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UAE Tanker Hijacked in Indian Ocean July 18, 2011

Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security.
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Today 9 Somalian pirates hijacked the MV Jubba XX tanker in the Northern Indian Ocean. The fully laden tanker was enroute from UEA to Berbera, Somalia when attacked.  The pirates have captured the ship as well as her 16 crewmen.  As the IMB stated: “In the last six months, Somali pirates attacked more vessels than ever before and they’re taking higher risks,” said IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan. “This June, for the first time, pirates fired on ships in rough seas in the Indian Ocean during the monsoon season. In the past, they would have stayed away in such difficult conditions. Masters should remain vigilant,’’

Pirates are becoming more violent and taking greater risks in their pursuit of targets.

Pirates Demand Compensation from South Korea July 15, 2011

Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security.
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Pirates holding South Korean hostages have demanded that South Korea release pirates being held, pay a ransom for the hostages being held by the pirates and pay compensation for a commando raid that killed several pirates.

Using hostages in an attempt to get concessions from a government is yet another new trick being employed by the pirates.  The first time this tactic was used was in April when pirates made similar demands of the Indian government.  Pirate Hanson Abdi said:

“First, we want the South Korean government to change its foolish treatment of us and come with a better approach toward us,” he said in a statement read to the AP.

“Second, we want compensation from them because they killed our brothers and they also have to release others in their jails. After that we may reconsider holding their nationals in our hands,”  The MV Gemini was hijacked in April and its crew of four South Koreans were taken captive.  According to Tim Hunt,

“It takes out the economic element and introduces a political one,” he said. “They’re working outside the model they’ve built up of cash for hostages, and they’re not holding up their side of the bargain.”

2011 Pirate Attacks at Record Pace July 14, 2011

Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security, Risk & Risk Management.
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If the first six months of 2011 are any indication, the year is going to break records for the number of pirate attacks.  In the first six months of the year attacks are up 36% from 2010.  According to IMB, from January through June of 2011 there were 266 attacks compared with 196 a year earlier. While the number of attacks increased, the number of ships hijacked fell from 27 to 21 due to increased security measures.  Pirates only hijacked 1 in 8 vessels this year compared with 1 in 4 last year.  Unfortunately, there is a downside to the increased security.

According to IMB the pirates are taking more risks and becoming more violent in their attacks.  This year pirates fired upon ships during monsoon season for the first time.

Monsoon weather in the Indian Ocean region that began in early June displaced pirates to the Gulf of Aden and the southern Red Sea, the IMB said. It called the 18 attacks reported in the Red Sea area since May 20 “a cause for concern.” Three attacks in the Indian Ocean in adverse weather showed threats remained during monsoons for the first time, the IMB said, citing winds of 34 miles an hour and swells of 4.5 meters (15 feet).

“It may be that these recent Indian Ocean incidents are a sign of desperation on behalf of pirates, or that there are many more pirate action groups operating now than there were in 2010, particularly outside the Gulf of Aden,” the IMB said.

In short, while increased security measures may be hampering the success of pirates, this trend is not expected to last.  The potential ‘return on investment’ of a hijacking is simply too great for pirates to ignore.  The result with be an inevitable cycle of increased security followed by increased risk taking by the pirates.  This pattern can be seen developing now.  It is important for shipping companies to evaluate arming their ships with professional security personnel to prevent hijackings.

July 11th….US Marines and Pirates…a 200 year history! July 11, 2011

Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security, Uncategorized.
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On November 10th, 1775 in Tun’s Tavern, Philadelphia, PA. The United States Marines were born as the Continental Marines.  With the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War on April 11th, 1783 Congress dissolved the Continental Marines and Continental Navy.  On July 11th, 1798 US President John Adams signed “An Act for Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps,” effectively creating a new branch of the military.  The US Marines were born again!  So what does this have to do with Pirates?? Read On!!

In 1794 the US (and European nations) was plagued by pirate attacks on merchant vessels traveling near what was then called the Pirate Coast.  The Pirate coast consisted of Tunis, Algiers, and Tripoli.  The pirates would hijack ships, take crews captive and then demand ransom.  Many nations payed a tributes to keep their ships safe.  As a new nation, the US was not in a position to pay tribute nor did they have an interest.

On October 3rd, 1803 the US Frigate Philadelphia and schooner Vixen (now that is a Ship’s name!) were ordered to Tripoli with whom the US had been at war over the piracy.  The Philadelphia was run aground and the the ship’s crew captured by the Basha of Tripoli.  The Philadelphia was captured and towed to the port of Tripoli.  So, what do the Marines have to do with this??  Read On!!

In response, the US sent a contingent of Marines (7 to be exact) led by Lt. Presley  O’bannon to overthrow the ruler of Tripoli and help re-establish the reign of Hamet Karamanli in what was to be known as the First Barbary War.  This war marked the first time the US was to plant the flag of the new nation on foreign soil and was when the US Marines were presented with the Mamaluke Sword which, since 1825 has been a part of the US Marine Corps officer Uniform.  The war also has been memorialized in the Marines hymn which starts: “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli…”

While piracy off the African Coast has seen a resurgence in recent years, the US, and specifically the US Marines have a long and storied history with piracy….

West African Pirate Attacks Mimic Those In GoA July 9, 2011

Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security, Risk & Risk Management.
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According to Bergen Risk Solutions, attacks off of the coast of Nigeria are beginning to resemble those off of the coast of Somalia in what some say is a disturbing trend. In June, 2011 there were five attacks alone.  The pirates are opting against the traditional robbery and are instead adopting the Somali tactics of hijacking the ships and holding for ransom.  The attacks demonstrate an increasing use of the Automated Ship Identification system (AIS) to target vessels as well as violence in their attacks.  1 person was killed in the attacks in June.  Bergen Risk stated:

 “Anecdotal evidence gathered in Nigeria confirms that the group has watched the modus operandi used by Somali pirates and has emulated their use of motherships.”

It added: “We find that most attacks are carried out in the hours of darkness, that pirates have no problems in carrying strikes up to 50 to 60 nautical miles from shore (but the vast majority of incidents are much closer to land) and that they have a very low threshold for using violence. Many crew members have been severely beaten and even shot during attacks.”