"We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." - President Eisenhower, First Inaugural Address
China has vowed to rescue the crew of a coal-laden cargo ship seized by pirates far off the coast of Somalia, but a negotiated settlement is more likely, maritime experts said Wednesday.
Off Somlia, currently China has a couple of frigates, a supply ship and some PLA marine commando teams aboard. The frigates carry a couple of helicopters.
It remains to be seen how much they want the coal carrier back and what price they are willing to pay for it either in ransom or blood.
Reinforcements for the Chinese units are a long way away, unless they seek assistance from other anti-pirate patrol nations, some of which have been more aggressive in their use of force against pirates than others.
There is also the question of whether or not a "big stick" approach will have any effect on future pirate operations against Chinese vessels.
My belief is that the pirates don't really know who owns the ships they pursue, so I wouldn't hold much hope of deterring future attacks by a show of force. Unless, of course, that show of force means taking out the shore side operations of the pirates- which is not likely given the size of the Chinese force.
China vowed Tuesday to make "all-out efforts" to rescue a Chinese cargo ship hijacked by armed Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean northeast of the Seychelles.
"We will continue to follow developments closely and make all-out efforts to rescue the hijacked ship and personnel," foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters, while giving no details of China's plans.
China sent three navy ships to the Somali coast in January to join world efforts to protect shipping in the region from pirates and has previously come to the aid of some stricken vessels, Chinese state media reports have said.
The pirates, as usual, threaten the crew of the ship, as set out here:
SOMALI pirates are threatening to execute seafarers on board hijacked Cosco Qingdao panamax De Xin Hai if any attempt is made to recover the vessel, according to a report carried on Radio Television Hong Kong. The station said it was quoting an associate of the captors, but did not give his name. The development comes after the Chinese authorities confirmed that an “all out” effort is to be mounted to take back the captured 2008-built, 76,432 dwt bulk carrier and its crew of 25. Some local military sources have suggested that the Chinese navy, which has assets in the Gulf of Aden, is already working on a rescue plan.
UPDATE: Not surprisingly, the ship is headed for Somalia. Max speed 14.5 knots - which means the Chinese have less than 48 hours to interdict while it is in transit. Ship was reportedly enroute from South Africa to India when captured.
UPDATE2: Known Chinese naval forces in the region include the Zhoushan missile frigate and the Xuzhou missile frigate, both shown in photo nearby exercising in the Gulf of Aden with a Russian ship: Photo caption:
Chinese Navy's Zhoushan missile frigate (front), Xuzhou missile frigate (center), and Russian Navy's Antisubmarine Warfare Ship Admiral Tributs (rear) patrol in order during a joint exercise in west Gulf of Aden, Sept. 18, 2009. China and Russia held a joint naval military exercise Friday morning in the western sea area of the Gulf of Aden. This is the first Sino-Russia joint naval military exercise held in oversea area since Chinese navy forces were sent to escort ships in the Gulf of Aden. (Xinhua/Guo Gang)
Merchant ship photo from ShipSpotting.com copyright by "tropic maritime photos, Australia" and is used in accord with ShipSpotting rules.
As the pirates of Somalia restart after a monsoon break, it's a good time to note that parts of the rest of world have maritime security issues, too. 2009 (to date) Piracy Map from IMB here. From ONI here, the latest Worldwide Threat to shipping Report (to 15 October 09):
G. WEST AFRICA: . 1. GUINEA: Tanker fired upon 11 Oct 09 at 0012 UTC while underway in position 09:15N- 014:01W, approximately 20NM southwest of Conakry. Nine men armed with machine guns in a 15 meter length speed boat attempted to board the vessel using hooks and ladders. The master raised the alarm, activated DSC alert, increased speed, and conducted evasive maneuvers. The crew mustered and activated fire hoses. The armed men opened fire on the vessel and followed for 30 minutes before finally aborting the attempt. No injuries to the crew were reported. Port authority was contacted, but no response was received (IMB). . 2. GUINEA: Tanker robbed 6 Oct 09 at 2314 UTC while drifting in position 09:08.56N -014:06.06W, approximately 30NM southwest of Conakry. Men armed with automatic rifles and pistols in one boat boarded the vessel while drifting. They stole the crew's cash and escaped. No injury to the crew was reported (IMB). . 3. NIGERIA: Supply vessel robbed 28 Sep 09 close to midnight while underway in position 04:10N- 007:00E, approximately nine nautical miles off Bonny and close to the Bonny Fairway Buoy. The robbers took crew valuables (Risk Intelligence/MaRisk). . 4. NIGERIA: Vessel boarded 21 Sep 09 while underway outside Lagos port. Nine robbers in two boats came close to the astern of the vessel. One of the robbers managed to get onto the stern ramp recess. The crew spotted the robbers and shouted at them. Upon seeing the crew alertness, the robbers aborted their attempt and moved away (IMB). . 5. NIGERIA: Cargo ship robbed 20 Sep 09 at 0815 local time while underway in position 03:59N - 006:46E, Bonny River. Six armed men boarded the vessel, stealing ship's stores and cash. They ransacked the crew cabins, stole personal belongings and left the vessel after approximately one hour. No injuries to the crew were reported (IMB). . 6. NIGERIA: Vessel fired upon 15 Sep 09 at 1315 local time while operating near the Oron Jacket platform in the Oron field. Approximately 12 armed men in two long boats approached the vessel. The captain succeeded in contacting security vessels, who responded by exchanging gunfire with the armed robbers. The two boats eventually fled the scene. No further information was reported (Risk Intelligence/MaRisk). . 7. CAMEROON: Fishing vessel (ROSE III) attacked 10 Oct 09, while operating off the Bakassi Peninsula. No crewmembers were injured in the attack and the vessel was not damaged. Cameroon forces reportedly seized the men responsible for the attack (Reuters, Risk Intelligence/MaRisk). . 8. CAMEROON: Fishing vessel robbed 7 Oct 09 at 0200 local time while underway near the Mandala Bakassi Peninsula. Ten robbers reportedly stole approximately 2 million francs worth of goods from the ship, including the victims' mobile telephones. Reports indicate that one of the vessel's crewmembers is missing and several others including the captain were injured in the incident (Risk Intelligence/MaRisk). . H. INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA: . 1. GULF OF OMAN: Container ship reported suspicious approach 11 Oct 09 at 1100 local time while underway in position 25:16.2N - 058:14.9E, approximately 30NM southeast of Jask, Iran. A white speedboat 7 meters in length approached the vessel at a speed of 14 kts. Six people were visible on the boat wearing face masks. The vessel altered its course and conducted evasive maneuvers while increasing speed. The speedboat continued to pursue for approximately 40 minutes before eventually moving away (Operator, IMB). . 2. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel reported suspicious approach 12 Oct 09 at 0345 UTC while underway in position 12:15.83N - 044:04.74E. A fishing vessel closed in on the vessel underway. The master increased speed and took evasive maneuvers, raised the general alarm, and contacted coalition forces. At a distance of approximately 0.5NM, a white and blue hull skiff with five armed men was launched from the fishing vessel. The skiff approached the vessel with a speed of approximately 20 kts but stopped and abandoned the pursuit at a distance of 0.2NM. The incident lasted approximately 25 minutes. . 3. GULF OF ADEN: Tanker reported suspicious approach 7 Oct 09 at 1320 local time while underway in position 12:07N - 045:26.7E. Three skiffs approached the vessel underway. The vessel increased speed, conducted evasive maneuvers, and enforced counter-piracy measures while contacting coalition forces. The skiffs eventually aborted their pursuit and moved away (IMB). . 4. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier fired upon 5 Oct 09 at 1759 UTC while underway in position 13:39N - 050:30E. Two skiffs approached the vessel and opened fire with RPGs and automatic weapons. The master conducted evasive maneuvers and contacted coalition forces for assistance. The two skiffs eventually broke off attacks after unsuccessfully attempting to board the vessel (IMB, ONI). . 5. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier fired upon 26 Sep 09 at 0120 UTC while underway in position 13:11.57N-049:25.11E. Eight men armed with guns in two high powered boats approached the vessel, intending to board. The master raised the alarm, conducted evasive maneuvers, fired parachute flares, activated the SSAS and contacted coalition warships on VHF radio seeking assistance. Sea water was run on deck and the crew locked themselves in the bridge. The armed men began firing at the bridge before aborting the attempt when a coalition warship arrived on scene. A coalition helicopter surveyed the bulk carrier to assure no pirates were on board before the vessel resumed course (IMB). . 6. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier fired upon 26 Sep 09 at 0115 UTC while underway in position 13:11.95N-049:19.14E. Four armed men with guns chased and fired upon the vessel. The vessel master increased speed, conducted evasive maneuvers and alerted coalition forces. The armed men fled the area upon the arrival of a coalition warship (IMB). . 7. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier reported suspicious approach 26 Sep 09 at 0800 UTC while underway in position 12:15N-045:39E. Armed men chased the vessel until the vessel master increased speed, conducted evasive maneuvers, and notified coalition forces in the area. The armed men fled the area as a coalition helicopter intervened, thwarting the attempt. No injuries to the crew or damage to the ship was reported (IMB). . 8. GULF OF ADEN: General cargo ship (BBC PORTUGAL) fired upon 20 Sep 09 at 1545 local time while underway in position 12:49.48N - 048:11.82E. One speed boat with seven armed men onboard approached the vessel. The master activated counter-piracy measures, and an armed security team onboard exchanged gunfire with the men in the speedboat. The speedboat aborted its attack headed towards the Yemeni coast. An Australian warship responded to the call and boarded the speedboat, confiscating their weapons before releasing them (Operator, IMB, AFP). . 9. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier fired upon 19 Sep 09 at 0605 UTC while underway in position 13:52N- 051:07E. Approximately seven armed men in a six meter long, white colored skiff fired upon the vessel. They attempted to board the vessel but were unable to do so due to the evasive maneuvers and counter-piracy measures taken by the crew. The master contacted coalition forces for assistance. The men aborted the attempt upon seeing a coalition helicopter arriving at the scene. No injuries to the crew were reported (IMB). . 10. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier reported attempted boarding 19 Sep 09 at 0600 UTC while underway in position 13:54.2N - 051:09.8E. Approximately six armed men in a white colored speedboat attempted to attack the vessel while it was underway with a convoy of two other vessels. The master altered course and contacted coalition warships for assistance while the crew activated counter-piracy measures. The speedboat chased the vessel for 20 minutes and aborted the attempt upon arrival of a coalition helicopter (IMB). . 11. GULF OF ADEN: Tanker fired upon 19 Sep 09 at 0550 UTC while underway in position 13:52.10N - 051:04.17E. Four men armed with machine guns in a six meter long, white colored skiff, fired upon the vessel. The master raised the alarm, increased speed, took evasive maneuvers, informed ships in the vicinity and contacted coalition warships for assistance. The crew mustered and activated counter-piracy measures. A coalition helicopter arrived and the men in the skiff aborted the attack. No injuries to the crew were reported (IMB). . 12. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel reported suspicious approach 18 Sep 09 at 0120 local time while underway in position 14:20.2N - 049:47.1E. Men in a small boat approached the vessel and came as close as five meters. The alarm was raised and the crew was alerted. The small boat eventually moved away and no further interaction was reported (IMB). . 13. SOMALIA: Vessel (BARWAQO) fired upon, captain killed 24 Sep 09 while underway near the port of Mogadishu. According to local authorities, armed gangs attacked the vessel as it was heading into port. Local police were called in and an exchange in gunfire occurred in which the vessel's captain was killed. Police were able to thwart the attackers and the vessel was towed into port (AFP). . 14. INDIAN OCEAN: Container ship (KOTA WAJAR) hijacked 15 Oct 09 at 0237 UTC while underway in position 01:33S - 054:52E, approximately 190NM north of Port Victoria, Seychelles. Owners of the vessel received a call stating that the vessel has been attacked and hijacked. No further information is available at this time (AFP, UKMTO). . 15. INDIAN OCEAN: Fishing vessel (GLENAN) fired upon 10 Oct 09 at 0459 UTC, approximately 165NM north of Port Victoria, Seychelles. Vessel reported coming under fire from two skiffs, shortly after the skiffs reportedly opened fire on the fishing vessel (DRENNEC). A security team onboard fired warning shots, forcing the skiffs to abandon the attack (AP, IMB). . 16. INDIAN OCEAN: Fishing vessel (DRENNEC) fired upon 10 Oct 09 at 0359 UTC while underway in position 02:05S - 055:58E, approximately 160NM north of Port Victoria, Seychelles. Vessel reported coming under fire from two skiffs, one white and one blue. A security team onboard the fishing vessel returned fire, forcing the skiffs to abandon the attack. Coast guard vessels from the nearby Seychelles archipelago pursued one of the skiffs and disabled the engine (AP, IMB). . 17. INDIAN OCEAN: French navy vessel (SOMME) fired upon 6 Oct 09 at 2119 UTC while underway in position 01:35N - 050:42E, approximately 320NM east of Mogadishu, Somalia. One skiff with approximately six men onboard opened fire on the ship, likely mistaking the ship for a commercial vessel. The (SOMME) gave chase and captured the suspected pirates (AP, IMB). . 18. INDIAN OCEAN: Vehicle carrier (HOEGH PUSAN) fired upon 4 Oct 09 at 1900 UTC while underway in position 01:47.2S - 056:07.1E, approximately 150NM north of Seychelles. Two unlit boats chased the vessel from astern and opened fire. The master increased speed, conducted evasive maneuvers, started the fire pump and switched on all deck lights. The master contacted coalition forces, increased speed, headed into the wind and activated the SSAS alarm. After approximately 10 minutes, the boats fell behind and the vessel moved away. No injuries to the crew were reported (IMB, Maritime Global Net). . 19. INDIAN OCEAN: Fishing vessel (ALAKRANA) hijacked 2 Oct 09 at 0345 UTC while underway in position 02:36S - 048:34E, approximately 330NM southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia. Armed pirates attacked and hijacked the vessel. The vessel is currently anchored off the coast of Harardhere (AFP, IMB). . 20. INDIAN OCEAN: Container ship reported suspicious approach 16 Sep 09 at 1400 UTC while underway in position 15:20N - 056:27.8E, approximately 170NM southeast of Salalah, Oman. A boat drifting on the port beam of the vessel increased speed and approached the vessel. Due to vessel's higher speed, the boat was unable to get close and eventually moved away (IMB). . 21. INDIA: Bulk carrier robbed 29 Sep 09 at 0330 local time while anchored at Sagar anchorage. The robbers boarded the vessel undetected and escaped with shipís stores. The robbery was later discovered by the duty officer and watchmen during rounds (IMB). . 22. INDIA: Container ship robbed 18 Sep 09 at 0440 local time while anchored in position 21:41.80N - 088:01E, Sagar road, Kolkata. While anchored, robbers armed with knives boarded the vessel from the starboard side when the duty watchman was taking rounds on the port side. As the duty watchman came back around, the robbers threatened him with knives and stole shipís stores before escaping. Local authorities were informed (IMB). . 23. BANGLADESH: Bulk carrier robbed 13 Oct 09 at 2105 UTC while anchored in position 22:10.2N - 091:47.4E, Chittagong anchorage. Robbers armed with long knives boarded the vessel from the stern where one crew member was held hostage until they gained access into the steering gear room. Ship's stores and equipment were stolen before the robbers escaped in their boat. Local authorities were informed of the incident (IMB). . 24. BANGLADESH: Bulk carrier reported attempted boarding 3 Oct 09 at 2230 local time while anchored in position 22:00N - 091:40E, Chittagong anchorage. Approximately 10 robbers in a wooden boat approached the vessel and attempted to board. The crewís alertness and barbed wire fitting on the shipís side prevented the robbers from boarding. Local authorities were informed (IMB). . 25. BANGLADESH: Bulk carrier reported attempted boarding 28 Sep 09 at 2030 local time in position 22:14.2N - 091:43.5E, Chittagong anchorage. Eight robbers in a fishing boat attempted to board the vessel when the duty AB spotted them and raised the alarm. The robbers jumped overboard and escaped with nothing stolen upon seeing the alert crew (IMB). . 26. BANGLADESH: Container ship robbed 27 Sep 09 at 1600 UTC while anchored in position 22:15.4N- 091:43.5E, Chittagong anchorage. The duty officer spotted one robber on the poop deck near the entrance to the rope store along with two other robbers who began to chase him armed with knives. The duty officer retreated to the main deck alerting other crew members. The crew arrived armed with crowbars and chased the robbers who jumped overboard escaping with stolen ropes (IMB). . 27. BANGLADESH: Tanker robbed 27 Sep 09 at 0002 local time in position 22:11.22N-091:43.24E, Chittagong anchorage "B". Eight robbers armed with long knives boarded the product tanker from a small wooden fishing boat. The duty Bosun sighted them and informed the OOW who raised the ships alarm. The robbers threatened a crew member, cut some mooring line, and jumped into the water escaping with the stolen stores. Port control was informed of the incident (IMB). . 28. BANGLADESH: Bulk carrier robbed 22 Sep 09 at 2155 local time while anchored in Chittagong anchorage. Five robbers boarded the vessel from the stern anchor when the duty seaman spotted the suspects on his rounds. Upon encountering the robbers, the duty seaman was threatened with a knife. However, he managed to escape and raise the alarm. Once the crew mustered, the robbers jumped overboard and a search revealed that the robbers had stolen ship's stores upon breaking into the steering flat. No injuries to the crew were reported (IMB). . 29. BANGLADESH: Bulk carrier robbed 15 Sep 09 at 2200 local time while anchored in position 22:09.4N - 091:47.2E, Chittagong anchorage. Twelve robbers armed with long knives boarded the vessel from the stern. They took the stern duty watchman hostage and began stealing ship's stores. The roving deck watchman noticed the robbers and informed the duty officer on the bridge. The alarm was raised and the crew alerted. When the crew approached them, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped with ship's stores. Authorities were informed (IMB). . I. RED SEA: . 1. RED SEA: Vessel reported suspicious approach 16 Sep 09 at 1320 local time while underway in position 15:29N - 041:34E. Vessel reported being chased by two high speed boats with approximately eight people dressed in black in each boat. The approach was made from the port quarter. The vessel increased speed to maximum and conducted evasive maneuvers to put a wake between the vessel and the boats. The boats approached to within 0.5 miles before stopping, and then began drifting (Operator, IMB). . J. PERSIAN GULF: No current incidents to report. . K. SOUTHEAST ASIA: . 1. MALAYASIA: Tanker (MMM KINGSTON) reported attempted boarding 14 Sep 09 at 0445 local time while anchored in position 01:18.3N - 104:12.56E, approximately 2NM south of Tanjung Ayam. Six men armed with long knives attempted to board the vessel from a speed boat. Two men attempted to board from the port quarter using a hook while the other four men waited in the speed boat. The duty watch spotted the men, ran into the accommodation and informed the duty officer. The duty officer raised the alarm, sounded the fog horn, and mustered the crew. Upon being discovered, the men aborted the boarding, jumped overboard, and fled in their speed boat. No crewmembers were injured. The ship master reported the incident to the IMB, who relayed the information to Singapore's Port Operation Control Centre (ReCAAP). . 2. MALAYSIA: Tanker (PACIFIC HARMONY) reported attempted boarding 14 Sep 09 at 0240 local time while anchored in position 01:18.5N - 104:13.8E, approximately 2NM south of Tanjung Ayam. Five men attempted to board the vessel from a boat. The duty watch raised the alarm when he spotted two men using a stick with a hook attempting to board the vessel from the poop deck. The crew was alerted through the public address system. Upon hearing the alarm, the men aborted the boarding, jumped into the water, and fled in their boat. No crewmembers were injured. The ship master reported the incident to Singapore's Vessel Traffic Information System and the Port Operation Control Centre via VHF. ReCAAP Comment: The ReCAAP ISC notes some similarities in the modus operandi of the robbers in the two incidents. Although there is no conclusive evidence as yet, it appears that the same group of robbers was probably involved (ReCAAP). . 3. SINGAPORE: Tanker (LANTANA) boarded 13 Oct 09 at 0355 local time while anchored in position 01:17N - 104:10.5E, eastern outer port limit. The navigation watch officers sighted a small boat alongside the starboard while anchored awaiting instructions from the company. The small boat was covered with a green canopy and had six men onboard. Two of the men boarded the vessel at the poop deck. The watch officers activated the general alarm and mustered all the crew. Upon hearing the alarm, the men escaped in their boat. No injuries to the crew were reported (ReCAAP). . 4. INDONESIA: Tanker robbed 18 Sep 09 at 1927 UTC while anchored in position 03:55.2N - 098:45.8E, Belawan outer anchorage. Three robbers armed with long knives boarded the vessel via the forecastle by using a rope and a hook. The robbers threatened the forward duty watch who raised the alarm and retreated into the accommodation. The crew mustered and went forward to check. Upon seeing the crew, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped with shipís equipment. Attempts to contact local authorities were unsuccessful (IMB). . 5. SOUTH CHINA SEA: Bulk carrier robbed 19 Sep 09 at 2230 local time in position 03:00N-105:14E, off Pulau Mangkai. Eight men armed with long knives and crowbars broke into the 2/O cabin, tied up his hands and threatened his life, forcing him to call the master. In the meantime, the C/E was also tied up. The robbers rushed into the captain's cabin and demanded the ships money. Upon receiving the money, the robbers escaped onto a long wooden skiff with the money as well as personal items belonging to the crew. The C/E and 2/O were then able to free themselves and raise the alarm. No injuries to the crew were reported (IMB). . 6. SOUTH CHINA SEA: Tanker (PROSPECT) robbed 19 Sep 09 at 0020 local time while underway in position 03:20.01N - 105:19.50E, approximately 50NM northwest of Anambas Islands. Six men armed with knives and machetes boarded the tanker. They hit the duty officer in the head and forced him to bring them to the cabins of the captain and chief officer, who handed over cash and their personal effects. After the men left the tanker, the crew activated the ship security alert. Apart from the duty officer who suffered bruises, the other crew members were not injured. The shipping company reported the incident to Singapore's Port Operations Control Centre (ReCAAP). . 7. PHILIPPINES: Container ship robbed 12 Oct 09 while berthed in Pier 5, South Harbor, Manila. An undetermined number of robbers boarded the vessel and stole equipment. Port State Control Center dispatched personnel to intercept the robbers as they fled in an unregistered motor launch towards the coastal area of Las Pinas City. Authorities were unable to capture the robbers. No one from the vessel was injured and authorities are conducting follow-up operations for the immediate arrest of the men responsible (Risk Intelligence/MaRisk).
Hijackings marked in red by me.
Add to the list the hijacking of Chinese bulk carrier reported here.
Around noon local time, October 19th 2009 a Bulk Carrier from the Peoples Republic of China was hijacked in the Indian Ocean, 550 nautical miles North East of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles off the East coast of Somalia.
On indication of an attack an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, operating from the Seychelles was launched to investigate the incident.
The bulk carrier was not registered with the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa.
UPDATE: This is reportedly (see here) the first hijacking east of 60 degrees east longitude, though there have been attacks across that line.
See here for discussion of pirate's eastern movement.
It should be noted (as it was in the article cited above) that the winds in the Indian Ocean are favorable to piracy right now (see the wind charts on the right (active) and below (static))) while not so pirate friendly in the Gulf of Aden.
The most recent ship captured by Somali pirates shows that fortune may favor the bold, as the pirates, using mother ships, are able to move operations into sea lanes that have shifted ever farther off their coast. See here:
The International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur sent out a warning to shipping following the hijacking.
The hijacking so far away from the coast underscores concerns that pirates are attacking vessels further and further away from Somalia as ships are warned to stay 600 miles from the coast.
“Now the pirates are going out 600 miles to attack ships,” said IMB piracy reporting centre head Noel Choong.
With the improved weather conditions following the end of the monsoon season the number of attacks has been picking up.
I have overlaid the 2009 pirate attack to date over a map showing commercial sea lanes off east Africa. Although the overlay is slightly off (due to my lack of both Photoshop skills and time), it still makes the point that sea lanes is where pirates do their work. These lanes are fairly well fixed, given the ports of call along the routes and the islands that need be ducked. In fact, despite a spate of recent news articles about the pirates using modern electronics to find passing cargo ships, they are more likely to be camping on these sea lanes and waiting to see who wanders by.
Move the sea lanes, the pirates simply will move with them.
In fact, given the nature of the ships they attack, it seems clear to me that the attacks are not based on any sort of grand intelligence network but more strikes of opportunity, akin to a spider waiting for a fly to wander into its web.
If it were otherwise, I doubt some pirates would have attacked an armed French replenishment ship or fishing vessels carrying armed troops.
If you want to slow down the pirates, as has been done in the Gulf of Aden, you need to get smart on protecting sea lanes:
How do you thwart these pirates at sea? One possibility, in use in the Gulf of Aden, is to flood the sea lanes with sea policemen or naval forces who serve to deter or stops assaults on shipping in their beat area. Another possibility, especially when you have limited naval assets, and which is also in use in the Gulf of Aden, is to provide escorts to single or multiple ships as they transit the risk areas during periods when the pirates are likely to be active (low winds, day light hours or during periods of a bright moon) or escort ships that have proven to be at risk (low freeboard ships, slow transit speeds).
Put helicopters and UAVs in the air and learn the local fishing patterns to find the "fishing boats" that don't act like the others. Use the helicopters to scout routes ahead of merchant ships. For the long transit down the eastern coast of Somalia, I propose a small variation on the convoy system. Points A, B and C on Map 5 become Ocean Convoy Collection Points (OCCPs) where ships desiring to transit piracy risk areas can gather for convoying to the other points.
Now, I know very well that what I said before about time and money are negative motivators for merchant ships to wait for convoys to be formed. And, after all, the odds of being nabbed by pirates are pretty slim. However, there are some risk adverse ship owners who will accept the convoys, especially if their insurance carrier will lower premiums for convoy participants.
I said it before and I'll say it again - given a chance - convoys work.
Also useful - "self-help" measures like barbed wire to slow boardings and effective watches.
But at some point the "maintain your distance from Somalia" line cannot be pushed much further out.
Mariners either planning or who are currently undertaking voyages through waters off the coast of Somalia are advised that the seasonal beneficial effects offered by the south-west monsoon season are now diminishing. As a result, EUNAVFOR’s Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa, (MSCHOA) is standing down its information weather bulletin, dated 2nd July 2009 regarding weather routing during the SW monsoon.
Therefore, ships transiting south and east of the coast of Somalia to ports outside of east Africa, should consider navigating to the east of Madagascar, east of 60 east and south of 10 south.
Nearby is the IMB suggestion on the map. The yellow lines are roughly 60 east and 12 south. Arrows are for decoration.
During the early morning of October 15 2009 a Singapore-flagged Container Ship KOTA WAJAR was hijacked in the Indean Ocean by Pirates some 300 nautical miles north of the Seychelles.
On first indication of an attack an EU NAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft, was tasked to investigate the situation.
SINGAPORE-flag containership Kota Wajar has been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden this morning, in a location about 550 miles off Somalia and 150 north of the Seychelles, EU Navfor has confirmed. *** This is the first known hijacking of a merchant vessesl since the capture of Turkish bulk carrier Horizon 1 on July 8.
According to the Lloyd’s MIU database, the 1,550 teu Kota Wajar, built 1997, is associated with Singapore-based Pacific International Lines.
Somali pirates holding a Spanish tuna trawler for the past 12 days on Wednesday demanded a four million dollar ransom for the ship and its 36 crew as pressure grew on Madrid to put marines on fishing vessels. *** The 100-metre (358-foot) Alakrana was seized October 2 on the high seas between Somalia and the Seychelles as calmer waters at the end of the monsoon season made vessels more vulnerable to attacks.
As usual, the crew of the trawler is made up of several nationalities.
Today, a helicopter from the EU NAVFOR German warship BREMEN, identified suspected pirate craft in the Somali Basin. The suspect craft were made up of a mother skiff and two smaller skiffs, near the islands of Seychelles (0109S 5355E).
The EU NAVFOR helicopter fired warning shots and the skiffs stopped. The crew from the helicopter observed that the suspected pirates threw a number of items over board. A boarding party from the German warship found on the skiff grappling hooks, ammunition, GPS and 10 barrels of fuel. The skiffs had no fishing equipment onboard and after confiscating the suspected pirate equipment the mother skiff and crew were released.
You might note that the incident occurred about 600 miles off the Somali coast, or about 3x the distance of any "Exclusive Economic Zone" Somalia could claim:
Article57
Breadth of the exclusive economic zone
The exclusive economic zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which the Continental Congress established on 13 October 1775, by authorizing the procurement, fitting out, manning, and dispatch of two armed vessels to cruise in search of munitions ships supplying the British Army in America. The legislation also established a Naval Committee to supervise the work. All together, the Continental Navy numbered some fifty ships over the course of the war, with approximately twenty warships active at its maximum strength.
PADANG, Indonesia (Oct. 11, 2009) A relief agency worker photographs children from Hula Banda village as they use ShelterBoxes for cover from the prop blast of a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 265. Each ShelterBox contains materials to sustain a family of 10 for several weeks. Amphibious Force U.S. 7th Fleet is coordinating U.S. military assistance to victims of the recent earthquakes in West Sumatra, at the request of the Indonesian government. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson/Released)
The purpose of Shelter Box USA, Inc. is to provide victims of disaster with shelter, by supporting the efforts of the Shelter Box Trust.
The function of Shelter Box USA, Inc. is, within the USA, to raise the money that provides the shelter for disaster victims.
Shelter Box is a grassroots Rotary club project which has rapidly grown to an international level.
The Shelter Box project was conceived and developed by Tom Henderson, a member of the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, Cornwall District, in Great Britain as their Millennium Service Project. Struck with the urgent world-wide need for a self-contained emergency shelter unit when disaster occurs, Tom designed a tent, researched suppliers and, through trial and error, developed the Shelter Box.. The international relief agency Feed the Children, has called Tom's Shelter Box ‘the best disaster relief tool they have seen in their 20 years of experience'. Working primarily through UK Rotary clubs, Tom and his Rotary club has succeeded in exposing the Shelter Box project to over 25 million Brits and, as a result, distributed provided shelter for approximately one-third of a million people in the last six years.
In March, 2002, Tom approached the newly formed Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch (near Sarasota, FL) to become the primary Rotary administrator for the Shelter Box program in the United State, known as Shelter Box USA. This commitment involves promoting Shelter Box not only through the established US Rotary club network but to other community groups, corporate groups and individuals, as well. ShelterBox USA became a non profit 501(C)(3) organization, with a Board of Directors, in 2005.
As a result of exhibiting at the 2003 Rotary International Conference, Shelter Box USA was responsible for initiating two other national affiliates: Shelter Box Down Under (in Australia) and Shelter-Box Canada. Shelter Box Japan is the newest global partner.
ShelterBox was founded by Tom Henderson, a Rotarian and former Royal Navy search and rescue diver. He saw that the aid response to most disasters was in the form of food and medicine to help people survive the immediate aftermath.
Little or no assistance was given in terms of proper shelter to help them through the first few days, weeks and months as they tried to rebuild their lives. ShelterBox was launched to fill that void.
In 1999, Tom started researching the idea, sourcing equipment and twisting arms to get the project off the ground. His persistence paid off in April 2000 when ShelterBox was launched and the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall adopted it as its millennium project. Little did they know that it would become the largest Rotary club project in the world, with affiliates in eight countries.
So far as I know, neither Tom Henderson nor the Rotary Club have been nominated for or awarded a Nobel Prize for their efforts which now have provided shelter for over 1,000,000 people in emergencies. Main (UK) ShelterBox website.
Boxes are customized for different areas of the world:
Only new equipment is used and is carefully selected for durability, practicality and suitability for where it is needed. Tough, lightweight and waterproof, the box itself can also have many useful functions from food container to cot. We also continually work with a range of manufacturers to improve the quality and extend the range of equipment that we have available.
A range of equipment is kept in stock. This lets us adjust the contents of the box according to local conditions and what is most urgently needed. Sometimes particularly if other resources are available locally and the overwhelming need is for shelter we will just send tents and pack two in each box.
Each box is 23.7 (570mm) wide by 33.2 (842mm) long by 22.4 (602mm) deep giving a capacity of 40.7gallons (185 litres). Fully packed, a box generally weighs between 110lbs and 130lbs (50 to 60kg). Each box costs an average of £490 including all materials, packing, storage and distribution to individual recipients worldwide. Based on six months use only this equates to 27 pence per person per day.
Ten years ago we were trying to cobble together materials like this for refugees from Kosovo and for their return as cold weather approached.
International Scouting involved, too:
Hat's off for Tom and the Rotary Clubs behind this project.
And that big helicopter? Brought to you by the U.S. Marines and the United States Navy - and the people of the United States. See here. U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army out there, too.
It is increasingly clear that naval power is not going to stop the spread of piracy anytime soon. Take the case of the waters off Somalia. No fewer than three dozen ships from three powerful multinational forces patrol the coast: the EU's Operation Atalanta, the U.S.-coordinated Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, and NATO's Operation Allied Protector, plus independent flotillas from China, France, India, Malaysia, and Russia, among others. Despite this unprecedented mobilization, the number of attacks by Somali pirates this year already exceeds the total number recorded last year.
David Axe says that merchant crew are gaining the upper hand in the piracy fight:
Commodore Steve Chick, senior officer of a five-ship NATO counter-piracy task force patrolling the Gulf of Aden, recalls flying across the Gulf of Aden in his Lynx helicopter to survey ships’ defenses. He saw ships with barbed wire on their railings, with access ladders cut or raised, and with fire hoses primed to shoot down any boarders. These tricks, combined with improved security on land and the presence of some 40 warships in East Africa waters, have turned the tide in the “global war on piracy.”
Pirates stopped? Not without taking away safe havens like Somalia... but contained? You betcha.
As the Allied bombing campaign began to take its toll on German airfields and industry, Focke-Wulf called up a concept fighter named the Triebfugel. The Triebflugel had a most unusual design - the "wing" rotated about a stationary body:
The design was particularly unusual. It had no wings, and all lift and thrust were provided by a rotor/propeller assembly in the middle of the craft (roughly halfway between cockpit and tailplane). When the plane was sitting on its tail in the vertical position, the rotors would have functioned similarly to a helicopter. When flying horizontally, they would function more like a giant propeller.
The three rotor blades were mounted on a ring assembly supported by bearings, allowing free rotation around the fuselage. At the end of each was a ramjet. To start the wings spinning, simple rockets would have been used. As the speed increased, the flow of air would be sufficient for the ramjets to work and the rockets would expire. The pitch of the blades could be varied with the effect of changing the speed and the lift produced. There was no reaction torque because the rotors were free-spinning. Fuel for the ramjets was carried in fuselage tanks, and was piped through the centre support ring and along the rotors to the jets.
A cruciform empennage at the rear of the fuselage comprised four tailplanes, fitted with moving ailerons that would have also functioned as combined rudders and elevators. The tailplane would have provided a means for the pilot to keep the fuselage from spinning in case of a slight friction against the rotor ring as well as controlling flight in pitch, roll and yaw.
A single large and sprung wheel in the extreme end of the fuselage provided the main undercarriage. Four small castoring wheels on extensible struts were placed at the end of each tailplane to steady the aircraft on the ground and allow it to be moved. The main and outrigger wheels were covered by streamlined clamshell doors when in flight.
When taking off the rotors would be angled to give lift as with a helicopter or more accurately a gyrodyne. Once the plane had attained sufficient altitude it could be angled into level flight. This required a slight nose-up pitch to give a downward thrust as well as primarily forward thrust - the rotors would have provided the only significant lift. Consequently, the four cannons in the forward fuselage would have been angled slightly downward in relation to the horizontal centre line of the fuselage.
To land, the craft had to slow its speed and pitch the fuselage until the craft was vertical. Power could then be reduced and it would descend until the landing gear rested on the ground. This would have been a tricky and probably dangerous manoeuvre given that the pilot would be seated facing upward and the ground would be behind his head at this stage. Unlike some other tailsitter aircraft, the pilot's seat was fixed in the direction for forward flight. The spinning rotor would also obscure rear vision.
The Triebfugel was not the only German VTOL design there was also the Heinkel "Wespe":
The Wespe was designed around a circular wing, with small wing tips protruding beyond the circular wing at the two lower wing support locations. A single He S 021 turboprop (the turboprop development of the He S 011 jet engine), driving a six-bladed propeller, provided 2000 horsepower plus 750 kp thrust and was fed by an air intake located below the cockpit. The Wespe took off and landed on three landing gear, which in flight were covered for aerodynamical purposes. The pilot sat in a normal seated position in the nose under a huge blown canopy, and two MK 108 30mm cannon mounted in blisters on each side of the cockpit were envisioned for the armament.
The "Lerche" (Skylark) employed a ducted wing planform with contrarotating propellors, powered by two Daimler Benz DB605D engines. The pilot lay in a prone position in the extreme nose, and projected armament was two MK 108 30mm cannon.
Then there was the Focke WulfSchnellflugzeug, a ducted fan VTOL fighter:
But perhaps Focke’s greatest achievement was the development of the “turbo shaft” propulsion system currently utilized by the majority of all the world’s helicopters.
As soon as he had the relevant data for the new German jet engines Focke started design work on the Focke-Wulf Schnellflugzeug (Fast Aircraft) which was nicknamed the Rochen (an aquatic ray-skate).
In 1939 he patented the idea of a circular aircraft with a large aerofoil section and an open center that acted as a huge propeller duct for twin counter-rotating propellers driven by a projected Focke-Wulf designed turbojet engine via an axis and gearbox.
A high performance fighter which could take off and land vertically, like a helicopter! No more need to depend upon elaborate and vulnerable airfield facilities in time of war. Every paved highway, even every level patch of farmland suddenly capable of launching a cloud of fighters to deal with an invading army. And more! Fighter protection at sea which doesn’t require huge aircraft carriers- -every destroyer, even every transport and oiler, capable of carrying one or two fighters of its own! Such an aircraft would present any attacker with enormous difficulties and therefore would help mightily to preserve the world’s peace.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s the US Navy sought to develop an aircraft that could take off and land vertically, eliminating the need for large aircraft carriers, and providing instantly available of air support for landing troops. It was thought that the best way to provide this was with a tailsitting aircraft, and the newly developed turboprop was to be used since supersonic speed was not necessary.
Runways and big deck carriers being juicy cold war targets, the U.S. Navy and the Air Force looked into vertical take off fighters like the Ryan X-13 Vertijet and the XFY-1 Pogo, perhaps the most famous of early VTOL designs because it actually worked:
The U.S. Navy also thought about aircraft carrying nuclear submarines carrying VTOL aircraft, as set out here:
As we all know now, the VTOL effort has never stopped, though some of the early ideas have faded, perhaps to be seen again...
Plot against U.S. by "Somali terrorists" reported here:
Tired of fighting, and largely losing, against the US in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia, a group of Somali terrorists devised a strategy to take on the superpower in South Africa.
The Sunday Tribune can reveal that the US's closure of its offices in the country was because of intercepted cellphone communication detailing planned attacks on American interests here. It is unclear whether American interests necessarily include a possible visit by US President Barack Obama for the official opening of the World Cup.
Intelligence officers, according to two sources, intercepted a call made in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, to a group based in Somalia, and the conversation confirmed a plot to blow up American interests in South Africa last month.
A source said US intelligence agents, South Africa's National Intelligence Agency and SAPS Crime Intelligence operatives launched a surveillance operation on the Cape-based group, gathering crucial information before the operation was thrown into disarray. *** As the embassies were closed just before Heritage Day, National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele went on TV to say the country's intelligence structures were on top of the situation.
This, it was established, led to the group discarding the SIM cards and the phones they had used, to cover their tracks.
The source said: "What has been established is that the Cape guys are linked to al-Qaeda cells in Somalia, who are connected to the group in Afghanistan. We have established that most al-Qaeda operatives are relocating from Afghanistan to Pakistan, attracted by increased lawlessness in Pakistan.
"Our information is that there is a trail that links Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and, most interestingly, Mozambique, where Somalis have formed an anti-US cell already.
"The interception revealed that these people plan to move en masse from Mozambique to here (South Africa) in 2010 to attack American interests. Their point is that South Africa is not a target, but if South Africans are caught in the crossfire, then that would be unfortunate.".
French soldiers providing protection on board French fishing ships in the Indian Ocean early on Saturday fired on pirates to repel an attack, sources said.
"Three small launches... (which were) nearly invisible and that we had on the radar at the last moment, chased us," a member of the crew of the Drennac, one of two fishing French vessels approached by the pirates, told AFP by telephone.
The soldiers "at first fired warning shots, then they fired at the target," he added.
The incident took place 195 nautical miles (350 kilometres) north of the Seychelles. There were no casualties on the French side. The report was confirmed by a western source in the same area. He said that the pirate skiffs that came under fire returned to a mother ship some 30 metres (90 feet) long.
It is the first time that the French soldiers, who have been providing protection since July 1 on board about 10 French fishing ships off the Somalian coast, have opened fire on pirates.
"It proves that this measure (having soldiers on board) works," the western source said.
Spanish fishing vessels operating in the same region have called for the same protection measures but Madrid has so far refused.
France has been very aggressive in dealing with Somali piracy.
The Navy announced Oct. 9 the newest Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo/ammunition ship (T-AKE) would be named USNS Medgar Evers. The announcement was made by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus during a Jackson State University speaking engagement in Mississippi.
Continuing the Lewis and Clark-class tradition of honoring legendary pioneers and explorers, the Navy's newest underway replenishment ship recognizes civil rights activist Medgar Evers (1925-1963) who forever changed race relations in America. At a time when our country was wrestling to end segregation and racial injustice, Evers led efforts to secure the right to vote for all African Americans and to integrate public facilities, schools, and restaurants. On June 12, 1963, the Mississippi native was assassinated in the driveway of his home. Evers' death prompted President John F. Kennedy to ask the Congress for a comprehensive civil rights bill.
Designated T-AKE 13, Medgar Evers will be the 13th ship of the class, and is being built by General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego. As a combat logistics force ship, Medgar Evers will help the Navy maintain a worldwide forward presence by delivering ammunition, food, fuel, and other dry cargo to U.S. and allied ships at sea.
As part of Military Sealift Command's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, Medgar Evers will be designated as a United States Naval Ship (USNS) and will be crewed by 124 civil service mariners and 11 Navy sailors. The ship is designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea, can carry a helicopter, is 689 feet in length, has an overall beam of 106 feet, has a navigational draft of 30 feet, displaces approximately 42,000 tons, and is capable of reaching a speed of 20 knots using a single-shaft, diesel-electric propulsion system.
Evers was Mississippi NAACP field secretary from 1954 until he was killed. He was known for promoting black voter registration at a time when poll taxes, literacy tests and violence tried to prevent it. As a World War II veteran who had fought in France, Evers tried to register to vote in 1946 at the Newton County Courthouse in Decatur, only to be turned away by an angry white mob.
Members of the Port aux Basques RCMP have responded to a bomb threat aboard the Atlantic Vision.
Sgt. Wayne Newell of the RCMP said at approxametly 10 a.m. this morning, police responded to a bomb threat aboard the Atlantic Vision. The threat indicated that the bomb would explode at 3 p.m. today.
"The RCMP is working closely with Marine Atlantic in the execution of their emergency operations plan to ensure the safe evacuation of all persons." said Sgt. Newall.
Apparently a hoax, but still disruptive. Atlantic Vision is a ferry operated by Marine Atlantic between Newfoundland and the Canadian mainland.
Port aux Basques is located on the southern tip of Newfoundland, Canada.
NYTimes reports here
