Landing the Big One

Landing the Big One

Saturday, November 12, 2005

More on Somali pirate "Mother Ship"


CNN says:
Since November 5, when pirates tried unsuccessfully to attack a 440-foot cruise liner operated by Seabourn Cruise Lines, at least five other attacks have taken place, most of them northeast of Somalia, said Andrew Mwangura, program coordinator at the Kenyan Seafarer's Association.

Overall, he said, seven ships and crews have been taken into captivity in that section of the Indian Ocean.

Fishermen in the area spotted a "pirate mother ship" drifting off the Somali coast in July, on November 5 and earlier this week, Mwangura said. Only one mother ship has been spotted, but there may be more in existence. Officials think the smaller boats used in attacks are launched from the mother ship, he said.

A crew of more than 10 people, including a captain and engineer, are believed to be on the ship. The crew is believed to be well-organized, Mwangura said.

"We are trying to call up the coalition forces to track the vessel and to get pictures of the mother ship," he said.


The Commissar asks where the US Navy is and gets answered by CDR Salamander and me. (UPDATE: And Chap and Lex and Bubblehead and Skippy-san and...)

Previous posts on pirate "Mother Ship" here and here. On latest seizure of a ship here. On other recent attacks here and here.

No comments:

Post a Comment