Latest Anti-Piracy Efforts

The weather must be pretty good out in the Indian Ocean off the African east coast, because the daily reports streaming in are beginning to suggest the activity of both sides is very high.

Are you reading these stories? Most of them are frustrating, for example, the Indian Navy has captured 9 pirates who attempted to hijack the cruise ship Melody. That's the good news, but check out the events that proceeded the pickup.

The European Union's Maritime Security Centre (MSC) said the pirates were intercepted by a Spanish warship, the Numancia. The suspects, who were "in poor health," were released as a result of lack of evidence, but the Seychelles coastguard then picked them up.

"The capture operation was conducted in co-operation with a... French maritime patrol aircraft and a warship from the Indian Navy which also discovered an abandoned skiff not far from the scene," the MSC said.

In other words, first the Spanish caught the pirates, then the Spanish released the pirates. Then the Seychelles coast guard caught the pirates, and now the Indians have taken them into custody. There is a Vince Lombardi quote waiting to be shouted with these stories.

Pirates attacked a tanker on Monday, but news reports tell the story of the Russian crew fighting off the pirates with fire hoses. The Russian Navy destroyer Admiral Panteleyev went hunting for the pirate attackers and ended up picking up 29 pirates. The equipment found is noteworthy.

"Seven Kalashnikov rifles, various pistols and an aluminum ladder were discovered during a search of the ship," RIA Novosti quoted the source as saying. Satellite navigation equipment and a large amount of ammunition was also seized.

"This allows us to assume that this group of pirates undertook two unsuccessful attempts to seize the TF Commander tanker with a Russian crew that was traveling through this region yesterday," RIA quoted the source as saying.

Depends on the court, but if the pirates are sent to a court in Russia these pirate dudes are done. In Kenya, the Russians may be assuming too much.

38 pirates captured, but unfortunately, there are questions whether any of them will be charged. Still, it is good to see both Russia and India in the fight.