Off Somalia

MarAd Issues Advisory on Piracy

The US Maritime Administration (MarAd) issued an advisory to operators of US-flag and effective US-controlled vessels warning of increased activity by pirates in waters off the east coast of Somalia. Pirates have recently launched armed attacks on merchant ships up to 190 nautical miles off Somalia. Mariners in the vicinity of Somalia are advised to maintain as much distance as reasonably possible off the coast and to be vigilant for approaches by pirate vessels. Source: HK Law

Somali Counter-piracy Offensive Paying Off

Piracy off the Somali Coast falls to lowest levels in years as result of tough measures on land & at sea. As Kenyan Defense Forces continue to weaken Al-Shabaab on the ground in Somalia, new reports indicates Somali pirates off the coast have similarly been weakened this year. According to the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center, “The number of ships signaling attacks by Somali pirates has fallen this year [2012] to its lowest since 2009

Pirates Attack More Ships off Somalia

Reuters has reported that Somali pirates attacked five more ships this week after a failed attempt to seize a luxury liner, in a sharp rise of banditry apparently directed by a mysterious "mother ship" prowling the Indian Ocean. Most vessels escaped, but one was commandeered, bringing to nine the number of vessels being held captive along with their crews by pirates working the lawless southern section of the failed state's coastline, Africa's longest.

IMO's Philippine Representative Calls for Seafarer Piracy Protection

The Philippine government has urged shipping companies & governments to ensure full protection of Filipino seafarers against pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia Philippine Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ambassador Enrique Manalo said "the duty of the crew is to safely operate the ships which carry 80 percent of global trade. It is in turn the responsibility of shipping companies and Flag States to protect them from the scourge of piracy

Hired Guns Taming Somali Coast

Many ships unwilling to wait for warship-escorted convoys now use a detachment of 4 or 5 armed guards as they transit pirate high-risk areas. At the moment there's a booming market in security guards for merchant ships plying the waters off Somalia and adjacent areas (Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, western Indian Ocean, Straits of Hormuz). An on-board security detachment will cost them about $40,000 for the short trip through pirate infested waters.

Royal Malaysian Navy thwarts pirate attack

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

Piracy – EU Naval Force Extends Mission, Sends Ships

Counter-piracy mission off Somalia to be extended until 2014, France sends two more warships The decision to extend the mission will enable Operation Atalanta Forces to work directly with the Transitional  Federal Government and other Somali entities to support their fight against piracy in the coastal areas.  In accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Somali government has notified the UN Secretary General of its acceptance of the EU’s offer for

SOS Welcomes Robust EU Action on Somali Coast

The SOS SaveOurSeafarers campaign welcomes the extension of the EU counter- piracy operation until end 2014, and the  EU decision to broaden the scope of its naval operation in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean  by extending the naval forces’ area of operations to include Somali coastal territory which allows it to take more robust action on the Somali coast.   This is a bold step towards the goal that the shipping industry and its seafarers embrace - that of seeing

Law Firm HFW Names Paul Dean New Shipping Head

London-based Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) announce the election of Paul Dean as head of the law firm's shipping practice. Paul Dean has taken over from current head George Eddings who becomes the firm's new Managing Partner effective from 1 April 2013. Paul specialises in dispute resolution arising from marine and offshore matters, including charterparties, bills of lading, shipbuilding, collisions, fire and explosion, salvage, general average, groundings, total loss, towage

IMO Meeting on Anti-Piracy

A high-level meeting in Djibouti has been convened by IMO to help address the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. The meeting, which was opened Jan. 26 by IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos and the Prime Minister of Djibouti, Mr. Dileita Mohamed Dileita, is expected to conclude and adopt, pursuant to a request made by the IMO Assembly in its resolution 1002 of 2007