Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management

Somali Pirates hijack vessel while at anchor! August 21, 2011

In what is being described as the first attack of its kind and the most brazen attack yet, Somali pirates hijacked the chemical tanker MV Fairchem Bogey with a crew of 20 Indians and flagged in the Marshall Islands.

She was taken at anchor off Port Salalah, Oman.  Boarded at 0530 and forced to heave up and steam toward Somalia.  An Omani warship fired across the bow but the Master was forced to call the managers and tell them that the pirates were prepared to kill the crew, all lined up on the bridge, if the pursuit was not called off.  The warship shadowed the vessel until out of Omani territorial waters.

This brazen attack demonstrates the tactics used by pirates will evolve and become more sophisticated over time.  This year alone there have been many firsts; attacks in the Red Sea, vessels hijacked during Monsoon season, not releasing crews after ransoms were paid and now hijacking vessels while anchored at port.