CNN reports that The Ariella, an Antigua and Barbuda flagged ship, was rescued from Somali pirates by NATO forces. As I've argued before, strong military action is the first step to solving this problem, and hopefully there will be more on the lines of this rescue operation. It is a pity that the pirates were allowed to escape in this instance.
Showing posts with label piracy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label piracy. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
UK Refuses to Pay Ransom to Somali Pirates
The Foreign Office has refused to meet a ransom demand of $7million to free a British couple held hostage by Somali pirates. BBC News quotes a Foreign Office spokesperson:
"Although there is no UK law against third parties paying ransoms, we counsel against them doing so because we believe that making concessions only encourages future kidnaps. This is why the government does not make or facilitate substantive concessions to hostage takers."
More details about the couple:
The Chandlers, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were captured while sailing towards Tanzania on 23 October. The latest news of the couple emerged on Sunday. They spoke of their ordeal through a news agency which had been allowed to send a photographer when they were examined by a doctor last week. The Chandlers said they were being badly treated and were in urgent need of help.
The pirates have threatened to kill the couple if their demands for $7m (£4.4m) are not met.
An external agency is campaigning for the government to pay the ransom money:
Nick Davis, chairman of the Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre, which provides anti-piracy advice and training, said the Chandlers' captors were running out of patience. "For the amounts involved, I don't think it's worth trying to bring anyone to justice. We just need to get Paul and Rachel home. "We are the people who know what needs to be done, we can do it, we just need to be allowed to do it."
I've written previously about the need for strong military measures against Somali pirates. The lure of easy money will continue to incentivise more Somalis to commit piratical acts unless something is done fast.
"Although there is no UK law against third parties paying ransoms, we counsel against them doing so because we believe that making concessions only encourages future kidnaps. This is why the government does not make or facilitate substantive concessions to hostage takers."
More details about the couple:
The Chandlers, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were captured while sailing towards Tanzania on 23 October. The latest news of the couple emerged on Sunday. They spoke of their ordeal through a news agency which had been allowed to send a photographer when they were examined by a doctor last week. The Chandlers said they were being badly treated and were in urgent need of help.
The pirates have threatened to kill the couple if their demands for $7m (£4.4m) are not met.
An external agency is campaigning for the government to pay the ransom money:
Nick Davis, chairman of the Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre, which provides anti-piracy advice and training, said the Chandlers' captors were running out of patience. "For the amounts involved, I don't think it's worth trying to bring anyone to justice. We just need to get Paul and Rachel home. "We are the people who know what needs to be done, we can do it, we just need to be allowed to do it."
I've written previously about the need for strong military measures against Somali pirates. The lure of easy money will continue to incentivise more Somalis to commit piratical acts unless something is done fast.
Friday, January 29, 2010
China Steps up to the Plate Against Somali Pirates
BBC reports that China has agreed to join an international group comprising of the US, NATO, and the EU in the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia:
The BBC's United Nations correspondent Barbara Plett says officials believe having China on board will allow more ships to be diverted to the Somali Basin, a vast expanse of water in the western part of the Indian Ocean, where attacks are at an all time high.
The agreement also allows China to take on the rotating chairmanship of the naval task force that coordinates patrols.
China is believed to be interested in raising its participation in the anti-piracy drive partly because one of its ships was hijacked last October.
This is a significant development because it enhances the fight against piracy both in quantitative and qualitative terms. It is likely that the Chinese navy will be less hesitant in using lethal force against pirates than the EU's forces have been. The catch and release policy adopted by the EU will be marginalised if the Chinese take a more robust approach.
The BBC's United Nations correspondent Barbara Plett says officials believe having China on board will allow more ships to be diverted to the Somali Basin, a vast expanse of water in the western part of the Indian Ocean, where attacks are at an all time high.
The agreement also allows China to take on the rotating chairmanship of the naval task force that coordinates patrols.
China is believed to be interested in raising its participation in the anti-piracy drive partly because one of its ships was hijacked last October.
This is a significant development because it enhances the fight against piracy both in quantitative and qualitative terms. It is likely that the Chinese navy will be less hesitant in using lethal force against pirates than the EU's forces have been. The catch and release policy adopted by the EU will be marginalised if the Chinese take a more robust approach.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Somali Pirates Strike Again
Via the Indian Directorate General of Shipping:
PRESS RELEASE NO. 1 DATE: 27th JAN 2010
The Marine and General Press,
SUB: M.V. “LAYLA S”- FLAG CAMBODIA, IMO NO. 7118117, MMSI NO. 515286000, GENERAL CARGO, GRT 1404, YEAR OF BUILD 1971, ALLEGEDLY HIJACKED OFF SOMALI PORT BERBERA IN GULF OF ADEN.
The Directorate General of Shipping has received the following information from a reliable source on the alleged hijacking of the subject vessel:
1. A ship named MV Layla S has been hijacked by armed men off the Somali port of Berbera in the Gulf of Aden.
2. The crew is believed to be a mix of Indian, Pakistani, Somali, Sri Lankan and probably Syrian. The details are still scanty.
3. The vessel is believed to be Syrian flagged/ owned and managed by Al Hufoof Shipping which could be Syrian/ UAE based. This is not a typical hijacking incident since the vessel was held after offloading the cargo in Berbera and could therefore be a business dispute with the crew being held as collateral.
4. The crew in this case is believed to have been abandoned by the owner and it is thus likely that they have already been held captive for a few days. It may be mentioned that such incidents are common in Somalia but come to light a few days later.
The date of hijacking, total no. of crew and no. of Indian seafarers has not been mentioned in the report.
ACTION BY DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING:
1. Upon receipt of the information, the same was passed on to the Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of External Affairs, The Coast Guard and Naval headquarters, New Delhi.
2. The Directorate is in touch with various agencies for further updates.
PRESS RELEASE NO. 1 DATE: 27th JAN 2010
The Marine and General Press,
SUB: M.V. “LAYLA S”- FLAG CAMBODIA, IMO NO. 7118117, MMSI NO. 515286000, GENERAL CARGO, GRT 1404, YEAR OF BUILD 1971, ALLEGEDLY HIJACKED OFF SOMALI PORT BERBERA IN GULF OF ADEN.
The Directorate General of Shipping has received the following information from a reliable source on the alleged hijacking of the subject vessel:
1. A ship named MV Layla S has been hijacked by armed men off the Somali port of Berbera in the Gulf of Aden.
2. The crew is believed to be a mix of Indian, Pakistani, Somali, Sri Lankan and probably Syrian. The details are still scanty.
3. The vessel is believed to be Syrian flagged/ owned and managed by Al Hufoof Shipping which could be Syrian/ UAE based. This is not a typical hijacking incident since the vessel was held after offloading the cargo in Berbera and could therefore be a business dispute with the crew being held as collateral.
4. The crew in this case is believed to have been abandoned by the owner and it is thus likely that they have already been held captive for a few days. It may be mentioned that such incidents are common in Somalia but come to light a few days later.
The date of hijacking, total no. of crew and no. of Indian seafarers has not been mentioned in the report.
ACTION BY DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING:
1. Upon receipt of the information, the same was passed on to the Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of External Affairs, The Coast Guard and Naval headquarters, New Delhi.
2. The Directorate is in touch with various agencies for further updates.
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