Saturday - June 20, 2009

This Week On Pirates

14.06.2009: 1700 LT: Posn: 12:33.5N - 043:29.5E: Bab el Mandab, Red Sea.

Several speed boats were spotted in the vicinity of a LPG tanker. The speed boats picked up speed and started to cross the tanker’s bow. The boats came very close to the tanker and opened fire with automatic weapons. The tanker continued to make evasive manoeuvres and prevented the pirates from boarding.

15.06.2009: 1305 LT: Posn: 12:58N – 048:27E, Gulf of Aden.
One skiff approached an oil tanker underway at a speed of around 20 knots. At around ten meters distance from the tanker, the pirates fired several shots with guns and two RPG rounds. Master mustered all crew, increased speed, carried out evasive manoeuvres, fired parachute flares and informed Iranian warship in the vicinity. After about 20minutes the pirates gave up the attempt and move away. The Iranian warship was in attendance. Later a coalition helicopter arrived at scene. Ship moved away without any casualties and damage.

14.06.2009: 1435 UTC: Posn: 12:35N - 043:28E: Bab el Mandab, Red Sea.
Several skiffs chased a LNG tanker with intent to board. Tanker enforced anti piracy measures and prevented the boarding.

14.06.2009: 1740 LT: Posn: 12:57.9N - 043:09.3E: Bab el Mandab, Red Sea.
Four speed boats with 5-6 persons in each boat, armed with automatic weapons approached a tanker underway. Tanker made evasive manoeuvres, activated fire hoses. Later, the speed boats aborted the attempt.

14.06.2009: 1453 UTC: Posn: 12:59N - 043:09E: Bab el Mandab, Red Sea
Speed boats approached a bulk carrier underway. Ship took evasive manoeuvres and prevented the boarding.

13.06.2009: 0110 LT: Posn: 12:36N - 043:25E: Bab el Mandab, Red Sea.
Two skiffs were detected on radar by a chemical tanker underway. Tanker made evasive manoeuvres; increased speed warned other ships on VHF Ch.16 and contacted coalition warships. Later, skiffs aborted the attempt.

Alas, such was not the case:

12.06.2009:1334 UTC: Posn: 21:55N – 059:51E, Off Oman.

Armed pirates attacked, boarded and hijacked a general cargo ship underway.

This attack happened at the east end of Oman, right on the horn, just south of the city of Sur. You know, just across the bay from Pakistan.  Most of the way to India just about. Note the latitude and longitude - this attack happened within sight of land, maybe 5 miles out to sea. Oman has a navy, right? 10 or a dozen ships perhaps? Lasers mounted on aqua-camels or something?

MUSCAT, Oman, June 13 (UPI)—A cargo vessel was hijacked off the coast of Oman by suspected Somali pirates in what is believed to be the first pirate attack in the area, officials said.

The MV Charelle, a small German-owned cargo vessel sailing under the Antigua and Barbuda flag, was attacked 60 nautical miles south of Sur on the Omani coast, Ecoterra reported Saturday.

The U.S. Navy warned this week that Somali pirates were expanding their range of operations far beyond the East African coast.

So what happened? The pirates were gunned down, right? Captured and hung? Or at least caught and then let go with a stern warning and a nice warm lunch? Not hardly. Not at all actually. With the combined navies of The United States, Great Britian, France, Germany, Russia, India, Iran, and probably Singapore just sitting around like leaky rubber ducks in a dirty bath tub, they let them go. With the stolen ship. All the way the hell back to Somalia. 1500 miles. Through the busiest international waters on the planet. Past all the navies of all the world. And nobody did a damn thing. Not. A. Thing.

Pirates take hijacked ship and Lankan crew to Somali waters

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry is tracking the whereabouts of the New Zealand registered vessel with seven Sri Lankan crew members, including its captain and engineer, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in Omani seas a week ago. Ministry sources said it was watching the developments through our High Commissions in Nairobi and Canberra. Our High Commissioner in Canberra is also accredited to New Zealand.

According to available information the hijacked vessel “MV Cherralla” has reached Somali waters, but the pirates had still not found a safe location to drop anchor, they said adding that once they have a safe location they would follow the usual procedure of contacting the owners to obtain a ransom for the release of the ship and its crew.

In addition to the Sri Lankan crew of seven there are believed to be three Philippinos and one New Zealander on board the vessel.

[ German owned, New Zeeland registered, Sri Lankan and Philippino crewed. The shipping industry truly is international. Even though the two reports spell the ship’s name differently, it’s still the same one. ]

Posted by Drew458     on 06/20/2009 at 07:16 PM   
Filed Under: • Pirates, aarrgh! •  
• Comments (3) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

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