Piracy News
Somali pirates, Saudi ship owner say ransom agreed
piracy
Somali pirates and the owners of a Saudi ship held since March with 14 crew said on Tuesday they had agreed to a ransom of around $2-3 million, and a newspaper withdrew a report that the ransom was $20 million “We (pirates) and the owners of the Saudi ship had agreed on $3 million not [...]
Somali Pirates Hold 21 Foreign Vessels: Maritime Body
piracy
Somali pirates are holding at least 21 foreign vessels plus one barge with at least 387 seafarers, an international maritime body, Ecoterra International said on Tuesday. In a statement, the maritime body said the 387 seafarers are languishing in the pirates hands. “Today July 20, 12h00 UTC, still at least 21 foreign vessels plus one [...]
Nigeria: Shipping Lines Press for Armed Guards On Board
piracy
With piracy incidents increasing and spreading across a wider area beyond the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), shipping lines have intensified pressure on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the flag states over the deployment of armed guards According to a senior industry official, no UAE flagged vessels are carrying arms on board.
“This is at [...]
Council conclusions on piracy off the coast of Somalia
Piracy
The Council adopted the following conclusions: “The Council notes with concern the continuing impact of piracy off the coast of Somalia on international maritime security and on the economic activities and security of countries in the region. The Council reiterates its determination to strengthen the EU’s overall engagement to enhance regional capacity to fight piracy.
The [...]
Shipping lines press for armed guards on board
Piracy
With piracy incidents increasing and spreading across a wider area beyond the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), shipping lines have intensified pressure on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the flag states over the deployment of armed guards. According to a senior industry official, no UAE flagged vessels are carrying arms on board. “This is [...]
Piracy suspect seeks to move Va. Trial
Pircay
One of 11 Somali nationals accused of attacking U.S. Navy ships off the coast of Africa is seeking to have his trial moved out of Norfolk, Va., home to the world’s largest naval base. An attorney for Mohammed Jamah filed the request for a change of venue on Wednesday in U.S. District Court. The motion [...]
Total number of pirate attacks up 150%, the actual hijacks down 25%
Piracy
It’s been a month over, since the Italian Rear Admiral Giovanni Gumiero handed over the EU NAVFOR-fleet outside Somalia to the Swedish Rear Admiral Jan Thörnqvist at a ceremony in Djibouti, EU Navfor press release said. “We have made progress in the new EU NAVFOR tactics, stopping suspected pirates closer to shore, before they get [...]
London-led piracy initiative becalmed
Cargo
An initiative to forge an across-the-board alliance to combat piracy through the establishment of a private navy is still some way from coming to fruition though its instigator insists it will still go ahead with private rather than a combination of public and private equity.
The $15m initiative was mooted by Sean Woollerson, a partner at [...]
IMO head tells UN that co-operation can provide anti-piracy blueprint
General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos has told the United Nations General Assembly that multilateral co operation arrangements, between and among States, regions and institutions can provide the means to reduce the risk of unprovoked piracy attacks on innocent ships, citing coordinated patrols in high-risk areas, information sharing, intelligence exchange and hot pursuit following attacks as among [...]
Anti-piracy efforts treat symptom, not disease: navy chiefs
Piracy
Navies can intercept Somali pirate skiffs and foil hijackings but fighting waves of attacks at sea will not solve the problem, which is rooted in instability on land in Somalia, naval leaders said. Anti-piracy efforts “will not actually resolve the base problem of why piracy is occurring … That solution lies in the stabilisation” of [...]
