the accommodation block. The crew of the vessel had locked themselves in having attempted to thwart the boarders through evasive manouvres and the use of water cannons. The Combined Task Force requested a Malaysian Naval vessel, which was closest to the distress position to respond.

McQuilling Services, LLC, marine transport advisors, released a message addressing the economic impact of pirate attacks on tankers. “The recent pirate attack on the VLCC Sirius Star – 319,430 dwt built 2008 – that took place offshore Kenyan coast, has implied a new magnitude of possible security impacts on the tanker shipping markets. An increasing threat from the Somali pirates is present in that region and the additional insurance premiums are being paid by the ship owners in order to transit the dangerous waters. However, the attack on Sirius Star stands-out from the rest because of the sheer size and value of the hijacked vessel which may propel various short term changes in the tanker marketplace in the near future.

IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos has issued a call at the highest level for a coordinated and cohesive response, both internationally and nationally, to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. In a Nov. 20 briefing to the UN Security Council, Secretary-General Mitropoulos told Security Council members about the scope and extent of the problem which, he said, was a matter of grave concern. He also outlined a series of actions the Security Council might consider taking to address the situation. •    urge States, with due regard to their obligations under international law, to establish an effective legal jurisdiction to bring alleged offenders to justice. Mr.

While there have been clear statements made by the shipping industry lobby regarding piracy to the international community and the volume of reporting on events and various recent statements made by shipping stakeholders - BIMCO suggests that there are two urgent matters that need to be addressed by the industry and the international community. 1.    That all vulnerable ships follow the lead of major industry tanker and other members and route vessels via the Cape. BIMCO is ware that pirates will identify this action and swiftly relocate onto the traditional direct trade route via the Cormoros Gap (where the Sirius Star was attacked). BIMCO has advised members urgently to route vessels east of Madagascar and take advantage of varying routes to maximise the sea area to hide during transit.

Eight suspected pirates apprehended by crew members from Royal Navy frigate HMS Cumberland off Africa's east coast last week have been handed over to the custody of the Kenyan Police today, Tuesday 18 November 2008. The suspected pirates were caught on Tuesday 11 November 2008 when HMS Cumberland, deployed to the Gulf of Aden, saw a Yemeni fishing vessel, which had earlier taken part in an attack on a Danish Merchant Vessel. After various non-forcible methods failed to stop the fishing vessel…

The Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star is at anchor Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 off the coast of Somalia. The Saudi-owned very large crude carrier was hijacked by Somali pirates Nov. 15 about 450 nautical miles off the coast of Kenya and forced to proceed to anchorage near Harardhere, Somalia. U.S. Navy photo by Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class William S. Stevens. (Source: Navy News Service)

A report from the Wall Street Journal said that Pirates who seized a Saudi supertanker loaded with $100 million in crude oil anchored the ship within sight of impoverished Somali fishing villages Tuesday, Nov. 18. NATO said it would not divert any of its three warships from the Gulf of Aden and the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet also said it did not expect to send ships to try to intercept the MV Sirius Star. Meanwhile, pirates hijacked a Hong Kong-owned, Iranian-operated cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden near the Yemeni coast. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

A Liberian-flagged very large crude tanker, Sirius Star, was attacked more than 450 nautical miles southeast of Mombasa, Kenya, Nov. 15. The ship is owned by the Saudi Arabian-based Saudi Aramco and is operated by Vela International. The crew of 25 includes citizens of: Croatia, Great Britain, Republic of the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia. This attack comes amid a decrease in the rate of successful pirate attacks on merchant vessels off the coast of Somalia. Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) data analysis has shown that the combination of both military and civilian involvement in the area has reduced the percentage of successful piracy attacks from 53 percent in August to 31 percent in October.

According to an Associated Press report, Somali pirates hijacked a Saudi supertanker loaded with crude hundreds of miles off the coast of East Africa — defeating the security web of warships trying to protect vital shipping lanes. The takeover demonstrates the bandits' heightened ambitions and capabilities: Never before have they seized such a giant ship so far out to sea. Maritime experts warned the broad daylight attack, reported by the U.S. Navy on Monday, was an alarming sign of the difficulty of patrolling a vast stretch of ocean key to oil and other cargo traffic. The MV Sirius Star, a brand new tanker with a 25-member crew, was seized at about 10 a.m. on Nov. 15, more than 450 nautical miles southeast of Mombasa, Kenya, the Navy said.