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Somali Piracy Down, But Not Out
International Maritime Bureau reported that piracy is at a six year low, but maritime security company GoAGT said now it is not the time to lose focus on security…
IMB: Somali Pirate Clampdown Caused Piracy Decline
![File Photo: captured pirates off of Somalia.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/file-photo-captured-pirates-off-22103.jpg)
Piracy at sea has reached its lowest levels in six years, with 264 attacks recorded worldwide in 2013, a 40% drop since Somali piracy peaked in 2011, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said. Just 15 incidents were reported off Somalia in 2013, down from 75 in 2012, and 237 in 2011. IMB’s annual global piracy report shows more than 300 people were taken hostage at sea last year and 21 were injured, nearly all with guns or knives.
ICS Reports on Lessons from Somali Piracy
![Peter Hinchliffe](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/peter-hinchliffe-21956.jpg)
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), a global trade association for shipowners, has issued a paper drawing upon the international shipping industry’s experience of Somali-based piracy during the period 2007 to 2013. “The intention is to identify lessons learned in order to shape future policy responses, wherever in the world they might be needed,” explained ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe.
EU, Seychelles Conduct Counter-Piracy Exercise
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/-21899.jpg)
On Friday 10 January, the Seychelles Coast Guard, Air Force and Police Force, together with the EU Naval Force Somalia - Operation Atalanta and EUCAP Nestor, carried out a counter-piracy exercise in the Seychelles. The exercise involved the boarding of a suspected pirate skiff that had attacked a local fishing boat. The 'pirates' were disarmed and taken into custody, along with evidence from the skiff. The Seychelles Coast Guard then handed over the pirates and evidence to the Police Force.
Mass Gulf of Aden Pirate Attack Foiled
![Pirate arrest: File photo](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/pirate-arrest-file-photo-21796.jpg)
An attempt by pirates to hijack an Iranian oil tanker in international waters has been foiled by the timely action of Iranian warships present in the region, reports Iran's FARS News Agency, citing Admiral Siyavash Jarreh. The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, is an important energy corridor, allowing Persian Gulf oil to be shipped to the West via the Suez Canal.
Innovation Spotlight: U.S.-Built Security Vessels
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/-21777.jpg)
Building patrol boats is big business, especially for foreign defense needs. U.S. yards compete on a global stage in the all-important maritime security workboat arena. Patrol boats have continued to enhance bottom lines at many U.S. vessel builders this year through sales that are usually government directed or assisted. Budget cuts are a concern, but the sector’s federal funding remains high. Patrol boats are sold to other nations under the U.S.
Pirates Active in New Year Attacks on Shipping
![File photo](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/file-photo-21642.jpg)
Robbers boarded an anchored chemical tanker, stole ship’s properties and escaped unnoticed. Incident reported to Port Authorities. Three robbers armed with a gun boarded a bulk carrier carrying out loading operations at anchor. They took hostage the duty A/B on routine rounds, tied him up and stole his personal effects. The robbers then broke into the forecastle store, stole ship's property and escaped. The A/B managed to untie himself and reported the incident to the duty officer.
Life at Sea in Container Ships Extraordinay Says New Book
![Cover of the book: Image courtesy of Amazon](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/cover-of-the-book-image-21562.jpg)
Author Horatio Clare joined two container ships for voyages that led to the recent publication of his book 'Down To The Sea In Ships: Of Ageless Oceans and Modern Men', available from Amazon for Kindle, or as a hardback. For millennia, the seaways have carried our goods, cultures and ideas, the terrors of war and the bounties of peace - and they have never been busier than they are today. But though our normality depends on shipping…
EU to Lead International Counter Piracy Efforts in 2014
From the January 1, 2014 the European Union will assume for one year the chairmanship of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) with Maciej Popowski…
Product Tanker Hijackings
![Fig. 1: Valle Di Cordoba is generally held to be the first victim of a successful attack against a product tanker with the intent to steal the cargo in the Gulf of Guinea in recent years.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/fig-1-valle-di-cordoba-21343.jpg)
Gulf of Guinea piracy presents a radically different picture compared with Somali piracy. Since decades it has been a kaleidoscopic mix of short duration hijackings, militant disruptions, kidnappings, robberies and thefts, depending on the location and the setting. It was not until recently, however, that piracy in the region attracted significant international media attention due to the increase in hijackings of product tankers in the region.
Hijacked Vessel Nears Return to Service
![Free Goddess (Photo: Reuters)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/free-goddess-photo-reuters-21102.jpg)
FreeSeas Inc., a transporter of dry-bulk cargos through the ownership and operation of a fleet of Handysize and Handymax vessels, announced that it has entered into terms with the insurers of M/V Free Goddess pursuant to which the sum of $1.1 million will be paid by the insurers to the company. The amount of $700,000 has already been disbursed in favor of the company pursuant to the terms agreed. In 2012…
Delegates Call for Maritime Security Cooperation
![Maritime security conference delegates have a shared understanding of threats, need for cooperation](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/itime-security-conference-delegates-have-21077.jpg)
Attendees at the IQPC Offshore Patrol Vessels Middle East 2013 conference agree that what happens at sea in the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East has implications that ripple, or more correctly rumble throughout the globe. Speakers and panelists underscored the importance of maritime domain awareness and security for military, commercial, legal and environmental reasons, and how they are all connected.
Somali Pirates Sentenced for the Murder of Four Americans
Somali nationals Ahmed Muse Salad, a/k/a “Afmagalo,” 27, Abukar Osman Beyle, 33, and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar, 31, who were previously found guilty of piracy, murder…
NATO Counter-piracy Frigate Boards Pirate Skiff
![Photo: NATO](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-nato-20407.jpg)
NATO’s counter-piracy Operation Ocean Sheild warship UPS Hetman Sagaidachny of Ukraine boarded a skiff with seven suspected pirates aboard in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). As the Ukrainian boarding team approached, the skiff tried to escape and suspected pirates were observed throwing weapons overboard, including AK-47 assault rifles. The skiff had 16 barrels of fuel and multiple outboard engines characteristic of a pirate action group.
'Pirates Plunder W.Africa Oil & Gas Riches' Says Analyst
![Photo credit EUNAVFOR](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-credit-eunavfor-20233.jpg)
West Africa is experiencing a surge in piracy, with well-organised hijackers targeting the region's growing oil and gas industries, writes national security expert Dr James Jay Carafano in 'World Review'. Although efforts to combat crime at sea have been having an impact - for example hijackings off Somalia fell by half in 2012 compared with 2011 with only 14 ships successfully boarded - the International…
Piracy Cost & Solutions on Agenda at Upcoming Capetown Summit
![Pirate photo courtesy of EUNAVFOR](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/pirate-photo-courtesy-of-eunavfor-20185.jpg)
Some 600 maritime and naval experts are to meet in Cape Town from 25-27 November, 2013, to discuss the price of piracy in Africa and the institutional and technical solutions available during the annual Maritime & Coastal Security Africa conference and exhibition. It is the largest maritime defence and security event on the continent, say the organisers. What does poor maritime security cost each year?
NATO Warship Captures Suspected Pirates
![Photo: ACO](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-aco-20079.jpg)
On Sunday, November 10, 2013, NATO’s counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield warship HDMS Esbern Snare boarded two small craft and detained nine suspected pirates, following an attack in the area the previous day. On Saturday, the Danish flagged vessel Torm Kansas reported she was attacked unsuccessfully by pirates in the Indian Ocean, but the ship’s armed security team repelled the attack. Esbern Snare…
Armed Guards Repel Pirate Attack on Tankship
![TORM Tanker: Photo courtesy the owners](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/torm-tanker-photo-courtesy-the-20029.jpg)
Armed guards employed aboard the Danish MR product tanker 'TORM Kansas' recently succeeded in deterring an attack by a group of pirates in the western Indian Ocean. The ship owners inform that the Indian master, his crew and the employed armed guards are safe and suffered no injuries as theyshowed great skill in deterring the attack. No pirates were hurt either. The MR product tanker TORM Kansas was in open sea at the time of the incident…
Somali Pirates Again Active, Though Recent Losers
![Pirates jettison boarding ladders: Photo credit EUNAVFOR](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/pirates-jettison-boarding-ladders-photo-19922.jpg)
Just a few weeks after the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, issued another warning about the on-going piracy threat, there have been two more piracy related incidents off the Somali coast. The first incident involved EU Naval Force German frigate, FGS Niedersachsen which prevented 10 suspect pirates from getting far out to sea. The second incident was 460 miles south east of Mogadishu, when a merchant ship had to repel an attack from 5 armed pirates.
Pirate Money Trail: Report Gives Insight, Urges Tracking
![Cover of the Report: Image courtesy of the publishers](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/cover-of-the-report-image-19713.jpg)
A study by the International Criminal Police Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and World Bank attempts to understand the illicit financial flows from pirate activities off the Horn of Africa. The study focused on: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, and Somalia. It is estimated that more than US$400 million was claimed in ransoms for pirate acts between April 2005 and December…