More Somalian Piracy Discussion

Eagle1, the must read place online for the piracy off Somalia, and who makes everyone else (including me) look like a rookie, found another brilliant gem to add to the discussion. Below is the September 25, 2024 report from the NATO Shipping Centre.

During the past week there were 7 new incidents reported including 3 hijackings
This slide shows the last known position for the hijacked vessels, the majority of which remain IVO Eyl.

IMB reports they are still awaiting confirmation of the release of MV IRENE, this vessel has, as a consequence, been put back on the list of currently hijacked vessels.

Previously

Thailand-flagged Bulk Carrier MV FONARUN NAREE was involved in an approach by pirates on 7 Sept.

Singapore-flagged LPG Carrier MV SIGLOO DISCOVERY reports that she received multiple attacks from pirates on 6 Sept, though her position at the time of the attack was not reported.

Bahamas-flagged Crude oil tanker MV FRONT VOYAGER reports she was attacked by pirates on 6 Sept.

St Vincent & Grenadines-flagged General Cargo vessel MV JIN YUAN MEN was attacked by pirates on 5 Sept.

Panamanian-flagged General cargo vessel AL MASOURAH was hijacked in northern GoA 3 Sept, 17 miles south of Yemeni coast. She was last located IVO Caluula.. There are 25 crew members on board, and 10-12 hijackers. NFI at the present time.

Private yacht, Carre D’AS IV was hijacked by pirates, 2 Sept. Vessel departed Cocos Islands, 5 Aug, on route Aden with 3 crew, (2 French national and 1 Australian national) on board. She was attacked IVO Caluula northern Somali coast.

On 29 Aug, Chemical/Products tanker, MV BUNGA MELATI 5 was hijacked in northern Gulf of Aden while on route from, Yanbo Saudi Arabia to Singapore.

(NU) Antigua & Barbuda flagged, general cargo vessel, MV BBC TRINIDAD was hijacked by pirates, 21 Aug while in central GoA, and is now assessed to be anchored IVO Eyl

(NU) Iranian-flagged Bulk Carrier IRAN DEYANAT was hijacked in northern GoA on 21 Aug, while on-route China-Netherlands carrying cargo of chemicals and minerals. There are reports that after being hijacked by one group of pirates, a rival group tried to capture the vessel and a fire fight ensued. The vessel is now believed to be anchored IVO Eyl. There are 29 crewmembers on board.

(NU) Panamanian-flagged combined chemical/oil tanker, MV IRENE was hijacked in northern GoA on 21 Aug. She is currently anchored IVO Eyl with 15 pirates on board

(NS) Malaysian-flagged chemical tanker BUNGA MELATI DUA was hijacked on 19 Aug while in central GoA. She was en-route Indonesia-Rotterdam carrying 30,000 metric tonnes of crude palm oil, and has 39 mainly Malaysian and Filipino crew on board. One of the Filipino crew members was reportedly killed in an accident during the time of boarding. Phone records released by the vessel’s owner show that, following their take over of the vessel, pirates on board the BUNGA MELATI DUA made repeated phone calls to MV STELLA MARIS, indicating that the same group of pirates is involved with both hijackings. As of 30 Aug, the vessel was believed to be moving south, away from Eyl and making for a possible rendezvous with STELLA MARIS.

(NU) Latest known position of MV THOR STAR is 07-53N 049-54E, anchored just off the coast IVO Eyl. Negotiations are in progress for the safe release of the crew and the vessel. Pirates have reduced an initial demand for 10 million dollars down to 3.5 million dollars

(NU) As of 20 Aug the MV STELLA MARIS had been moved to a new location and is now anchored at 07-01N 049-27E. Negotiations are still in progress.

Original PPT here.

Keep in mind some of this information is almost a week old. It does not list the MV Faina, and the Malaysian tankers have been released, but it does give a point in time reference and highlight the hell of a month for piracy September was. By the way, did you note that NATO has observed a firefight over the MV Iran Deyanat? Is it possible that is how people died, and not the 'mysterious circumstances' that has been reported?

There are also two outstanding articles on the subject. The first is by J. Peter Pham of World Defense Review, who suggests it is Time to Hunt Somali Pirates. The second is a new article in Popular Mechanics by David Axe called 4 Fronts for Pirate-Navy Battle as U.S. Descends on Captured Ship.