November 20, 2008
Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent
The battle with pirates operating off the coast of Somalia grew yesterday when raiders seized two more ships but lost one of their own in an uneven firefight with the Indian Navy. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) described the situation yesterday as “out of control”.
The surge in hijackings came as Saudi Arabia confirmed that a ransom demand had been made for the freeing of the Sirius Star supertanker, seized at the weekend with her crew of 25 and a cargo of oil worth $100 million (£65 million).
Two more vessels – a Thai fishing boat with a crew of 16, and a bulk carrier, believed to be Greek, with an unknown number of people aboard – were seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden yesterday, bringing the total to nine vessels in 12 days....
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the decision of India
and other countries to cooperate with Somalia to fight piracy in
its waters, an issue that has gained immediacy with Somali sea bandits attempting 95 hijackings this year alone....
and other countries to cooperate with Somalia to fight piracy in
its waters, an issue that has gained immediacy with Somali sea bandits attempting 95 hijackings this year alone....
The terrorist networks have their own supply routes. They are well established and can strike whenever they want. The Gulf of Aden belongs to the Pirate - Terrorists. This is a sovereignty issue for all the countries in the region.
The problem is that three countries along the Gulf of Aden are dominated by the ravages of terrorist networks, the Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. What needs to occur is that all other countries accessing this shipping channel need to provide their own 'armed escort fleet' for safer shipping.
Maritime Courts have to be bolstered and the United Nations Security Council has to aggressively address the issue of piracy as a method of advancing terrorist networks which threaten national security of most nations in the region and potentially a global security issue as these networks take over more and more countries. They already have three, not including Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Follow the Somali pirate scourge via Google mashup (click here)
Indian navy sends buccaneer mothership to Davy Jones
By Lewis Page • Get more from this author
Posted in Government, 19th November 2008 13:23 GMT
Webcast: Building Applications for the 21st Century
Indian navy sends buccaneer mothership to Davy Jones
By Lewis Page • Get more from this author
Posted in Government, 19th November 2008 13:23 GMT
Webcast: Building Applications for the 21st Century
The world's media continues to follow the long-running piracy problems in the Gulf of Aden, with interest stimulated by last week's fatal shootings by Royal Marines off the Yemeni coast and the reported sinking of a buccaneer "mothership" by the Indian Navy yesterday evening. Meanwhile, other seaborne raiders in the region successfully hijacked five merchantmen including a 300,000-ton supertanker loaded with crude oil....
The USA's response is pathetic. Bush is everyone's cheerleader !
US Navy to Global Community, "Go Get 'Em, Team. Sorry, but, we are busy testing sonar and blowing whales out of the water."
U.S. Urges Merchant Ships to Try Steps to Foil Pirates (click here)
By THOM SHANKER
Published: November 19, 2008
Published: November 19, 2008
WASHINGTON — The commander of American and allied naval forces off the coast of Somalia has begun efforts to halt a spike in piracy, urging merchant vessels to sail with armed guards on board and to travel only within lanes now patrolled by warships.
The commander, Vice Adm. William E. Gortney of the United States Navy, said crews of merchant ships were being taught measures that did not involve the use of force to prevent pirates from boarding their vessels.
The techniques include complicated rudder movements and speed adjustments that make it hard for pirate speedboats to pull alongside, as well as simple steps like pulling up ladders that some ships leave dangling for an entire voyage....
The commander, Vice Adm. William E. Gortney of the United States Navy, said crews of merchant ships were being taught measures that did not involve the use of force to prevent pirates from boarding their vessels.
The techniques include complicated rudder movements and speed adjustments that make it hard for pirate speedboats to pull alongside, as well as simple steps like pulling up ladders that some ships leave dangling for an entire voyage....
