Somali Pirate Raids Continue
November 17, 2008 by Akiva
Filed under Maritime Piracy Attacks
Despite of NATO Maritime Group 2 best efforts to compat piracy, Somali pirate raids in the Gulf of Aden continue. On Saturday, November 15, 2008 two ships where hijacked. A Turkish chemical tankerwas seized off the coast of Yemen, along with its 14-member Turkish crew. And later that day a Japanese cargo ship was seized [...]
Somali Pirates seized freighter carrying 33 T-72 tanks
September 26, 2008 by Akiva
Filed under Maritime Piracy Attacks
In their latest attack on merchent ships off the Horn of Africa, Somali pirates seized the 530-foot-long freighter Faina carrying 33 T-72 tanks, a substantial quantity of ammunition, and spare parts. According to an Ukraine newsagencey, Faina is owned by Tomex Team based out of Odessa and was hired by Ukrainian state controlled arms dealer [...]
Was Secopex hired by Somalia to provide for its maritime security, or not?
June 22, 2008 by Akiva
Filed under Maritime Security
On June 16, 2008 we as well as several news organizations reported that Somalia hired the private French military firm Secopex to provide for its maritime security. Yesterday, VOA correspondent Alisha Ryu learned that this might not be true. Listen below to Alisha Ryu report.
French military firm hired by Somalia to provide maritime security
June 16, 2008 by Akiva
Filed under Maritime Piracy Attacks, Maritime Security
Ever since the pirate attack on the French luxury yacht the Ponant, and the hostage tacking of it’s crew, French forces are involved in providing security to maritime vessels in the Gulf of Aden. Today, Secopex, a private French military firm has signed a contract with Somali government to boost it’s maritime security by creating [...]
Piracy Update: India seeks Jordan's help in the latest piracy crisis off Somalia
May 20, 2008 by Akiva
Filed under Maritime Piracy Attacks, Maritime Security
India has sought the help of Jordan to secure the release of a ship. The sip, Victoria, flying the Jordanian flag, was carrying 21 crew members of whom 10 are Indians was hijacked on May 17, 2008 40 mile off the coast of Somalia. The sip was carrying 4,200 tonnes of sugar donated by Denmark [...]
Somali pirates snatch luxury cruise yacht
April 4, 2008 by Akiva
Filed under Maritime Piracy Attacks, Maritime Security
Somali pirates took over French luxury cruise yacht, Le Ponant, in the Gulf of Aden on Friday March 4, 2008. The pirates are currently holding 30 crew members hostage, no passengers were on board. The yacht was boarded by the pirates while sailing from Somalia, where it had refueled, to the port of Aden, Yemen. [...]
Tug boat Svitzer Korsakov released after Ransom Payment
March 18, 2008 by Akiva
Filed under Maritime Piracy Attacks
Somali pirates released the Svitzer Korsakov, Danish-owned tugboat. The tug was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on February 1, 2008 and held for ransom for more than a month. According to Ahmed Said Aw-Nur, Puntland’s isheries and ports minister, the tug and its crew was freed after the Danish owner paid $700,000 ransom. According [...]
Frensh Navy to provide piracy protection for ships calling Somalia
January 28, 2008 by Akiva
Filed under Maritime Piracy Attacks, Port Security
A new security plan has been introduced to curb the piracy problem off Somalia. The French Navy took over the responsibility of escorting ships contracted by World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver relief supplies from the port of Mombasa, Kenya to Somalia. Some 80% of WFP’s food assistance for Somalia is transported by sea.