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Piracy Now Rife on West Africa Coast ā IMB Report
![W. Africa Piracy map: Image courtesy of IMB](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/w-africa-piracy-map-image-16410.png)
Somali piracy has fallen to its lowest levels since 2006, focusing attention on violent piracy and armed robbery off the coast of West Africa, the International Chamber Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB)ās latest global piracy report reveals. Worldwide, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) recorded 138 piracy incidents in the first six months of 2013, compared with 177 incidents for the corresponding period in 2012.
Somali Pirate Victims: Lifeboats Spotted
![Image courtesy of EU Naval Force](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/image-courtesy-of-eu-naval-16248.jpg)
Photo update: sunken MV Albedo lifeboats sighted from the air on Somali beach. An EU Naval Force warship and Maritime Patrol Aircraft closed the scene to search for survivors. During the aerial search, EU Naval Force Maritime Patrol Aircraft sighted two life boats on a Somali beach approximately 14 miles north of the position of the Albedo. No members of the MV Albedo crew or pirates were sighted in or near the lifeboats. "MV Albedo sank during the night on Saturday 6 July 2013.
Somali Pirate Hostage Ship Sinks
![M/V Albedo: Photo courtesy of EUNAVFOR](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/mv-albedo-photo-courtesy-of-16194.jpg)
The 'MV Albedo' sinks In rough seas after being held captive by Somali pirates for over two-and-a-half years. EU Naval Force confirms that the Malaysian flagged Motor Vessel MV Albedo, held by armed pirates at an anchorage close to the Somali Coast, has sunk in rough seas. MV Albedo has been in pirate hands since it was attacked in the Indian Ocean in November 2010, and was in pirate hands when it sank.
Today in U.S. Naval History: July 1
![USS Covington. Fine screen halftone reproduction of a photograph taken in 1918. This ship was torpedoed and sunk in July of that year. (Courtesy of William H. Davis, 1977. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/uss-covington-fine-screen-halftone-16043.jpg)
Today in U.S. 1800 - First convoy duty; USS Essex escorts convoy of merchant ships from East Indies to U.S. 1801 - U.S. 1911 - Trial of first Navy aircraft, Curtiss A-1. The designer, Glenn Curtiss, makes first flight in Navy's first aircraft, A-1, at Lake Keuka, NY, then prepares LT Theodore G. Ellyson, the first naval aviator, for his two solo flights in A-1. 1933 - USS Constitution commences tour of principal U.S. seaports.
Somali Pirates Foiled in Dhow Hi-jack Attempt
![The Victim of the Attack: Photo credit EUNAVFOR](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/the-victim-of-the-attack-15442.jpg)
14 Indian seafarers are now safe, after pirates, who took control of their cargo vessel were hounded away by a EUNACFOR warship. This type of cargo vessel, known as a dhow, has been used in the past by pirates as a āmother shipā, to enable them to sail far out to sea to attack passing merchant ships. The master of the Indian dhow had sent out an alert yesterday morning, saying that it was under attack from 12 armed pirates.
Indian Sailors Safe After EU Navfor Warship
Fourteen Indian sailors are now safe, after pirates, who took control of their cargo vessel yesterday morning, June 5, in the Gulf of Aden, abandoned the attackā¦
Three Somali Pirates to Appear in US Court
Three Somali men face a possible death penalty when they go on trial this week for a pirate attack that led to the death of four Americans. Jury selection begins Tuesday in the city of Norfolkā¦
Pirates Reportedly Hijack Fuel Tanker off Nigeria
Pirates allegedly hijacked a fuel tanker off the Nigerian coast early Saturday morning, AP News reported. The pirates are said to be holding some of the five Nigerian and 12 Pakastani sailors hostage.
AdvanFort Floats Past Floating Armory Debate
![AdvanFort President William H. Watson](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/advanfort-president-william-h-watson-15151.jpg)
As international controversy continues about the āwheres,ā āwhysā and āhow muchā of maritime piracy in key international shipping areas, an important debate now focuses on the use of āfloating armoriesā in efforts to restore security on the high seas. In particular, private security companies relying on unregulated floating armoriesāmeant to avoid arms smuggling laws when they lay offshore ports in the Red Seaā¦
AdvanFort President Addresses Ransom and Piracy
![AdvanFort President and COO William H. Watson (Photo: AdvanFort)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/advanfort-president-and-coo-william-14793.jpg)
"The revelation this week that the owner of an Algerian cargo ship whose crew was held by Somali pirates paid them $2.6 million in ransom is yet another indication that the rewards these denizens reap for their illegal, life-threatening work remain a serious stumbling block to ending maritime organized crime," AdvanFort Company President and COO William H. Watson said. āThose ship owners and operatorsā¦
Counter Piracy Commander Warns of Continuing Threat
![Admiral Bob Tarrant, Operation Commander European Union Naval Force Somalia (Photo: European Union)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/admiral-bob-tarrant-operation-commander-14724.jpg)
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. āI 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.
Navigating the Future of Private Maritime Security
![William H. Watson, President and COO, AdvanFort](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/william-h-watson-president-and-14597.jpg)
Maritime piracy is both ageless as a threat as well as ductile in its dramatically changing nature both in and around the Indian Ocean and, increasingly, in other parts of the world. Somali piracy erupted in the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden and commercial vessels transiting the area frequently fell prey to the seagoing criminals who captured numerous vessels and held them and their crews for ransom to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.
Dryad Shortlisted for Safety at Sea Award
Dryad Maritime Intelligence announced that it has been short-listed in the management/operations category for their Fleet Security Management service in this yearsā IHS Safety at Sea Awards.
Somali Pirates to Face Trial for American Murders
On June 3, 2013 the United States begins a capital murder trial against three alleged Somali pirates, accused of killing four Americans at sea. If convicted, theā¦
Somali Piracy Contact Group: UN Plenary Meeting
The United States will join partners from over 85 countries, international organizations, & the private sector at the United Nations in New York on 1st May, 2013.
Financial Aspects of Piracy Explained
![The Game's Up: Photo courtesy of EUNAVFOR](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/the-games-up-photo-courtesy-14354.jpg)
Release of 'MV Leopard' crew hostages by Somali pirates, prompts Denmark researchers 'RiskIntelligence' to give general ransom & pirate 'investment' insights. Economic terminology such as āmarketā is used in the below to describe the criminal activities of hijacking and ransom. During February 2011 a total of 37 ships were held along the shoreline of Somalia, compared to only two in 2008. The averageā¦
British Private Navy Warship Held in Spain
An ex-Royal Navy officerās converted warship has been seized by Spain amid fears he is a mercenary planning to fight pirates in Somalia. Former lieutenant Chrisā¦
Piracy & Armed Robbery: Latest ICS Report
The Piracy & Armed Robbery Report section below follows the definition of Piracy as laid down in Article 101 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law ofā¦
Combined Counter-Piracy Exercise Performed
EUCAP Nestor, EU Naval Force and the Seychelles Coast Guard carried out a joint counter-piracy exercise in the Seychelles on April 26. The exercise involved a mockā¦
Pirates Kidnap Four Off West African Coast
Pirates attacked the German-owned Liberian-flagged container ship 'Hansa Marburg' off the coast of Equatorial Guinea. Citing the Hamburg-based shipping firm Leonhardt and Blumbergā¦