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I'm tired of waiting on ONI so here's what's up lately. After the big graphic are two pieces about the Russians and Indians and then a long snip about the Law of the Sea. I'm telling you now so that you can, should you feel inclined, to go ahead and jump down to this week's report.

When it finally makes both late night TV as a joke and the cover of USA Today, you know people are finally starting to pay attention to pirate activity. Granted, they are focused on Somalia but you lucky tigers - as well as our other visitors - get a more comprehensive information. Please, please, no applause, just gaze upon me in rapt adoration. (That and email me you full name, SSN, credit card number, expiration date and that security code. Thanks.)

I've already posted the information about the capture of M/V SIRRUS STAR earlier this week so I'll simply hit the highlights: Saudi owned VLCC, 1,068 feet in length, draft of 78', 318,000 tonnes, 2.21MM BBL capacity, crew size 25. Captured over the weekend 450 miles off the southern coast of Somalia. A nice piece of work, really. As companies look to route vessels around Cape Horn to avoid the northeastern pirate nests, new groups spring up in the south.

Go figure.

She is not the only vessel that's been taken this week, just the most high profile. Currently, depending on when the report was published there are 14-17 vessel with over 200 crew members still being held. That number of vessels still includes the Ukranian freighter with that load of T-72 main battle tanks and other assorted goodies on board. The NATO Shipping Center has this list of recent incidents including vessels being held.




Otherwise, the Russians are increasing their presence off Somalia. The RIA Novosti news agency quotes the head of the Russian Navy Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky as saying the ships are needed to fight intensifying pirate activity. Admiral Vysotsky didn't mention what other ships would be sent, though or at least not that I could find.

Other recent news is that the Indian Navy got a little action this week (reported on Wednesday) also:

An Indian naval vessel sank a suspected pirate "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats into the night, officials said Wednesday, yet more violence in the lawless seas where brigands are becoming bolder and more violent.
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multicoalition naval force has increased patrols in the region, and scored a rare success Tuesday when the Indian warship, operating off the coast of Oman, stopped a ship similar to a pirate vessel mentioned in numerous piracy bulletins. The Indian navy said the pirates fired on the INS Tabar after the officers asked it to stop to be searched.

"Pirates were seen roaming on the upper deck of this vessel with guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers," said a statement from the Indian navy. Indian forces fired back, sparking fires and a series of onboard blasts - possibly due to exploding ammunition - and destroying the ship.

They chased one of two speedboats that had been shadowing the larger ship, and which fled when it sank. One was later found abandoned. The other escaped, according to the statement.

Also, one of the reason the Chinese are getting involved (though only one reason) is things like this:

A Hong Kong cargo ship loaded with wheat bound for Iran has been hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, the official Xinhua agency said on Tuesday citing China's maritime search and rescue centre.

There were 25 crew members on board, none of them from Hong Kong or the Chinese mainland. The ship was carrying 36,000 tonnes of wheat to Iran's Bandar Abbas port, the report said.

I'll steal this as a snip from Eagle1 whom I have suggested as a good reference source: A few days ago, a well-meaning legal writer suggested here, that fighting the pirates of Somalia would be an "easy win" for the incoming president of the United States:

Might piracy be a relatively easy place for the Obama administration to demonstrate its approach to use of force, multilateralism, and international law? No use of force question is ever truly easy - law of unintended consequences always in effect - but clearly this is a rising issue, and one in which the vessels of many nations have been attacked and continue at risk.

Quite honestly I don't think the author understands the issues involved when sovereignty rights meet human rights in the middle of the world's shipping lanes. I would note that most states involved in the pirate thwarting effort seem to be mostly interested in preventing attacks than in capturing or attacking the low level pirates who are actually out at sea doing he handiwork of higher ups ashore. About the only pirates killed off Somalia have been those dumb enough to shoot at naval forces.

I also agree. It's really not that simple though some might think it to be. One of the problems in fighting the Somali pirates is the fact that it is hard to spot them until they actually attack a ship - and they usually only attack ships when it is clear that the ship they're attacking is not within easy range of a war ship. And once they've captured a ship and holding hostages, the ability to attack them dwindles unless hostage lives are to be put at risk. Otherwise, the pirates look a whole lot like all the other sea traffic bobbing around offshore...

And, as is obvious to mariners, but perhaps not so to landsmen, there is lot of sea out there off Somalia. Somalia has the longest coastline on the African continent and, as now seems evident, the pirates are willing to extend their reach up to 500 miles off shore, that's a whole lot more water than can be patrolled by 20 or 30 or 40 ships.

To contain the problem requires more escorts, patrols with aggressive Rules of Engagement and that shipping companies finally take the step of embarking shipboard security teams (yes, yes, I know what that entails but they need to do their part also). To solve the problem means boots on the ground. To clear up some of the legal confusion, here's the relevant section from the UNCLOS (That's the Law of the Sea treaty)

HIGH SEAS

SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 86. Application of the provisions of this Part

The provisions of this Part apply to all parts of the sea that are not included in the exclusive economic zone, in the territorial sea or in the internal waters of a State, or in the archipelagic waters of an archipelagic State...
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Article 100. Duty to co-operate in the repression of piracy

All States shall co-operate to the fullest possible extent in the repression of piracy on the high seas or in any other place outside the jurisdiction of any State.

Article 101. Definition of piracy

Piracy consists of any of the following acts:

(a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depreda tion, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:

(i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or air-craft;

(ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;

(b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;

(c) any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act des cribed in subparagraph (a) or (b).

Article 102. Piracy by a warship, government ship or government aircraft whose crew has mutinied

The acts of piracy, as defined in article 101, committed by a warship, government ship or government aircraft whose crew has mutinied and taken control of the ship or aircraft are assimilated to acts committed by a private ship or aircraft.

Article 103. Definition of a pirate ship or aircraft

A ship or aircraft is considered a pirate ship or aircraft if it is intended by the persons in dominant control to be used for the purpose of committing one of the acts referred to in article 101. The same applies if the ship or aircraft has been used to commit any such act, so long as it remains under the control of the persons guilty of that act.

Article 104. Retention or loss of the nationality of a pirate ship or aircraft

A ship or aircraft may retain its nationality although it has become a pirate ship or aircraft. The retention or loss of nationality is determined by the law of the State from which such nationality was derived.

Article 105. Seizure of a pirate ship or aircraft

On the high seas, or in any other place outside the jurisdiction of any State, every State may seize a pirate ship or aircraft, or a ship or aircraft taken by piracy and under the control of pirates, and arrest the persons and seize the property on board. The courts of the State which carried out the seizure may decide upon the penalties to be imposed, and may also determine the action to be taken with regard to the ships, aircraft or property, subject to the rights of third parties acting in good faith.

Article 106. Liability for seizure without ad equate grounds

Where the seizure of a ship or aircraft on suspicion of piracy has been effected without adequate grounds, the State making the seizure shall be liable to the State the nationality of which is possessed by the ship or aircraft for any loss or damage caused by the seizure.

Article 107. Ships and aircraft which are entitled to seize on account of piracy

A seizure on account of piracy may be carried out only by warships or military aircraft, or other ships or aircraft clearly marked and identifiable as being on government service and authorized to that effect.
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Article 110. Right of visit

1. Except where acts of interference derive from powers conferred by treaty, a warship which encounters on the high seas a foreign ship, other than a ship entitled to complete immunity in accordance with articles 95 and 96, is not justified in boarding it unless there is reasonable ground for suspecting that:

(a) the ship is engaged in piracy...
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Article 111. Right of hot pursuit

1. The hot pursuit of a foreign ship may be undertaken when the competent authorities of the coastal State have good reason to believe that the ship has violated the laws and regulations of that State. Such pursuit must be commenced when the foreign ship or one of its boats is within the internal waters, the archipelagic waters, the territorial sea or the contiguous zone of the pursuing State, and may only be continued ouside the territorial sea or the contiguous zone if the pursuit has not been interrupted. It is not necessary that, at the time when the foreign ship within the territorial sea or the contiguous zone receives the order to stop, the ship giving the order should likewise be within the territorial sea or the contiguous zone. If the foreign ship is within a contiguous zone, as defined in article 33, the pursuit may only be undertaken if there has been a violation of the rights for the protection of which the zone was established.

2. The right of hot pursuit shall apply mutatis mutandis to violations in the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf, including safety zones around continental shelf installations, of the laws and regulations of the coastal State applicable in accordance with this Convention to the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf, including such safety zones.

3. The right of hot pursuit ceases as soon as the ship pursued enters the territorial sea of its own State or of a third State.

4. Hot pursuit is not deemed to have begun unless the pursuing ship has satisfied itself by such practicable means as may be available that the ship pursued or one of its boats or other craft working as a team and using the ship pursued as a mother ship is within the limits of the territorial sea, or, as the case may be, within the contiguous zone or the exclusive economic zone or above the continental shelf. The pursuit may only be commenced after a visual or auditory signal to stop has been given at a distance which enables it to be seen or heard by the foreign ship.

5. The right of hot pursuit may be exercised only by warships or military aircraft, or other ships or aircraft clearly marked and identifiable as being on government service and authorized to that effect.

The Security Council is going to authorized action - that is to say landing troops on the ground to engage and destory Somalia pirate enclaves - in, I think, the next week. That really ought to piss off this bozo. You just cannot make bozos like that up.

Next week, perhaps, we'll get into a real discussion of asymmetrical warfare at sea.

NOW THE REPORT!!

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1. GULF OF ADEN: British Royal Navy commandos gave chase to suspected pirates off the coast of Yemen, killing two of them in an ensuing gunfight, 11 Nov 08. The (HMS CUMBERLAND) was on a routine patrol in the Gulf of Aden when it spotted a Yemeni registered fishing boat, positively identified in a hijacking attempt on a Danish cargo ship, (MV POWERFUL) earlier in the day, according to the UK's Ministry of Defense. After "non forcible methods" to stop the dhow failed, the Royal Navy launched small assault craft to encircle the vessel. The pirates opened fire and the Navy fired back in self defense, according to the MoD statement. Two foreign nationals, believed to be Somali, were shot and killed. A Yemeni was found injured and later died. It wasn't clear whether his injuries were due to the gunfight or to a previous incident. After the gunfight, members of the British frigate boarded the dhow, whose crew "subsequently surrendered and a compliant boarding followed," according to the MoD. The boarding was conducted in accordance with UK rules of engagement. The confrontation took place approximately 50NM south of the Yemeni coast (Bloomberg, Times Online).
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2. SOMALIA/EGYPT: Egypt calls urgent meeting to fight piracy per 1 Nov 08 reporting. Egypt has called an urgent meeting of Arab countries bordering the Red Sea to combat rampant piracy off Somalia, the foreign ministry said on Saturday. Egypt and Yemen will coordinate the meeting, which will be held later this month, the ministry said in a statement, without specifying a date. Cairo has said that piracy has not harmed traffic through the Suez Canal -- which is Egypt's third largest source of revenue after tourism and remittances from expatriate workers. Last month the British think tank Chatham House said in a report that increasingly brazen hijackings by Somali pirates, who commandeered a Ukrainian freighter carrying a shipment of tanks in September, threatened Suez traffic. Piracy is rife and well-organised in the area where Somalia's northeastern tip juts into the Indian Ocean, preying on a key maritime route leading to the Suez Canal through which an estimated 30 percent of the world's oil passes. NATO has sent a number of destroyers and frigates to the region to escort civilian shipping. Egypt says a solution must be found to the root problems that have led to piracy off Somalia, citing the chaotic political situation there. In September, Somali pirates released an Egyptian ship with 25 crew on board after holding them for three weeks. Egypt denies paying a ransom to the pirates, who held a record 374 hostages in September, according to the risk-assessment group Risk Intelligence (AFP).
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3. GULF OF ADEN: The European Union (EU) has initiated a "Close Support Protection" system for vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden per 31 Oct 08 reporting. The French navy will be the first to offer this service. The French Navy is able to provide protection teams onboard two merchant vessels at a time. Only two vessels will have the protection teams onboard upon request. The rest of the ships intending to follow this "group of protected vessels" can do so without the protection teams onboard. The presence of the warships will deter pirates from attacking any vessels in the group. Vessels can also call the nearby warships for assistance when attacked by pirates. In the next three months, the following slots are proposed: Point A (SW of the Gulf of Aden): 12°30N-045°00E; Point B (North of Socotra Island): 14°40N-053°00E. From A to B: 28 - 29 October, 21 - 22 November, 25 - 26 November, 4 - 5 December, 22 - 23 December. From B to A: 30 - 31 October, 23 - 24 November, 27 - 28 November, 6 - 7 December, 24 - 25 December. All rendezvous are on first day of slot at 0800 LT (A: GMT + 3, B: GMT + 4). Average speed is 14 knots. Technical agreement between ship-owners and French navy has to be established prior to the protection team being embarked. Civilian vessels willing to benefit from such escorts have to make contact 10 days before slot. Enquiries regarding exact time and date of departure, please contact: French Force commander staff for Indian Ocean Tel: 00 33 4 94 02 89 49 / E-mail: alindien@free.fr. Please note: last minute changes may arise. Ships have the option to follow the "group of protected vessels" by French navy or transit via the established maritime security patrol area in the Gulf of Aden. Masters using the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) and those following the 'group of protected vessels' are not relieved of their obligation and should continue to maintain a strict 24 hour lookout using all available means to get early warnings of an approaching threat. Some vessels have been attacked/hijacked in the corridor (IMB).
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4. SOMALIA/SOUTH KOREA: South Korea will move to protect its fishing vessels by sending a fleet of armed Navy ships to pirate-infested waters off Somalia per 29 Oct 08 reporting. The South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted unnamed sources Wednesday as saying leaders have decided tuna fishermen operating off the Somali coast need armed escorts to ward off pirates. An official South Korean government team was visiting Somalia to assess the situation, Yonhap said. The move follows the abduction of eight South Koreans last month off Somalia. The sailors were eventually released unharmed. Last year, two fishing vessels were seized and the crews released after six months in captivity. The United Nations Security Council has approved a measure designed to step up the fight against piracy off Somalia, calling for all states to contribute to anti-piracy efforts by dispatching warships and aircraft (United Press International).
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5. SOMALIA/FRANCE/SPAIN: The defence ministers of France and Spain launched a European Union (EU) military operation to combat piracy off the Somali coast per 2 Nov 08 reporting. French Defence Minister Herve Morin, accompanied by his Spanish counterpart Carme Chacon, was speaking in Djibouti, where the pair were on a brief visit to assess multinational efforts to secure the strategic Somali waters and review their anti-piracy arsenal. Both French and Spanish ships were among the at least 77 vessels attacked for ransom by Somali pirates since the start of the year. What French President Nicolas Sarkozy has described as a "criminal industry" has threatened to disrupt world trade with relentless attacks in the Gulf of Aden, through which 30 percent of the world's oil transits. France, which has a major military base in neighbouring Djibouti, is so far the only country to have used its firepower against the pirates in April and September operations following hostage-takings. Spain has pledged two ships and one surveillance aircraft to the new operation, while France has opened its base to the Spanish forces for logistical support. Morin said Britain would take the command of the joint force and added that other contributions from Greece, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden were awaiting final confirmation. NATO warships recently arrived in the region in a bid to secure the maritime delivery of food aid to the civilian population of Somalia, where a deadly civil conflict continues to rage. Experts have warned however that sending foreign warships to such a vast area would hardly sound the death knell of Somali piracy, which has flourished in recent months. Pirates argue that their attacks are in retaliation for the plundering of their water resources by foreign fishing navies and the dumping of toxic waste in their waters (AFP).
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6. GULF OF ADEN: France captures nine Somalis per 23 Oct 08 reporting. The French Navy intercepted the suspected pirates in two small boats about 115 miles from the nearest coast, finding assault rifles, grenade-launchers, grappling hooks and ladders onboard. The nine were handed over to Somali officials on 23 Oct 08, and French officials received assurances the prisoners would be treated according to international conventions. "We wanted to send a very clear message to the pirates that the days of their flourishing and unpunished business are over," Gen. Christian Baptiste, a French Defense Ministry spokesman, told the Associated Press by telephone. In order not to tip off any other pirates, he declined to say exactly when or where the hostages were captured (AP, BBC).
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7. SOMALIA: On 14 Oct 08, Somali forces reportedly freed the 11-man crew of a hijacked ship and captured the 10 pirates who seized the vessel last week, according to the foreign minister for Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of northern Somalia. Puntland's coast guard and Rescue Commando Forces raided the Panama-flagged ship (WAEL H) in the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast at 10 a.m. (0700 GMT), Puntland Foreign Minister Ali Abdi Aware told CNN. Ten pirates hijacked the ship, with its crew of two Somalis and nine Syrians, on the night of 09 Oct 08, Aware said. All 11 are safe, he said. Two coast guard members sustained minor injuries in the rescue operation. It was the Puntland forces' second attempt to free the ship. On 12 Oct 08, their rescue effort triggered a gun battle that left two pirates and a Puntland soldier dead (CNN).
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8. SOMALIA/INDIA: India decided to send its warships "immediately" to the Gulf of Aden for patrolling and to escort container vessels flying the Indian Tricolor, per 16 Oct 08 reporting. "The government today approved deployment of Indian Naval warship in Gulf Aden to patrol the normal route followed by Indian flagships during passage between Salalah in Oman and Aden in Yemen," a Defense Ministry spokesperson announced in New Delhi. "The patrolling is commencing immediately," he said, but in the same vein claimed the ship was yet to sail from the Indian shores to Gulf of Aden along the Horn of Africa. Initially, India would deploy only one of its warships in the region but it could be increased later on a need basis, the spokesperson said (LM: NDTV.com).
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9. SOMALIA/IRAN: Two National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC) VLCCs have been attacked by Somali pirates in recent weeks, prompting the owner to demand more rigorous action. NITC chairman Mohammad Souri stated that in both cases the ship's crews were able to fend off the attacks. The attacks have prompted Souri to join the chorus of owners and industry bodies calling for more direct action. "This can not go on," he says. Souri says that Iran is willing to contribute to any naval effort if asked, but wants to see somebody take the lead on this issue (TW).
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10. SOMALIA/RUSSIA: In response to a media question concerning the adoption by UN Security Council of Resolution 1838 against Piracy off Somalia, Russian MFA Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko stated "Russia, sharing the concern of the international community over the marked increase in piracy and armed brigandage off Somalia, actively participated in the work on the draft of this resolution and supported its adoption. For our country as one of leading maritime powers, navigation safety has a great importance, including in that region. Russian citizens have already suffered from acts of piracy off Somalia. We believe that the adoption of UNSCR 1838 will facilitate mobilizing efforts to ensure maritime safety in accordance with existing international law. As is known, the Russian frigate Neustrashimy is heading to Somalia for these purposes."(LM: Ministry Of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Information and Press Department, 15 Oct 08)
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2. Designation of a high threat area is based on an assessment of
all source information relating to the existence of, or potential
for piracy and other crime, terrorism, civil unrest or low
intensity conflict. Every effort is made to ensure that incidents
are not double-counted. In the event double counting is detected
or an event is later learned not to be as initially reported, an
explanation of the cancellation of the inaccurate report will be
made in at least one message prior to dropping the erroneous
report. Specific incidents will be reported for one month.
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4. DETAILS: There is reported active violence against shipping,
a credible threat to shipping, or the potential to develop into a
direct threat to the safety of shipping in the following areas:
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A. NORTH AMERICA: No current incidents to report.
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B. CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN: No current incidents to report.
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C. SOUTH AMERICA:
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1. VENEZUELA: Sailboat (CHILL) boarded, captain killed 9 Nov 2008 at 1730 local time while anchored at position 10:17N - 064:45W at Isla Borracha. Three men onboard a small fishing piñero approached the sailboat asking for water. When the captain came back up from below with water, they shot him in the chest. Another couple from a sailboat anchored with the (CHILL) was also onboard and the robbers shot a second man as well. The second man reportedly shot at the robbers with a shotgun, killing one and injuring another. The captain died while the second man is recovering at a hospital, according to officials. One suspect has been detained in the nearby town of Arapito, but has yet to be formally charged (AP, Noonsite).
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2. ECUADOR: Yacht boarded, robbed 8 Nov 2008 at 0800 local time while anchored in position 00:48N - 080:07W, Punta Pedernales. Five armed robbers boarded the yacht at anchor. They roughed up the crew and stole money and electronic items. Injuries consisted of cuts and bruises. With the assistance of another yacht, the incident was reported to (USCGC ALAMEDA) who then contacted the Ecuadorian authorities (IMB, Noonsite).
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D. ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA: No current incidents to report.
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E. NORTHERN EUROPE-BALTIC: No current incidents to report.
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F. MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA: No current incidents to report.
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G. WEST AFRICA:
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2. NIGERIA: Tanker robbed on 1 Nov 2008 at 2205 local time while anchored at 06:19N - 003:26E, Lagos OPL anchorage. Two robbers armed with knives boarded an anchored tanker from the stern. They overpowered the duty crewmember, tied up his hands, stole his radio and threatened to kill him if he screamed. The robbers then stole ship's stores. When the duty officer on bridge could not get a response to his routine call on radio, he instructed another crewmember to look for him. The second crewmember noticed robbers and notified the bridge. Alarm was raised, crew was alerted. The robbers escaped in their waiting boat (IMB).
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H. INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA:
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1. GULF OF ADEN: Chemical tanker (KARAGOL) hijacked 12 Nov 08 at 1415 UTC while underway in position 13:07N - 046:48E. The tanker was in transit from Haifa, Israel to Mumbai, India with a cargo of petroleum products. There are 14 Turkish crewmembers onboard
(IMB, BBC).
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2. GULF OF ADEN: Chemical tanker (STOLT STRENGTH) hijacked 10 Nov 08 at 1440 UTC while underway in position 13:56N - 049:31E. The vessel was in route to Kandla, India from Senegal with a cargo of phosphoric acid, according to sources. Twenty-three Filipino crewmembers are onboard (IMB, LM: MarineLog).
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3. GULF OF ADEN: General cargo vessel (CEC FUTURE) hijacked 7 Nov 08 at 1320 UTC while underway in position 12:46N - 045:56E. At 1235 UTC, (CEC FUTURE) was in contact with a coalition warship and was reporting that she was being pursued by a speedboat with six men onboard. A coalition plane was dispatched at that time and made VHF contact with CEC FUTURE. All VHF transmission was made on channels 16 and 73. At 1236 UTC, (CEC FUTURE) reported that the speedboat was quickly approaching and that they could identify that men were armed with AK-47s and a bazooka. They were instructed to take evasive maneuver actions, which they did. At the same time, they reported they were being fired upon. By 1238 UTC, they reported that the boat had come along the starboard side and two pirates with AK-47s had boarded the vessel. At this time, (CEC FUTURE) activated their VHF distress alarm. During the next five minutes, several more VHF transmissions were made after which the radio fell silent. The vessel was observed to have slowed to about two knots and brought to a westerly then a northerly course. At one point, the vessel was steered northerly at approximately 10kts, then brought to an easterly heading at a speed of about four knots. (CEC FUTURE) has 13 crewmembers, including 10 Russian, two Estonian, and one Georgian, according to the ship owner. The vessel was reportedly carrying steel plates from Belgium to Indonesia (LL, UKMTO).
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4. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel reported suspicious approach on 3 Nov 08 at 0820 UTC while underway in position 13:13N - 047:46E. Pirates in three speedboats approached from the port side at approximately three miles. Each boat had approximately four to five persons onboard with automatic weapons. The duty officer raised the alarm and mustered the crew on the poop deck with projectiles to throw. The vessel shot three rocket flare signals toward the boats to acknowledge their detection. The pirates abandoned their chase after seeing the flares (IMB, Operator).
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5. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel reported suspicious approach 9 Nov 08 at 0940 UTC while underway in position 13:08N - 047:01E. Two armed blue speedboats began pursuing the vessel. The vessel's alarm was raised and all crew mustered. The speedboats then abandoned it's pursuit (IMB, Operator).
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6. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier reported suspicious approach on 11 Nov 08 at 0715 local time while underway in position 12:45N - 04604E. The vessel's bridge team detected two suspicious speedboats with three to four people armed with guns onboard each boat. All crewmembers were immediately alerted and the vessel maneuvered away from the boats. UKMTO was notified and coalition warships were called on CH16. Upon noticing the evasive maneuvering and the continuous blowing of the ship's whistle, the suspicious boats suddenly altered course and crossed ahead of the vessel with a speed of around 15 kts. Approximately 30 minutes later, an Indian helicopter was sighted and the vessel was instructed by an Indian warship to meet up with them. After seeing the helicopter closing in, the speedboats stopped chasing the vessel and turned away (IMB, Operator).
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7. GULF OF ADEN: Chemical tanker reported suspicious approach on 14 Nov 08 at 0635 UTC while underway in position 13:21N - 047:18E. The deck watch reported three small speedboats approaching from the port side approximately nine miles out with about three people in each boat armed with automatic weapons. They were in a spread formation fast approaching. The vessel called for assistance from nearby Coalition warships in the area. They took evasive maneuvers to starboard in order to establish intentions. When the speedboats were at two miles out, a special audio device was activated along with all hoses running throughout the ship at full pressure for full effect. At 600 meters out, they continued conducting evasive maneuvers. The speedboats never came any closer, and after 10 minutes they turned away towards another vessel approximately 12 miles away. The other vessel was contacted via VHF and informed of the approach (IMB, Operator).
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8. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier fired upon on 13 Nov 08 at 0630 local time while underway in position 13:28N - 049:21E. Six pirates in a fast speedboat approached the vessel. The master raised the alarm, took evasive maneuvers, and the crew activated fire hoses. The pirates ordered the vessel to stop and shot at the vessel with two RPGs and automatic weapons. The master called for Coalition assistance. A coalition warship responded and arrived approximately 15 minutes later, causing the pirates to abort their attempt. No damages to the vessel or injuries to the crew were reported (IMB, Operator).
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9. GULF OF ADEN: Oil tanker reported suspicious approach on 12 Nov 08 at 1610 local time while underway in position 12:33N - 045:10E. Vessel reported being chased by four speedboats with approximately two to four pirates onboard each, armed with automatic weapons.
Vessel conducted evasive maneuvers and after approximately one hour, the pirates aborted their attempt. No injuries to the crew or damage to the vessel reported (IMB, Operator).
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10. GULF OF ADEN: Oil tanker reported suspicious approach on 14 Nov 08 at 0325 UTC while underway in position 12:32N - 045:21E. A small boat with four persons onboard approached the tanker from 2NM away with a speed of 25kts. Master ordered rocket parachutes fired in the air. When boat was at 1.5NM away, a second rocket parachute was fired off. When the boat was approximately 300 meters away, they fired a 3rd parachute. The pursuit was abandoned shortly after that (IMB, Operator).
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21. INDIAN OCEAN: Fishing vessel (TANYO 8 ) hijacked 14 Nov 08 early morning while off the coast of Kenya. The Chinese vessel was hijacked by pirates armed with rocket launchers and automatic weapons while it was fishing off the coast of Kenya, according to an unidentified official of the Chinese Transport Ministry. The vessel had 24 crewmembers onboard including Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Filipino nationals. According to the official who claimed to have spoken with a pirate leader, all crewmembers are in good condition (AP, IMB, LM: Xinhua)
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22. INDIAN OCEAN: Container ship fired upon 13 Nov 08 while underway in position 04:51S - 044:51E, off the coast of Kenya. Master of the vessel reported to RCC Halifax that they were being chased and fired upon by pirates in a speedboat. The master increased speed and took evasive maneuvers to avoid being boarded. There was a small fire onboard and damages caused by the firings. No further information was provided (IMB, Operator).
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23. INDIAN OCEAN: Reefer vessel fired upon 10 Nov 08 at 1005 UTC while underway in position 01:12N - 050:41E, approximately 250NM off the coast of Somalia. Armed pirates in two white speedboats approached the vessel from astern. One boat approached the ship's starboard side and started spraying bullets towards the vessel. The vessel increased speed and took evasive maneuvers. Four pirates were observed in that boat, three carrying small arms and one with an RPG launcher on his shoulder. Due to the wake created by evasive maneuvers, the boat could not reach closer to the vessel. After approximately 15 minutes of pursuit, the pirates aborted their attempt. On inspection after the incident, gunshot damages were found on the superstructure, funnel, and mainmast (Operator).
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27. BANGLADESH: Oil tanker boarded 7 Nov 08 at 2055 local time in Chittagong anchorage A. Five robbers boarded an oil tanker at anchorage. They jumped overboard with sighted by the ship's crew. Nothing was reported stolen and no injury to the crew (IMB).
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I. RED SEA: No current incidents to report.
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J. PERSIAN GULF: No current incidents to report.
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K. SOUTHEAST ASIA:
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1. INDONESIA: Bulk carrier boarded, robbed 5 Nov 2008 at 0300 local time in position 03:40S - 114:26E, Taboneo anchorage, Kalimantan. Four robbers armed with catapults, knives, and hacksaws boarded a bulk carrier at anchor. They threatened the duty crew with catapults and stole ship's stores from the forward locker. The alarm was raised and ship's whistle sounded. Robbers jumped overboard and escaped in a wooden fast boat. The incident was reported to coastal authorities (IMB).
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L. NORTH ASIA: No current incidents to report.
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M. PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC OCEAN: No current incidents to report.
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N. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC NON-STATE ACTIVIST GROUPS:
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1. GREENPEACE: Police stops Greenpeace action in Dumai waters, 11 Nov 08. Police stopped the environmentalist group Greenpeace from intercepting another shipment of crude palm oil (CPO) in the Dumai port waters in Sumatra, as it did last Monday. Along with the port administration personnel, the police aboard rubber boats stopped the Greenpeace action at around 2 pm. They had also ordered a Greenpeace activist off the ship after he tied himself with the chain of an anchor of the Gran Couva tanker that carried the CPO belonging to Wilmar Group bound for Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in protest of the CPO shipments. Two Greenpeace activists had been questioned by the police, but not detained. The police had also ordered the Greenpeace vessel (MV ESPERANZA) to leave Dumai port as the berthing period of the Dutch vessel in Dumai port had expired. The Greenpeace activists also marked the side of the tanker as well as a tug boat full of logs with words reading "Forest Crime" at the Dumai port on Monday
(LM: Antara News).

Fishing vessels are popular because they make great motherships for the pirates.

Next week, "Asymentrical Warfare at Sea."

PT