Somali Pirates hijack vessel while at anchor! August 21, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: armed security, Chris Mark, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
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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.
Tanker Hijacked by Somali Pirates August 20, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Chris Mark, Fairchem Bogey, gulf of aden, InfoSec, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
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Th
e Mumbai operated tanker Fairchem Bogey was hijacked Saturday near the port of Salalah, Oman by Somali pirates. According to reports the tanker has 21 Indian crewmembers on board and is currently being followed by the naval forces of Oman.
“Swarming Attacks” suggest new pirate tactics August 19, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Chris Mark, gulf of aden, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
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On August 7th, 2011 IMB reported an attack on a ship in the Red Sea in which it appeared that pirates were banding together and ‘swarming’ to attack vessels. This wolfpack type attack was brushed off by some in the security industry. On August 18th, 2011 the IMB live reporting system reported another such attack. In this attempted hijacking 7 high speed boats filled with 3-5 men, each armed with automatic swarmed a ship in an attempt to hijack the vessel. As this attack was only 27km from the previous attack the implication is that pirate groups may be operating in distinct areas.
On a more fundamental level this new type should not come as a surprise. Security and risk theory holds that as long as the the perceived payoff exceeds the perceived risk, criminals will continue to attempt to circumvent controls. As controls change, criminal tactics will change in response. Given that the average ransom paid exceeded $3 million in 2010 it is not expected that pirates will give up their attempts at hijackings for farming any time soon. Shipping companies would be well advised to consider that pirate attacks will continue to increase in violence and tactics will continue to evolve in response to security controls being employed.
Pirate Attack Thwarted After Gun Battle August 16, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Chris Mark, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Piracy & Maritime Security, somali pirates, Somalia
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Somali pirates attempted to board a ship in the Indian Ocean on Monday night and were stopped after a short gun battle by the security forces on board. The pirates in two speedboats fled after the short exchange of gunfire. The important point to be taken from this example is that armed security is effective and does not need to be lethal. Pirates are rational actors and as such, they are not going to engage in a lengthy gun battle and risk loss of life to board a ship with professionally trained security when there are thousands of unarmed vessels in the region. In this example, gunfire was exchanged and nobody was hit, wounded, or killed. The exchange alone was enough to deter the would be hijackers.
Were 17 Algerian sailors abducted by Somali pirates killed? August 10, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, Chris Mark, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, somali pirates, Somalia
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The MV Blida, an Algerian-flagged bulk carrier with a crew of 27, including 17 from Algeria, was captured in January 2011 by Somali pirates around 150 miles southeast of Salalah in southern Oman.
Recent reports indicate that the seventeen seafarers have been killed by Somali pirates, however Algeria denied on Sunday reports over the death of its seventeen sailors abducted in Somalia, saying the 17 Algerian sailors were safe and sound.
Algerian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Amar Belani, was quoted by the Algerian official news agency (APS) as saying that they have made the required contacts, and it appeared that all their compatriots abducted by Somali pirates are safe and sound.
Belani rubbished the reports about the sailor’s death saying that there are hopeful that all the sailors would be able to confirm sooner to their relatives that they’re alive, emphasizing that authorities will keep working to free them as soon as possible.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry had promised family members of the abducted sailors to free them in July, noting that the government stood firmly against paying any ransom to the pirates.
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