Statistics of pirated vessels and crews, March 16 2011

Classification of highjacked vessels
Now, what statistics, related to seaborn piracy, count? They count vessels. Vessels physically are floating objects, i.e. any object capable of being afloat for long enough time to be counted as floating object. From the point of view of physics, supertanker and small paddled boat in a nearby pond are both vessels, enjoying same laws and rights as such. But in other realities, from economy to exploitation, they’re as different as their sizes. They aren’t equal and can’t be equal.
There are ocean-going merchant marine vessels, involved in international, global trade. All such vessels without exception have unique IMO number, non-changeable during all vessel’s life. All such vessel are listed in different reference books, all such vessel transmit AIS signals, they have more or less transparent history and known owners and operators, with known number and nationalities of crews. These vessels are the core of what we call world shipping, and when we say that 90 percent of all goods are transported by sea, we mean these vessels. Their costs are anything between millions and tens of millions, sometimes more than hundred millions, USD. The goods they carry may cost anything from dozens of thousands USD to hundreds of millions, on one given vessel. When we talk about Somali pirates highjacking vessels, we talk about these vessels. We know everything about highjacked vessel from the very beginning, from her characteristics to owner’s name and even names of the crew. We know the routes of highjacked vessels, from where and where to, with what cargo, they were sailing when highjacked. We know how talks are going on, condition of the crew, we know when vessel is released and sometimes – what was the ransom.
There are other vessels, involved in regional trade. Almost all of them, with regards to Somali piracy region, are so-called “dhow’, type of vessels rooting deep in history, to times of Alexander the Great and Sindbad the Sailor. They change very little with milleniums, they swap sails for engines and they use some modern communications and navigational equipment, still far cry from what modern international freighters use. Many of them are wooden. Their sizes may differ, but their cargo capacity in general is something between dozens and hundreds of tons, very rarely exceeding one thousand tons. They are engaged in regional trade, goods may be anything from charcoal to illegal migrants. They don’t have IMO number, they arent listed in international reference books, they aren’t insured with international insurers, their owner may be any petty company or person along the coastlines of India, Pakistan, Persian Gulf, Oman or Red Sea. For world shipping, these vessels, their owners, their masters and their crews, are simply non-existent. Their costs may be thousands of USD, even maybe tens of thousands, but not anywhere close to the costs of international freighters. Their goods may cost thousands or tens of thousands USD, but not anywhere close to costs of cargoes carried by international freighters.
We don’t know how and why, under what circumstances, they are highjacked. There are strong reasons and facts to believe, that some of these vessels willingly cooperate with pirates as their mother-ships. These vessels often are involved in any kind of illegal trade and smuggling one can name, from Somali charcoal to illegal immigrants. And after all, Somali may be the land of lawlesness and frustration, but there are trade and different activities in there, demanding different kinds of goods. Pirates themselves enjoy luxuries of modern world, but somehow those luxuries are to be transported to them, is it not so? If Indian or Pakistani dhow salis to Somali coast, owner and crew know what they’re doing, aren’t they? They obviously have agreements with this force in Somali or that, ensuring their safety, but often something went wrong and rival group highjacks the vessel. Some dhows are actually highjacked and forced to be mother-ships, and then released without any ransom paid. Some dhows with goods are robbed off their goods and then released without any ransom paid. In fact, we never heard any confirmed story on any dhow being ransomed out for the sum being publicily known.
There are “strange” cargo vessels reported from time to time as highjacked and then released under unclear circumstances. Some of them even have IMO numbers, national flags and known owners. Some of them are suspected in arms smuggling to Somali. Some are freed by their crews, or military of Yemen or Puntland. Why, how, and with what casualities, we generally don’t know, it remains a mystery.
There are, also, fishing vessels. Some of them are as known and internationally recognized, as any international freighter. For example, tuna fishing vessels, Alacrana (Spain) and Thai Union 3 (Thailand). Both were highjacked in 2009, both with IMO numbers and recognized owners, fate of both was closely watched by mass-media and public, in Spain and in Russia, as Thai Union 3 crew was mostly Russian. Everything from dates of highjack and release to condition of crews while held by pirates, and sums paid to pirates, was known to public.
There are other fishing vessels, in fact most part of fishing vessels that pirates highjack. Those other fishing vessels don’t have IMO number, more often than not they don’t have recognized, known to public owner, we don’t know under what circumstances they were highjacked and released, and nearly all such vessels are suspected in poaching. Mostly those vessels are used as pirate mother-ships, they are prisoners of pirates for much longer time than any other vessels including dhows, and when they’re finally released, we don’t know even exact dates, let alone terms of release. Looking at pics and characteristics of those vessels, anyone may guess that if ransom was paid, it was far cry from millions of dollars.
There are yachts, with several, from two to four-five, yachtsmen on board. Some cases hit top headlines in world media, some are unclear. Those boats are to be counted when we know for sure that there was highjack and yachtsmen nation claimed their nationality and confirmed kidnapping. Yahcts, or to be more exact, pleasure boats, are hardly relevant to world shipping – after all, yachtsmen know about risks involved, they don’t have shipowner ordering them to tranzit dangerous waters, they have a safe choice but opted for most risky one. Each such case is an exception and can’t be measured as statistically normal and regular.
Several organizations and news agencies compile and update Somali piracy statistics, among them IMB (International Maritime Buerau, with Kuala-Lumpur Piracy Reporting Center) is considered to be most reliable and professional. IMB and the rest include in statistics all types of vessels I described above. It may lead to no fault, if statistics are properly analyzed with regards to the types of the highjacked vessels. Regretfully this is not the case. IMB as a branch of international maritime organizations, claiming themselves to be leaders of world shipping, should of course, provide statistics with clear and unequivocal explanations and classification. IMB instead, made it’s own statistics kind of closed, not to mention outdated. Reports should be open for downloading, reports should be timely, reports should exclude any mistakes when analyzing statistics. Instead, statistics prepared by IMB pave the way for broad-scale falsifications and distortions. IMB with it’s activities and piracy statistics deserves a special study.
Mikhail Voytenko


List of merchant vessels presently held by Somali pirates

1. Ro-ro Iceberg I, UAE
Ro-ro Iceberg I pirated on March 29 10 nm off Aden, crew 24: nationalities 9 Yemen, 6 India, 4 Ghana, 2 Sudan, 2 Pakistan, 1 Philippines. Iceberg I IMO 7429102, dwt 3960, built 1976, flag Panama, owner Azal Shipping & Cargo Dubai.  

2. General cargo Suez, Egypt
General cargo Suez pirated on August 2 in 13.02N 48.54E, IRTC, Gulf of Aden. Vessel loaded with cement in bags was enroute from Karachi Pakistan to Red sea. Crew 23: 11 Egypt, 4 Pakistan, 2 Shri Lanka, 6 India. Suez – IMO 8218720, dwt 17300, built 1984, flag Panama, owner Red Sea Nav. Co Egypt.

3. Tanker Olib G., Greece
Tanker Olib G. Pirated on September 8 in 13 23 N 049 58 E, Gulf of Aden. Crew 18: 18 Georgia, 3 Turkey. Olib G. - IMO 8026608, dwt 6406, built 1988, flag Malta, manager Frio Ventures S.A. Greece.

4. Asphalt tanker Asphalt Venture, UAE
Asphalt tanker Asphalt Venture pirated on September 29, in position 120 nm E off Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Vessel was enroute Mombasa Kenya to Durban SAR. Crew 15: all India. Asphalt Venture – IMO 8875798, dwt 3884, built 1991, flag Panama, manager Bitumen Invest AS India, owner Inter Global Shipping UAE.

5. Product tanker Polar, Greece
Product tanker Polar pirated on October 30 in 12:12N – 064:53E, Indian ocean. Vessel was enroute Baltic to Singapore. Crew 24: 3 Greece, 4 Montenegro, 16 Philippines, 1 Romania. Polar – IMO 9299563, dwt 72854, built 2005, flag Panama, manager Paradise Navigation S.A. Greece.

6. Chemical tanker Hannibal II, Tunis
Chemical tanker Hannibal II highjacked on Nov 11 2010, enroute Malaysia – Suez, with cargo vegetable oil, some 860 nm E off The Horn of Africa. Crew 31: 23 Tunisians, 4 Filipinos, 1 Croatian, 1 Georgian, 1 Russian and 1 Moroccan. Hannibal II IMO 8011756, dwt 23404, built 1983, flag Panama, owner Gabes Marine Tankers Tunis Tunisia.

7. General cargo with container capacity Yuan Xiang, China
Yuan Xiang highjacked on Nov 12 2010 in pos 18 02.55 N 66 04.39 E. Boxship was enroute from Fujarah UAE. Crew 29, all Chinese. Yuan Xiang – IMO 7609192, dwt 22356, built 1978, flag Panama, owner Hongyuan Marine Co. Ltd.

8. Boxship Albedo, Malaysia
Boxship Albedo highjacked on Nov 26 2010 in Indian ocean, vessel was enroute from Jebel Ali UAE to Mombasa Kenya, loaded with containers. Crew 23, nationalities 6 Pakistan, Bangladesh, Shri Lanka, Iran. Albedo IMO 9041162, dwt 15562, built 1993, flag Malaysia, owner Majestic Enrich Shipping Sendirian Berhad.

9. Boxship MSC Panama, USA
Boxship MSC Panama  highjacked at 1212 UTC Dec 10 2010 in position 0957S 04146E, vessel was fired upon with AKs and RPG. Crew 23 all Myanmar, vessel was enroute from Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) to Beira (Mozambique). MSC Panama - IMO 8902125, dwt 26288, built 1989, flag Liberia, manager Eastwind Shipmanagement Singapore, owner Eurus Berlin New York.

10. Bulk carrier Renuar, Greece
Bulk carrier Renuar was highjacked Dec 11 2010 some 336 nm NW off Maldives. Renuar IMO 9042221, dwt 70123, built 1993, flag Panama, operator Maryville Maritime Greece. Crew 24 Filipinos, vessel was enroute from Port Louis (Mauritius) to Fujairah (UAE).

11. Bulk carrier Orna, UAE
Bulk carrier Orna highjacked at midday Dec 20 2010 in Indian oecan in pos in 01 46S 060 32E, some 400 nm NE off Seyshelles. The attack was launched from 2 attack skiffs, with pirates firing small arms and rocket propelled grenades at the merchant vessel. The vessel was stopped and boarded by at least 4 pirates. Vessel was enroute Durban South Africa - Zhangzhou China carrying 26,500 tonnes of coal. Crew 19: 1 Shri Lanka and 18 Syria. Orna IMO 8312162, dwt 27915, built 1984, flag Panama. Registered owner Sirago Shipmanagement Co., operator Swedish Management, Dubai United Arab Emirates.
 
12. General cargo with container capacity Thor Nexus, Thailand
At 0140 UTC Dec 25 2010 in 16 01N 060 12E pirates highjacked boxship Thor Nexus. Crew 27 all Thai citizen. Vessel was enroute Jebel Ali UAE – Bangladesh. Thor Nexus IMO 8712491, dwt 20410, built 1989, flag Thailand, owner Thoresen&Company Bangkok.

13. Bulk carrier Blida, Algeria
Bulk carrier Blida highjacked in pos 15 28N 055 51E at 1536 UTC Jan 01 2011, approximately 150 nautical miles South East of the port of Salalah, Oman. Vessel was on her way to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from Salalah in Oman. Crew 27: 17 Algerians, 6 Ukranians, 2 Philippinese, 1 Indonesian and 1 Jordanian. Blida IMO 7705635, dwt 20586, built 1978, flag Algeria, operator Sekur Holdings Greece, owner International Bulk Carrier Algeria.

14. Bulk carrier Eagle, Greece
Bulk carrier Eagle at 0641 UTC Jan 17 2011 in 13 17 N 061 42 E (490 nm SE off Salalah, Oman), vessel was enroute from Aquabar Jordan to Paradip India. Crew 24, all Philippinese. Eagle IMO 8126408, dwt 52163, built 1985, flag Cyprus, owner/manager Reposea Shipping Athens Greece.

15. Bulk carrier Hoang Son Sun, Vietnam
Highjacked presumably at around 2200 UTC Jan 19 in pos 20 16N 064 29E, approximately 520 nautical miles South East of the port of Muscat, Oman. Vessel was enroute from Fujarah UAE to Xiamen China, cargo unknown. Crew 24, all Vietnamese. Son Sun IMO 8323862, dwt 22835, built 1984, flag Mongolia, owner/manager HOANG SON CO LTD 9, Trieu Quoc Dat, Thanh Hoa City, Vietnam.

16. Bulk carrier Khaled Muhieddine K, Syria
At 1242 UTC Jan 20 2011 the bulk carrier Khaled Muhieddine K was pirated in the North Arabian Sea in 15 11N 059 38E, approximately 330 nautical miles South East of the Omani coastal port of Salalah. Authorities were made aware of the attack when the master reported being fired upon with small arms and seeing pirates on board.  All contact with the vessel was then lost. Crew of 25 (22 Syrian and 3 Egyptian), vessel was enroute from Singapore to Hudaydah, Yemen. Khaled Muhieddine K IMO 8105650, dwt 24022, built 1981, flag Togo, manager/owner Damak Maritime, Syria.

17. Heavylift and project m/v Beluga Nomination, Germany
Jan 22 - heavylift and project cargo, multupurpose m/v Beluga Nomination was attacked and boarded by pirates in 01 49N 056 35E, 400 nm N off Victoria, Seyshelles. Crew hided in citadel and holded on for 2.5 days, waiting for navy rescue. Rescue didn’t come, either citadel was broken into by pirates, or crew gave up. Crew 12 – 1 Polish (Master), 2 Russians, 2 Unkranians, 7 Philippinese. 2 crew managed to escape (Ukranian and Philippinese), at least 2 were killed (Russian and Philippinese), when Danish and Seyshelles Navies tried to free vessel. Vessel was enroute Europe – Seyshelles – ROK, with steel cargo. Beluga Nomination IMO 9356402, dwt 9775, built 2006, flag Antigua, owner Beluga Group.

18. Aframax tanker Savina Caylyn, Italy
Feb 8 2011 Italian aframax Savina Caylyn highjacked at 0427 UTC in 12 10 N 066 00 E, about 500 nm W off Indian coast, after being fired upon. The vessel was on passage to Pasir Gudang (Malaysia) from Bashayer (Sudan) when it was attacked. There is presently no communication with the vessel and no information regarding the condition of the crew of 22 (5 Italian and 17 Indian). Savina Caylyn IMO 9489285, dwt 104255, built 2008, flag Italy, manager D’Amato Fratelli Spa.

19. VLCC Irene SL, Greece
Feb 9 2011 VLCC Irene SL highjacked at 1226 LT on Feb 9 2011 in pos 21 27 N 063 18 E, northern part of the Arabian sea, 190 nm off Oman coast, 260 nm off Pakistan coast. Vessel in full load was enroute from Fujarah to US Gulf of Mexico. The cargo alone has a value of around $200 million worth of Kuwaiti crude oil, which is said to be 270,000 metric tons or over 1.9 million barrels, reports Ecoterra Intl. VLCC Irene SL IMO 9285823, dwt 319247, built 2004, flag Greece, owner and manager Enesel SA Athens, Greece. Crew 25 (7 Greek, 1 Georgian and 17 Filippinos).

20. Bulk carrier Sinin, Iran
Feb 12 2011 bulk carrier Sinin highjacked at 1931 UTC in 19 26N 063 29E, vessel was enroute from Singapore to Fujairah with 52,000 mt iron ore. Crew 23, 13 Iranian and 10 Indian nationals. Manager is Irano Hind, owner IRISL. Owner of the vessel is IRISL. Vessel wasn’t registered with MSC(HOA) and was not reporting to UKMTO. Sinin IMO 9274941, dwt 52466, built 2006, flag Malta, manager Irano Hind Shipping Tehran.

21. Bulk carrier Dover, Greece
28 February 2011, the Bulk Cargo Carrier MV DOVER was pirated in position Latitude: 18 48N 05852E - approximately 260 nautical miles North East of Salalah in the Norther Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. NATO and EU NAVFOR confirmed the seajacking. The Panama-flagged, Greek owned vessel was en rout from Port Quasim (Pakistan) to Saleef (Yemen).  The MV DOVER has a crew of 23 (3 Romanian, 1 Russian and 19 Filipinos). Vessel was registered with MSC(HOA), and was reporting to UKMTO. Dover IMO 7433634, dwt 37951, built 1981, flag Panama, manager/owner Worldwide Shipmanagement, Athens, Greece.


Crews by nationality:
Algeria 17 (Blida)
Croatia 1
Ghana 4
Georgia 15 Oilb G +1 Hannibal II +1(Irene SL) = 17
Greece 3 + 7(Irene SL) = 10
Egypt 11 (Suez) + 3 (Khaled Muhieddine K) = 14
India 6+6+15 + 17(Savina Caylyn) + 10 (Sinin) = 54
Indonesia 1 (Blida)
Iran 13(Sinin)
Jordan 1
Yemen 9
China 29
Montenegro 4
Morocco 1
Myanmar 23=23
Pakistan 4+2=6
Poland 1 (Beluga N)
Russia 1 (Hannibal II) + 1 (Beluga N) + 1(Dover) = 3
Romania 1 + 3(Dover) = 4
Syria 18 (Orna) + 22 (Khaled Muhieddine K) = 40
Sudan 2
Thailand 27 (Thor Nexus)
Turkey 3 (Oilb G)
Tunis 23
Vietnam 24 (Hoang Son Sun)
Ukraine 6 (Blida) + 1 (Beluga N) = 7
Philippines 1+16+4+24+2+24+5 + 17 (Irene SL) + 19(Dover) = 112
Shri Lanka 2+ 1 (Orna) + 6 (Albedo) = 3
Boxship Albedo crew 23: Shri Lanka (6), Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan.
481 seamen on board of highjacked vessels.
2 yachtsmen from the yacht Choizil (SAR), 7 yachtsmen from Danish yacht Ing (incl 3 teenagers 17, 15 and 13 years old), and 6 crew (2 Danish, 4 Philippinese) from MV Leopard, whose fate and condition in fact, are unknown.
Total 496 seamen and yachtsmen.

Vessels’ nationality:
Algeria 1
Germany 1
Greece 6
China 1
Egypt 1
Iran 1
Italy 1
Malaysia 1
Thailand 1
Tunis 1
UAE 3
USA 1

Type of vessels:
Tankers – 6
Boxships - 2
General cargo – 4
Ro-ro – 1
Bulk carriers - 8


Fishing vessels – all without IMO number, clear history and owners, all are suspected in illegal fishing.

Tuna fishing vessel Jih Chun Tsai 68, Taiwan
Tuna fishing vessel Jih Chun Tsai 68 pirated on March 31, no data on the vessel including IMO No. Crew 14: 1 (master) Taiwan, 2 China, 11 Indonesia.

Tuna fishing vessel Prantaly 12
Three tuna fishing vessels Prantalay 11, Prantalay 12, Prantalay 14 were pirated on April 18 2010 in Indian ocean, some 1200 nm off Somali coast. Vessels were sailing from Jibouti, Ecoterra Intl claims they were enroute to fishing grounds without proper licence, i.e. poaching. No data on any vessel including IMO. All three vessels Thailand flagged and owned, owner PT Interfishery Ltd. Crews 77, all Thailand. 26 on Prantalay 11, 25 on Prantalay 12, 26 on Prantalay 14. Owner flatly rejected to pay ransom, in fact abandoned vessels and crews.
Jan 28 2011 Indian Navy sank Prantalay 14 by gun fire, vessel was used as a mother-ship for many months. At least 6 crew went “missing”, reported Navy.
Feb 5 2011 Indian Navy detained Prantalay 11 after firing upon her, vessel was used as a mother-ship for many months. Navy didn’t report condition of the crew and casualities.

Fishing vessel Shiuh Fu No 1, presumably Taiwan
Fishing vessel Shiuh Fu No 1 highjacked on Dec 25 at 1030 UTC in 12 58S 051 52E, crew 26, nationalities Taiwan, China and Vietnam.

Total 3 fishing vessels with 65 fishermen. Highjacked in the end of December 2010 f/v Vega-5 was captured by Indian Navy on March 12 2011 in Arabian sea as a pirate mother-ship, 13 Mozambicians freed, the rest 11 are in Somali and maybe, some died when Navy fired upon vessel. Mozambican flagged fishing vessel Vega-5 has a displacement of 140 tonnes and a length of 24 meters.  The nationalities of the 24 crew are 2 Spaniards (the captain and the boatswain are Galician), 3 Indonesians and 19 Mozambicans. 


Total: 572 seamen, fishermen and yachtsmen, 21 cargo vessels, 3 fishing vessels.



Statistics 2011, highjacks and releases


March 14 2011 – owner of the bulk carrier Jahan Moni said vessel was released and is under way to Salalah, Oman. Vessel was released by pirates after ransom $4.2 million was paid. Bulk carrier Jahan Moni highjacked at 0942 Dec 5 2010 in pos 08 11N 071 43E, near Indian coast.
Highjack report:
Bulk carrier Jahan Moni highjacked at 0942 Dec 5 2010 in pos 08 11N 071 43E, near Indian coast. Vessel was enroute from Singapore to Greece. Crew 26, all Bangladesh. 43,150 tonnes of nickel ore. Jahan Moni IMO 9102954, dwt 41300, built 1996, flag Bangladesh, owner Brave Royal Ship Management Chittagong.
Comment:
I’ve been writing many times about pirates’ capability to hold pirated vessels, about natural, physical restrictions on a number of vessels pirates can hold in one time (places to anchor vessels, local resources to feed and fuel crews and vessels on a survival level). My guess was, that the figure stands somewhere near 20 vessels at a time, plus-minus. Looks like I was right. I was musing also on pirates business skills, when will they understand, that the fortune lies not in a volume of a given ransom, but in turnover. It appears that pirates finally, understood, that quick turnover with maybe, lesser ransoms, brings in the end more money, than longer periods of negotiations with maybe, bigger ransoms.
Mikhail Voytenko

At 2100 hours on March 12 2011, INS Kalpeni intercepted a pirate mother vessel called Vega 5 in the Arabian Sea about 600 nautical miles west of India. A total of 74 men have been apprehended of which 61 are suspected to be Somali pirates,” Indian navy spokesman P.V.S Satish said. A statement from the Indian navy reported its fast-attack craft, the INS KALPENI, directed “limited” fire on the vessel after being shot at. The operation had started last Friday when a naval Dornier aircraft located FV VEGA 5 while responding to a distress call from a merchant ship MV VANCOUVER BRIDGE in the area and foiled the piracy attempt, he said.
"Seeing the naval aircraft, the pirates immediately aborted their piracy attempt and the vessel used as piracy launch attempted to escape from the area. Simultaneously, INS KHUKRI and KALPENI were diverted to intercept and investigate," the spokesperson said. After INS Kalpeni closed in on FV VEGA 5, the pirate vessel launched two skiffs attacking the Indian Navy ship with fire arms, he said.
"INS Kalpeni responded with limited firing and, thereafter, it was observed that a fire had broken out on Vega 5 and its personnel were seen jumping overboard," he said. Later on, INS Kalpeni in conjunction with INS Khukri found 74 personnel comprising 61 pirates and 13 crew members of the fishing vessel.
So far it is clear that only a total of 13 crew-fishermen on board the Mozambique-flagged, Spanish-owned fishing vessel FV VEGA 5 were rescued.
The incident occurred allegedly 690 miles from the west coast of India, but a Indian navy spokesman stated it happened in Indian waters. India, like Somalia and other coastal states, has a 200nm Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is calculated from the farest island of a country's territory. The Indian navy did not provide an exact position, though. The Lakshadweep group of islands in the southeast portion of the Arabian Sea
Already fifteen suspected pirates — 12 Somalis, two Ethiopians and a Kenyan — face trial in India on charges including attempted murder after they were caught in January from one of the captured FV Prantalay vessels.
Analysts fear for hostage crew
Observers stated that over 50% of the 24 men crew of the fishing vessel are not accounted for by the Indian navy and from the naval reporting it is not clear if there were any casulaties. Analysts fear the worst for them and believe that some might have been killed in the incident, while it is also known that at least one part of the crew - the two Spanish nationals - is being held back in Somalia as hostages and safeguards against such an eventual arrest of the pirates. Indian naval sources admitted they were informed before their attack that most likely not all crew were on board and some were held hostage back in Somalia, when the vessel left aroun 10 days ago. According to other naval sources the FV VEGA 5 is still floating and is apparently pulled by the Indian Navy to safety. "Naval ships and aircraft are presently in the area searching for any other fishermen or pirates," the Indian navy said and that after the operation, the apprehended pirates and the Vega-5 were being brought to Mumbai for further investigations.
Highjack:
The Mozambican flagged Fishing Vessel VEGA 5, which was previously reported missing by her owner, is confirmed as being pirated in the waters between Mozambique and Madagascar. On 31 December 2010, the vessel was spotted near the Mozambique coast, approximately 200 nautical miles South West of the Comoros Islands, heading north.  The vessel was towing what looked to be a pirate attack skiff and did not respond to any calls. There has been no further communication with the vessel.  The FV VEGA 5 has a displacement of 140 tonnes and a length of 24 meters.  The nationalities of the 24 crew are 2 Spaniards (the captain and the boatswain are Galician), 3 Indonesians and 19 Mozambicans.

Somali pirates released Rak Africana on March 9 2011. Somali pirates released Rak Africana against unknown ransom and now vessel is sailing to safe port, with escorting Spanish navy ship, reported Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 9 2011. Vessel developed some technical problems. General cargo Rak Africana pirated on April 11 2010 in Indian ocean, 280 nm W off Seyshelles. Crew 26: 11 India, 5 Pakistan, 10 Tanzania. Rak Africana – IMO 8200553, dwt 7561, built 1981, flag St-Vincent, owner Zambezi Shipping Agency LLC Dubai.
Released freighter Rak Africana sank or sinking
m/v Rak Africana master requested immediate assistance on March 9 2011, reporting water ingress. 25 crew went into lifeboats and abandoned vessel, they were rescued by Italian warship ITS Zeffiro and later transferred to another released by pirates vessel, LPG tanker York, which is proceeding to Mombasa Kenya. m/v Rak Africana already sank or is sinking, details are unclear, maybe crew sank vessels themselves after nearly a year’s captivity, as a revenge to shipowner. Or maybe they just didn’t want to brace themselves for  more efforts saving the vessel, being too weared out by hardships of captivity.

LPG tanker York released by pirates on March 10 2011, m/t York is proceeding to Mombasa Kenya. Sum of the ransom is unknown. Vessel took on board crew of another released vessel, m/v Rak Africana, and as of March 11 is proceeding to Mombasa Kenya, ETA in 4-5 days, reports Ecoterra Intl. LPG tanker York pirated on October 23 in 04 11 S 41 19 E, vessel was enroute Mombasa Kenya to Seyshelles. Crew 17: 1 (master) Germany, 14 Philippines, 2 Ukraine. York - IMO 9220421, dwt 5076, built 2000, flag Singapore, manager Interunity Management Corp Greece.

Feb 28 2011 German general cargo Ems River released by Somali pirates against ransom, sum is unknown. 8 crew is safe and well, giving the circumstances.
General cargo Ems River highjacked at 1303 Dec 27 2010 in pos 17 57N 057 43E, GoA. Crew 8: 1 Russian (or Romanian) and 7 Philippinese. Vessel was enroute from Jebel Ali UAE to S-Nikolas, Greece. Ems River IMO 9551662, dwt 5200, built 2010, flag Antigua, owner Grona Tankers Germany.

28 February 2011, the Bulk Cargo Carrier MV DOVER was pirated in position Latitude: 18 48N 05852E - approximately 260 nautical miles North East of Salalah in the Norther Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. NATO and EU NAVFOR confirmed the seajacking. The Panama-flagged, Greek owned vessel was en rout from Port Quasim (Pakistan) to Saleef (Yemen).  The MV DOVER has a crew of 23 (3 Romanian, 1 Russian and 19 Filipinos). Vessel was registered with MSC(HOA), and was reporting to UKMTO. Dover IMO 7433634, dwt 37951, built 1981, flag Panama, manager/owner Worldwide Shipmanagement, Athens, Greece.

Feb 27 2011 m/v Izumi freed after owner paid a ransom. Crew is well, giving the circumstances. EU NAVFOR ships going to rendezvous vessel and escort her to Mombasa Kenya. During captivity vessel was used as mother-ship for conducting ocean raids. Sum of the ransom unknown. General cargo Izumi pirated on October 10 in Indian ocean in 01 39S 042 05E. Crew 20: all Philippines. Izumi – IMO 9414955, dwt 20170, built 2007, flag Panama, owner Fair Field Shipping Co. Ltd Tokyo Japan.

Feb 24 2011 – pirates highjacked Danish sailing yacht Ing in 14N 58E, with 7 crew, Danish couple, 2 crew and 3 teenagers aged 17, 15 and 13.

Feb 12 2011 bulk carrier Sinin highjacked at 1931 UTC in 19 26N 063 29E, vessel was enroute from Singapore to Fujairah with 52,000 mt iron ore. Crew 23, 13 Iranian and 10 Indian nationals. Manager is Irano Hind, owner IRISL. Owner of the vessel is IRISL. Vessel wasn’t registered with MSC(HOA) and was not reporting to UKMTO. Sinin IMO 9274941, dwt 52466, built 2006, flag Malta, manager Irano Hind Shipping Tehran.

Feb 9 2011 VLCC Irene SL highjacked at 1226 LT on Feb 9 2011 in pos 21 27 N 063 18 E, northern part of the Arabian sea, 190 nm off Oman coast, 260 nm off Pakistan coast. Vessel in full load was enroute from Fujarah to US Gulf of Mexico. The cargo alone has a value of around $200 million worth of Kuwaiti crude oil, which is said to be 270,000 metric tons or over 1.9 million barrels, reports Ecoterra Intl. This is the fourth VLCC highjacked by Somali pirates in their history, previous three were:
VLCC Sirius Star (IMO 9384198) highjacked Nov 15 2008, released Jan 9 2009 for then record 3 mil USD;
VLCC Maran Centaurus (IMO: 9073050) highjacked Nov 30 2009, released for 5.5 mil ransom Jan 18 2010;
VLCC Samho Dream (IMO: 9235737) highjacked Apr 4 2010, released Nov 6 2010 for all-time record sum of 9.5 mil USD (ransom sum was claimed by pirates, owner didn’t confirm or reject it).
VLCC Irene SL IMO 9285823, dwt 319247, built 2004, flag Greece, owner and manager Enesel SA Athens, Greece. Company currently manages a modern and diverse fleet of five tankers - three VLCC and two aframax - and three supramax bulk carriers and also has three suezmax tankers on order. Crew 25 (7 Greek, 1 Georgian and 17 Filippinos).

Feb 8 2011 Italian aframax Savina Caylyn highjacked at 0427 UTC in 12 10 N 066 00 E, about 500 nm W off Indian coast, after being fired upon. The vessel was on passage to Pasir Gudang (Malaysia) from Bashayer (Sudan) when it was attacked. There is presently no communication with the vessel and no information regarding the condition of the crew of 22 (5 Italian and 17 Indian). Savina Caylyn IMO 9489285, dwt 104255, built 2008, flag Italy, manager D’Amato Fratelli Spa.

Feb 5 2011 Indian Navy detained Prantalay 11 after firing upon her, vessel was used as a mother-ship for many months. Navy didn’t report condition of the crew and casualities.

Jan 28 2011 Indian Navy sank Prantalay 14 by gun fire, vessel was used as a mother-ship for many months. At least 6 crew went “missing”, reported Navy.

January 28 f/v Tai Yuan 227 released from Pirate control
January 28, 2011, EU NAVFOR - Although exact details surrounding the situation are not known at this time, there are indications that the Taiwanese flagged fishing vessel TAI JUAN 227 has been released from pirate control.  The vessel, which had a crew of 28 (Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Kenyans and Mozambicans) at the time of the attack, was pirated on 6 May 2010 whilst operating 700 Nm North East of The Seychelles.  Although direct contact with the crew has not been possible, the vessel’s owners apparently received a call from the master stating that they had been released but that they did not know why.  The crew were provided with fresh food and water by a US warship after the release.  The vessel is currently heading away from Somalia. There is confusion surrounding the details of the release as, until 3 days ago, the FV TAI YUAN 227 was suspected as being used as a pirate mothership. 
Highjack report:
Fishing vessel Tai Yuan 227 pirated in Indian ocean on May 6 when sailing to Maldives. No data on vessel including IMO. Crew 28: 9 China, 3 Vietnam, 3 Philippines, 7 Kenya, 2 Mozambique. Vessel considered to be Taiwanese, either because of flag and owner or owner, not clear.

Jan 22 - heavylift and project cargo, multupurpose m/v Beluga Nomination was attacked and boarded by pirates in 01 49N 056 35E, 400 nm N off Victoria, Seyshelles. Crew hided in citadel and holded on for 2.5 days, waiting for navy rescue. Rescue didn’t come, either citadel was broken into by pirates, or crew gave up. Crew 12 – 1 Polish (Master), 2 Russians, 2 Unkranians, 7 Philippinese. Vessel was enroute Europe – Seyshelles – ROK, with steel cargo. Beluga Nomination IMO 9356402, dwt 9775, built 2006, flag Antigua, owner Beluga Group.

On Jan 21 2011 tanker Samho Jewelry was released by special forces of South Korean destroyer Choi Young, 8 pirates were killed and 5 taken prisoners. Master of the tanker got gunshot wounds in stomach. Riddled by fire tanker proceeds to nearest safe port, escorted by destroyer. This is the first case in Somali piracy history, when navy storms captured vessel
At 0930 UTC Jan 15 2011 in pos 22 00 N 064 00 E (about 310 nm SE off Muskat, Oman, 200 nm SW off Sindh, Pakistan) Somali pirates attacked and highjacked South Korean chemical tanker Samho Jewelry, enroute UAE – Shri Lanka with cargo of unknown chemicals on board. Crew 21: 8 South Koreans, 11 Burmese and 2 Indonesians. Samho Jewelry IMO 9249594, dwt 19924, built 2001, flag Malta, manager/owner Samho Shipping, Pusan, Korea.

At 1242 UTC Jan 20 2011 the bulk carrier Khaled Muhieddine K was pirated in the North Arabian Sea in 15 11N 059 38E, approximately 330 nautical miles South East of the Omani coastal port of Salalah. Authorities were made aware of the attack when the master reported being fired upon with small arms and seeing pirates on board.  All contact with the vessel was then lost. Crew of 25 (22 Syrian and 3 Egyptian), vessel was enroute from Singapore to Hudaydah, Yemen. Khaled Muhieddine K IMO 8105650, dwt 24022, built 1981, flag Togo, manager/owner Damak Maritime, Syria.
First case of storming captured vessel in Somali piracy history

Jan 19 - The MV Hoang Son Sun pirated approximately 520 nautical miles South East of the port of Muscat, Oman. The 22,835-tonne Bulk carrier, which is Mongolian flagged and Vietnamese owned, has a crew of 24 Vietnamese nationals. No further details of the attack are known at this stage.
January 20, 2011, EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office
Vessel was highjacked presumably around 2200 UTC Jan 19 in pos 20 16N 064 29E. Bulk carrier Hoang Son Sun IMO 8323862, dwt 22835, built 1984, flag Mongolia, owner/manager HOANG SON CO LTD 9, Trieu Quoc Dat, Thanh Hoa City, Vietnam.

Jan 16 - The pirated products tanker Motivator has been released approximately 160 n.miles south west of the island of Socotra facing the mouth of the Gulf of Aden. EU NAVFOR says it has a ship assisting the crew. The release of the Greek-owned ship took place on Sunday 16 January.
Highjack report:
Tanker Motivator pirated on July 4 in 13.16N 42.56E, near Bab el Mandeb Strait. Vessel loaded with lubricators was enroute from Ukraine to Indonesia. Crew 18: all Philippines. Motivator – IMO 9340386, dwt 13065, built 2007, flag Marshall Islands, manager Evalend Shipping Tankers Co, Greece.
No news on ransom sum, and most probably, it will stay unknown.

Jan 17 - Somali pirates highjacked bulk carrier Eagle at 0641 UTC Jan 17 2011 in 13 17 N 061 42 E (490 nm SE off Salalah, Oman), vessel was enroute from Aquabar Jordan to Paradip India. Crew 24, all Philippinese. Eagle IMO 8126408, dwt 52163, built 1985, flag Cyprus, owner/manager Reposea Shipping Athens Greece.

Jan 12 – pirates highjacked general cargo Leopard in 15 11 0 N, 58 19 0 E. Leopard IMO 8902096, dwt 1780, built 1989, flag Denmark, owner Shipcraft. 13-14 Jan – Turkish fregate found derelict vessel, pirates took with them 6 crew, 2 Danish nationalities and 4 Philippinese. Fate and condition of the crew unknown.

Jan 01 - Bulk carrier Blida was pirated in pos 15 28N 055 51E at 1536 UTC Jan 01 2011, approximately 150 nautical miles South East of the port of Salalah, Oman. The 20,586 tonne Bulk Carrier is Algerian flagged and owned. The vessel was on her way to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from Salalah in Oman at the time of the attack.  No further details of the attack are known at this stage. MV Blida has a crew of 27 (Algerian, Ukrainian and Philippino) and is carrying a cargo of clinker. Blida IMO 7705635, dwt 20586, built 1978, flag Algeria, operator Sekur Holdings Greece, owner International Bulk Carrier Algeria.


Mikhail Voytenko
March 16 2011