Somali pirates release Greek ship

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The East Africa Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP) issued a statement today confirming that the bulk carrier CAPT. STEFANOS (sometimes spelled CAPT STEPHANOS) was released by its hijackers yesterday.
The vessel was captured by Somali pirates in September along with her crew of 19 in the Gulf of Aden.
“The Greek ship-owner’s company Chartworld Shipping Corporation (Athens) finally [...]


Piracy scourge affecting India’s merchandise trade

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Twenty seven-year-old Jasmeet Singh, third officer with a Norwegian merchant vessel cruising along the Horn of Africa en route to the Mediterranean sea, is a worried man. Satellite phone usage on-board is limited to senior officers like the captain and chief engineer.
But these are exceptional times. Besides his family, Singh has repeatedly called four of [...]


The latest must-have for commercial shipowners: a piracy insurance policy

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A risk consultancy with close ties to the Lloyd’s insurance market is offering the world’s first insurance policy for shipowners covering potential ransom payouts on crew members who have been kidnapped.
Kidnap and ransom insurance is well-established but has traditionally been offered only in respect of individual executives working in commercially sensitive [...]


2008 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea presented to Brazilian seafarer

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The 2008 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea has been presented to a Brazilian seafarer who saved fellow crew members from a dangerous fire on a ship.
Mr. Rodolpho Fonseca da Silva Rigueira, of the drill ship Noble Roger Eason, nominated by the Government of Brazil, for his decisive, selfless action to rescue six fellow [...]


Shipping industry calls for blockade of Somalian coast

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A shipping body and tanker owners from around the world on Monday called for a military blockade along the coast of Somalia to intercept pirate vessels heading out to sea. Peter Swift, managing director of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners, said stronger naval action - including aerial and aviation support - is necessary [...]


Shipping industry urges EU governments to take up arms against Somali pirates

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Abdul Hassan, chief of the pirate group called the ‘Central Regional Coastguard’, carries a rocket-propelled grenade on to a boat with some of his crew. Photograph: Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images
European shipowners are urging their governments to wage war on Somali pirates and seize vessels by force, the Guardian has learned, amid growing fear that shippers [...]


Shipper calls for military force on Somali pirates

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The world’s militaries must work together to battle pirates off the Somali coast or ships will have to be diverted and the cost of moving goods will skyrocket, one of the world’s largest oil tanker companies said Friday. Frontline Ltd., which sails five to 10 tankers of crude a month through the treacherous Gulf of [...]


INS Tabar sinks pirate mother ship

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NEW DELHI: An Indian naval frigate has sunk a pirate vessel in the pirate infested waters in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of
Somalia.
INS Tabar, which has been deployed for anti-piracy patrol operations since November 2, was among dozens of warships from several countries that took part in a major offensive to protect [...]


Hijacked ship Stolt Valor released, 18 Indians safe, ransom paid

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MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: After two months in captivity, 18 Indian sailors were on Sunday freed when Somali pirates released their hijacked merchant ship M T Stolt in the Gulf of Aden after a ransom amount of up to 2.5 million dollars was paid.
As news of the release and sailors being safe trickled in, joyous scenes erupted [...]


Shipping industry held hostage by high seas piracy

Piracy is becoming a costly business for the world’s shipping companies, particularly off the coast of Somalia.
Pirates there have hijacked around 30 ships this year and the ransom demands have skyrocketed.
When pirates hijacked a freighter off the coast of Somalia last week, they hit the jackpot. The Ukrainian ship was laden with weaponry, ammunition and [...]