EagleSpeak

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Somali Pirates: Kenya Trials Slowed by Absent Witnesses

Reported here:

Piracy trials are being delayed by witnesses who fail to show up in court, a magistrate has said.

Mombasa chief magistrate Rosemelle Mutoka said prosecuting pirates was “pretty straightforward” and often simpler than other cases.

She said the missing witnesses had stalled the trials of 84 suspected pirates at the Shimo la Tewa Prison.

“They are very easy cases,” Ms Mutoka said.

“The problem is witnesses. Sometimes you have to adjourn a case for up to four times.”

Ms Mutoka was speaking to the new UN special adviser on legal issues related to Somali piracy, Mr Jack Lang, who is visiting Kenya.

***

She said Europe-based captains of hijacked ships often refused to come to Kenya, citing safety fears.

The chief magistrate challenged Mr Lang to produce the witnesses, saying she would soon close the cases.

“If you bring 10 to 15 witnesses, we can finish this in a week or two,” she said.

Kenya has convicted 43 Somali pirates, sentencing them from five to 20 years in Kenyan prisons.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Somali Pirates: Nab Japanese Ship and Filipino Crew, Remain Very Active in Indian Ocean

EU MSC(HOA) reports here:

On the afternoon of 10 October, the owners of the Panama-flagged MV IZUMI reported that they had received an automatically released distress signal indicating that the vessel was likely to be under pirate attack.

The Danish warship HDMS ESBERN SNARE of the NATO counter piracy force was dispatched to intercept and investigate.

In the early hours of 11 October the captain of the vessel made contact with the Danish warship, stating that pirates were in charge of the MV IZUMI.

EU NAVFOR French warship FS FLOREAL is now monitoring the pirated vessel which is presently 170 nautical miles South of Mogadishu.

The MV IZUMI, deadweight 20,170 tonnes, has a crew of 20, all Filipinos.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Fearless Navy Bloggers Take to the Air: Episode 40: Happy Birthday Navy from Midrats

Join us Sunday at 5pm (Eastern) for Happy Birthday Navy from Midrats:

This Tuesday is the 235th Birthday of the US Navy. There is only one place to get your Navy on BlogTalkRadio - and that is Midrats!

Since the end of US involvement The Vietnam War almost 40 years ago, there are just a few USN Commanding Officers who know what it is like for a warship under attack; one of the handfull will be our first guest, CDR Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.). He was the Commanding Officer of the USS Cole (DDG-67) when it was attacked while in port Aden, Yemen 12 October 2000 - the 10th anniversary will be this Tuesday. We will discuss his experiences then as well as the work he has done since his retirement with senior military fellow with Military Families United, and any other topics that fold their way in to our conversation.

Our second guest will be from the shadows of the Navy EOD world, Steve Phillips. After graduating from Annapolis in '92, Steve found honest work as a SWO, but then transfered into EOD where he served as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician at EOD Mobile Units Six, Eight, and Ten. He is the author of Proximity: A Novel of the Navy's Elite Bomb Squad which received a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America in 2008. Some of the proceeds from Proximity support the EOD Memorial Foundation which provides scholarship to the children of EOD Technicians who made the ultimate sacrifice. If you like his work, Steve is currently working on a non-fiction account of EOD Technicians in our current conflict with a working title of Improvised: EOD Techs in the War on Terrorism. The first two of the chapters for the non-fiction work are available at: "The Birth of the Combined Explosives Exploitation Cell" and "A Remembrance of 9/11"

Listen to internet radio with Midrats on Blog Talk Radio

Friday, October 08, 2010

UPDATE: Never Mind - Somali Pirates DID NOT Hijack a Fishing Boat Off Madagascar

Update: Never mind, MSC(HOA) says here:

The Taiwanese fishing vessel FENG GUO that had been reported by her owner as being pirated on 7 October 2010 is confirmed to be free from pirates this afternoon.
The false report had been sent after the owner having been without contact with the ship for two days.
EU NAVFOR welcomes this information which means that the fourteen crewmembers of the FENG GUO are safe.
Somali pirates are currently holding 17 ships with 369 hostages.

My apologies for repeating misinformation from usually reliable sources.

Original post:
From ONI's Piracy Analysis and Warning Weekly (PAWW) Report (Horn of Africa) for 30 Sep –06 Oct 2010

1. (U) Vessels Hijacked

1.(U) INDIAN OCEAN: Fishing Vessel (FENG GUO NO. 168) likely hijacked 06 Oct 10 while underway approximately 270NM east of Madagascar. The vessel departed Port Lewis, Mauritius on 1 Oct and transited northwest. The company reported that they lost contact with the vessel 5 Oct. The vessel was last located at 0818 UTC on 7 Oct in position 13:22.2S – 053:32.2E, approximately 230NM east of Madagascar. Currently, the vessel is transiting northwest at a reduced speed of 7 knots due to engine trouble. (IMB)

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Piracy Update 7 October 2010

From the NATO Shipping Center:

As the monsoon continues to abate in northeast and southwest Somali Basin and the Arabian Sea, the risk of pirate attacks on merchant vessels also increases. Temporarily poor weather, particularly along the central Somali Coast will continue to constrain pirates’ activities in the short term.

In the northeast Somali Basin it is likely that at least one pirated dhow is active in the shipping lanes as evidenced by the reported approach of a suspect skiff on the MV ZIM ATLANTIC approximately 200nm north east of Socotra Island on 05 Oct. To the east, reporting indicates that a pirate mother ship is operating within an area of 200nm radius from 06 degrees 50 minutes north and 65 degrees 00 minutes east. We assess that this vessel is probably the FV TAI YAUN 227, which is under the control of pirates.

To the south, it appears likely that another Taiwanese fishing vessel, the FENG GUO NO. 168 was pirated when located 15°49 south, 055°23 east, approx 60nm east of Tromelin Island in the Indian Ocean. This incident is the most southerly incident of probable Somali piracy noted so far. FV FENG GUO NO. 168 has a white hull with the number BJ 4645 at the mid-ship position. All vessels are advised to keep clear of this vessel and to report sightings of this vessel immediately. Masters should note that the FV TAI YUAN 227 is also a white hulled fishing vessel, approximately 50 metres long, with the registration numbers BH3Z87 painted in large black letters on the hull.

From the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report (to 30 Sept 10) :

B. (U) CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN:
.
1. (U) HAITI: Roll-on/roll-off ship boarded 16 Sep 10 at 2355 local time while in position18:34.1N ñ 072:31.5W at anchorage Port au Prince. Duty watch saw one robber armed withknife on the aft deck and raised the alarm. The robber jumped overboard, swam to a waitingboat, and escaped. He stole the ship stores. (IMB)
.
C. (U) SOUTH AMERICA:
.
1. (U) COLOMBIA: Bulk carrier robbed 6 Sep 10 at 0300 local time while anchored inposition 03:51N ñ 077:06W, Buenaventura anchorage. Three robbers armed with longknives boarded the vessel during heavy rain. They attacked and tied up the forwardwatchman. When the officer of the watch received no response, he dispatched the aftwatchman to investigate. Upon seeing the crewmemberís discovery, the robbers jumpedoverboard and escaped with shipís stores. The incident was reported to the coast guard whoarrived 30 minutes later. (IMB)
.
2. (U) PERU: General cargo ship boarded 5 Sep 10 at 0140 local time while anchored inposition 12:01.7S ñ 077:11.7W, Callao anchorage. Two robbers armed with long knivesboarded the vessel at anchor. The duty crew spotted them, raised the alarm, and the crewmustered. The robbers jumped overboard and escaped. (IMB)
***
F. (U) MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA:
.
1. (U) ROMANIA: River vessel (ZVEZDNYY) robbed 23 Sep 10 at 1800 local time whilewaiting at Agigea locks near Constantza port. The vessel was waiting for registration by direction of the Harbor Master. While berthed, a number of cars drove up to the vesseland people started unloading cargo from the vessel, three holds of scrap iron, two holdsof grain. The captain unsuccessfully tried to stop the unloading. He took the ship outand the robbers jumped into the water. Approximately five tons of scrap was removed.The crew later recovered two tons off the pier. The crew called the police who allegedly refused to take up the case. (MaRisk)
.
1. (U) MALTA: Refrigerated fishing vessel (BENGHAZI II) boarded and commandeered 17Sep 10 while underway approximately 20NM east of Malta. 16 illegal immigrants ofEgyptian nationality boarded took control of the vessel and locked the captain and two crewmembers in the engine room. The crew sent a distress signal, and the Malta Maritime Squadron's Rapid Deployment Team arrived 20 minutes later. They convinced theimmigrants to give up control of the vessel. (LM, Times of Malta)
.
G. (U) WEST AFRICA:
.
1. (U) NIGERIA: A vessel reported being attacked 22 Sep 10 in the early morning in the Addaxoil field. The crew repelled the attack and the men departed the area without boarding. (ONI)
.
2. (U) NIGERIA: Anchor-handling tug (BOURBON ALEXANDRE) boarded, crewmembers kidnapped 22 Sep 10 in the early morning in the Addax oil field. Three crewmembers werekidnapped before the robbers departed. The remaining 13 crewmembers were unharmed.The kidnapped crew are reported to have been taken to shore, along with the one kidnappedmember of JASCON 30 (see article below). (AP)
.
3. (U) NIGERIA: Pipe layer (JASCON 30) boarded, crewmember kidnapped 22 Sep 10 at 0236UTC while under tow by another vessel in the Addax oil field. About 21 armed men in threeboats boarded a pipe layer crane vessel undertow. All crew locked themselves inaccommodations. Robbers were able to take one crewmember as hostage. Master calledNigerian naval vessel in vicinity. Before escaping, the robbers kidnapped one Thaicrewmember and released the rest of the crew. The kidnapped crew member is likely beingheld with the three French citizens kidnapped from BOURBON ALEXANDRE (see article above) (IMB, Tradewinds)
.
4. (U) CAMEROON: Cargo ship robbed 19 Sep 10 at 0430 local time while at anchor in Douala. Two robbers armed with knives in a boat boarded a berthed general cargo ship during heavy rain. They opened the locked mast house but were noticed by duty watch. The robbers escaped with the ship stores. (IMB)
.
5. (U) CAMEROON: Dredger (AMERIGO VESPUCI) robbed 12 Sep 10 at 2130 local time while at anchor in position 03:53N ñ 009:32E in port Douala. About 12 robbers armed withmachine guns in two speed boats boarded a general cargo ship at anchor. They took hostage four crew members and damaged shipís equipment. The crew contacted local authorities. The robbers left before the authorities arrived. A company spokesman said he had no news regarding the demands of the gang, such as whether it was seeking a ransom for the two
hostages. (IMB, Reuters)
.
6. (U) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Vessel robbed 4 Sep 10 at 0130 local time while underway in position 05:51.9S ñ 013:03E, 1NM southeast of Boma anchorage. Three robbers armed with long knives boarded the vessel. The duty officer noticed and raised the alarm, but the robbers managed to steal shipís stores and escape. (IMB)
.
7. (U) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Product tanker robber 31 Aug 10 at 0110 UTC while at anchorage in position 05:52.4S ñ 013:01.9E, approximately 2NM west of Boma. Three robbers armed with knives boarded a product tanker at anchor. They stole ships stores and escaped. (IMB)
.
H. (U) RED SEA:
.
1. (U) RED SEA: Container ship reported suspicious approach 11 Sep 10 at 1212 UTC while underway in position 12:54.0N ñ 043:10.7E, in the Bab al Mandeb. Four skiffs with two to three peoples in each skiff chased and approached a container ship underway at high speed. Ladders were seen in two skiffs as they approached the vessel. Master increased speed, altered course, contacted warships, and informed ships in the vicinity. Master continued with the evasive maneuvers, and after five minutes the skiffs ended their chase and moved away.
(IMB)
.
I. (U) INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA:
.
1. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Container ship reported suspicious approach 29 Sep 10 at 0455 UTC while underway in position 06:47.5N ñ 061:51.0E, approximately 650NM east of Garacad, Somalia. Five men on one skiff with AK-47s and hook ladders approached from stern. Master altered course and sounded security signal, and crew mustered and locked all access doors. Security team onboard activated LRAD and SSAS and fired warning shots when the skiff approached around 100 meters off port quarter. After 10 minutes, pirates aborted attack. (IMB)
.
2. (U) TANZANIA: Asphalt tanker (ASPHALT VENTURE) hijacked 29 Sep 10 at 0058 UTC while underway in position 07:09S - 040:59E, approximately 100NM southeast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Currently, the vessel is transiting north, reportedly toward Harardheere on the central Somali coast. (LL, Mathaba).
.
3. (U) TANZANIA: Chemical tanker (MISSISSIPPI STAR) fired upon 28 Sep 10 at 0747 UTC while underway in position 06:28S, 039:48E, approximately 40NM northeast of Dar es Salaam. Five pirates armed with M16s and RPG on a speedboat approached along the starboard side at the main deck. The crew observed aluminum hook ladders. Pirates fired at crew and superstructure. Crew activated fire pumps, foam monitors, and fire hoses. After 30 minutes, the pirates aborted their attack after 30 minutes. A helicopter arrived on location to
assist the vessel. (IMB)
.
4. (U) TANZANIA: Research vessel fired upon 26 Sep 10 at 2050 UTC while underway in position 06:54S, 040:27E, approximately 80NM east of Dar es Salaam. Two to three skiffs opened fire. The pirates aborted attack after vessel returned fire. No injuries reported. (UKMTO, TW)
.
5. (U) TANZANIA: Tanzanian Navy patrol boat fired upon 25 Sep 10 at 2000 UTC while underway in position 09:34S - 040:14E, approximately 175NM southeast of Dar es Salaam. One skiff with four pirates onboard armed with small arms and RPG approached and fired upon the vessel, attempting to hit the rudder. Patrol boat fired back and skiff retreated. Two personnel on patrol boat were injured. Due to small size of skiff, captain believes a mother ship may be operating in the vicinity. Patrol boat attempted to chase the pirates but could not because the rudder was blown out. (UKMTO)
.
6. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: General cargo vessel (LUGELA) reported illegal boarding 25 Sep 10 at 0300 UTC while underway in position 07:23N - 064:49E, approximately 930NM east of Garacad, Somalia. The pirates boarded the vessel but never gained control. The crew disabled the ship's engine and locked themselves in the engine room. When the pirates could not sail the ship, they damaged the shipís equipment, set the bridge on fire, and abandoned the ship.
Later, the crew emerged from the citadel and extinguished the fire and continued en route their next port. (IMB, Reuters)
.
7. (U) BANGLADESH: General cargo ship (BM ADVENTURE) robbed 24 Sep 10 at 2210 local time while at anchorage in Chittagong at position 22:10.9N -091:40.7E. Four robbers in one boat boarded a ship from astern during anchoring operations. Duty watchman noticed them and raised alarm. The robbers threatened the watchman with long knives and escaped with shipís stores after seeing crewís alertness. (IMB, MaRisk)
.
8. (U) BANGLADESH: Container ship robbed 12 Sep 10 at 2300 local time while at anchorage in Chittagong at position 22:09.45N - 091:45.0E. Counter-piracy watch on board an anchored container ship reported three robbers armed with long knives to watch officer. The robbers approached the crew and threatened him. The watch officer raised alarm and alerted crew. Robbers escaped with ship stores. Incident was reported to the coast guard who boarded the vessel for investigation. (IMB)
.
9. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Container ship (MAGELLAN STAR) boarded 8 Sep 10 at 0540 UTC while underway in position 13:23N - 049:58E, approximately 83NM southeast of Al Mukalla, Yemen. Armed pirates in a skiff boarded and attempted to hijack the vessel. The crew locked themselves in a safe room and requested assistance. The vessel was freed the following day when US Marines boarded the vessel and arrested the suspected pirates. (IMB, LM: New York Times)
.
10. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Chemical tanker (OLIB G) hijacked 8 Sep 10 at 0504 UTC while underway in position 13:26N - 049:45E, approximately 73NM southeast of Al Mukalla, Yemen. Armed pirates boarded and hijacked the vessel along with 18 crewmembers while underway. (IMB, AP)
.
11. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Chemical tanker reported suspicious approach 6 Sep 10 at 0702 UTC while underway in position 13:32N - 049:39.7E, approximately 65NM southeast of Al Mukalla, Yemen. Master reported six armed men in a skiff attempted to board the vessel as they were transiting under naval convoy. The master conducted counter-piracy measures and reported to coalition forces. The skiff aborted the pursuit as a coalition helicopter approached. The skiff was later boarded by coalition forces for investigation. (IMB)
.
12. (U) BANGLADESH: General cargo ship robbed 4 Sep 10 at 0001 local time while anchored at Chittagong anchorage. About 25 robbers armed with knives approached the vessel in two boats. As they boarded the vessel, they continuously threw stones at the crew. The robbers stole shipís stores and escaped. The master reported to port control and the coast guard who
indicated that help would arrive. (IMB)
.
***
K. (U) SOUTHEAST ASIA:
.
J. (U) INDONESIA: Tug boarded and barge robbed 30 Sep 10 at 0730 local time while tug was towing barge in position 00:53.02S -104:18.46E, approximately 50NM east of Kualatungkal. Twelve men with knives boarded a tug towing a barge. Crew enforced counter-piracy measures and contacted owners. Owners contacted IMB Piracy Reporting Center and requested assistance. The Center immediately contacted authorities and relayed the tug's request for assistance. When pirates could not enter accommodation, they disembarked and boarded the barge. Pirates stole the ship's store and equipment and lowered them into the boat. A naval patrol craft contacted the tug and arrived at the location. (IMB)
.
K. (U) VIETNAM: Container ship robbed 18 Sep 10 at 0430 local time while anchored at position 20:38.6N - 106:52.3E, in Haiphong Roads, Vietnam. About 20 armed robbers boarded a container ship at anchor. Duty watch noticed the robbers on the forecastle deck and informed the duty officer who instructed him to secure all access points around the accommodation. They raised the alarm and mustered the crew. The robbers escaped with the ship stores. (IMB)
.
L. (U) SOUTH CHINA SEA: Vehicle carrier (CHEERLEADER) boarded 10 Sep 10 at 2320 local time while underway in position 01:55.0N - 109:05.0E, approximately 10NM southwest of Pulau Merundung, Indonesia. About eight robbers armed with long knives boarded a vehicle carrier underway. The men tied up master and some crew members. They stole ship's cash and crew properties before escaping. None of the crew was injured. (IMB, FP)
.
M. (U) SOUTH CHINA SEA: Tanker reported attempted boarding 9 Sep 10 at 2110 local time while underway at position 02:00.53N - 109:04.39E, approximately 4NM southwest of Pulau Merundung, Indonesia. While on counter-piracy watch, crew onboard a tanker underway noticed a hook hanging from the poop deck railing with one pirate armed with a knife attempting to board the vessel. Crew informed bridge, raised alarm, and mustered rest of crew. Pirates escaped in their waiting booth with remaining accomplices. There was no injury to the crew and nothing was stolen. (IMB)
.
N. (U) SOUTH CHINA SEA: Container ship reported suspicious approach 5 Sep 10 at 1940 local time while underway in position 06:07.7N - 112:26.4E, approximately 11NM north of Friendship Shoal reef. The master noticed two speed boats with four to five persons onboard approaching at high speed from both sides of the vessel. He switched on deck and over side lights, raised the alarm, mustered the crew, and conducted evasive maneuvering. Upon seeing razor wire around the vessel, the men in the speed boats ended their pursuit. (IMB)
.
O. (U) SOUTH CHINA SEA: Tanker robbed 5 Sep 10 at 0305 local time while underway in position 03:14.2N - 105:17.2E, approximately 19NM northwest of Pulau Mangkai, Indonesia. Four men armed with long knives boarded the vessel underway. They took the duty watch crew hostage and proceeded to the masterís cabin where they stole cash before escaping. A distress message was sent out by the vessel. (IMB)
.
P. (U) SOUTH CHINA SEA: Vessel boarded 1 Sep 10 at 2201 local time while underway in position 03:08.9N -105:25.2E, approximately 11NM northwest of Pulau Mangkai, Indonesia. Prior to entering high risk area, the crew had locked all access to accommodation and bridge. Upon seeing robbers onboard the vessel, the officer of the watch raised the alarmand all crew mustered on the bridge. Upon seeing the crew's alertness, the robbers escaped without stealing anything. (IMB)
.
Q. (U) SOUTH CHINA SEA: Tanker robbed 1 Sep 10 at 0100 UTC while underway in position 03:14.3N -105:19.6E, approximately 15NM northwest of Pulau Mangkai, Indonesia. Six robbers with guns, knives, and steel rods boarded a tanker underway. They entered the bridge and took hostage three crew members and tied up their hands. The robbers also took the master hostage when he opened his cabin door. Robbers stole ship's cash and the crew and shipís properties before escaping. (IMB)
.
R. (U) INDONESIA: Vessel robbed 31 Aug 10 at 0300 UTC at position 03:13S - 116:23E, at anchorage at Tanjung Pemancingan, Indonesia. While at anchor, alarm for forecastle watertight doors was activated indicating that they had been opened. Investigation revealed forecastle store door was broken open and shipsí stores and properties stolen. The whole incident was unnoticed. (IMB)
.

Somali Pirates: Human Organ Sellers?

Probably an idle threat. But now comes this odd report: Somali pirates threaten to sell organs of hostages:

Somali pirates on Wednesday threatened to kill and sell the body organs of the 22 hostages held since late March if their ransom demands are not met in the near future.

Media reports say the information was received via a text message from one of the hostages. The message read that the pirates will kill them and then remove their eyes and kidneys in order to be sold, if they do not receive the asked ransom.

The pirate leader allegedly said that they will auction the captives' organs in an open bid because they will get more money this way than what they ask for ransom. The crew consists in 6 Indians, 9 Yemen, 4 Ghanaians, 2 Sudanese and 1 Filipino.

On March 29, the Panama-flagged vessel, MV Iceberg 1, was hijacked off Somalia. The pirates attacked the vessel approximately 10 miles outside the Gulf of Aden port.

This comes along with threats to kill hostages on the Iceberg one by one or en masse as the pirates are tired of waiting for a ransom payment for the vessel. See here:

The Commanders of a group of pirates who are currently holding 24 persons captive including 4 Ghanaians in Somalia who were aboard the MV Iceberg 1 are agitated about the non-compliance to their demand and have threatened worse moments for the crew.

The captives communicated the intention of the pirates through a text message to Citi FM.

According to the pirates, if their demands are not met immediately, they would be forced to kill the captives and make away with some of their body parts which they say are more expensive than the ransom.

“Hi, this is to inform you that the hijacker of MV Iceberg 1 has come out unkind, inhuman and terrible decision last night. Immediately after one of their commanders arrived on board, he said officially that if they don’t get their ransom ASAP they will slaughter us and remove our kidneys and hearts which are even high than the cost of ransom they are requesting. Kindly forward this urgent news to all other embassies in Nairobi and human right watch worldwide ASAP”. Text message from the captives

More from Ecoterra (amidst their diatribes against the U.S. and others) here:

. . . It has transpired that the shipping company Azal Shipping based in Dubai refuses to pay any ransom and the ship is apparently not insured, though it carries very valuable cargo and it seems that the British cargo owner is in charge of the negotiations. The sailors have no more food, water or medicine from their stores on board. While all the seafarers are starving, a few of them already are getting sick, though none of the sailors suffers from a serious health condition yet. First Officer Kumar, Chief Engineer Mohamed and Second Engineer Francis also stated that they urgently need Diesel for the electricity generators. The crew requested again humanitarian intervention as before and has now received some supplies through intervention by local elders and a humanitarian group. Recently negotiations for the release started in earnest, but have not been concluded, because the captors consider the offer of the shipowner as unrealistic. According to the Chinese state-media newswire XINHUA, the acting director at the ministry of foreign affairs in Accra (Ghana) Mr. Lawrence Sotah said the ministry, in response to a petition by a relative of one of the hostages, had commenced investigations, but reportedly stated also that their location and reasons for the kidnapping remained unknown. "We do not have any information as to what the pirates are demanding, because the owners of the ship or the pirates themselves have not put out any information which will be helpful for us to know exactly what they want," he said. "Ghana’s mission in Saudi Arabia has been contacted to assist, " Sotah said. He said the ministry was working with other international security organization to get to the bottom of what he termed the "alleged" kidnapping. One of the sailors from Ghana was able to speak to a journalist back home and stated on 22. September: “They have given us a 48 hour deadline that if we don’t come up with anything reasonable they will kill some of us and sink the vessel. I am appealing to the Ghanaian authority that they should do something to save our lives because our treatment here is inhuman”.The vessel is now very close to the shore of Garacad.

Well, if the pirates are looking for a way to descend to a lower level of scum, harvesting hostage organs would pretty much do it.

On the other hand, if they want to make sure that every sailor on every ship they threaten has an incentive to fight back hard, this is a good approach.

As I said earlier, probably an idle threat.

Prevention or cure?

The Fence or The Ambulance

‘Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant:
But over its terrible edge there had slipped
A duke and many a peasant;
So the people said something would have to be done.
But their projects did not at all tally:
Some said, "Put a fence around the edge of the cliff"
Some, "An ambulance down in the valley."

But the cry for the ambulance carried the day.
For it spread to the neighboring city:
A fence may be useful or not, it is true,
But each heart became brimful of pity
For those who had slipped o’er that dangerous cliff,
And the dwellers in highway and alley
Gave pounds or gave pence, not to put up a fence,
But an ambulance down in the valley.

"For the cliff is alright if your careful," they said,
"and if folks even slip or are dropping,
it isn't the slipping that hurts them so much
as the shock down below-when they're stopping,"
So day after day when these mishaps occurred,
Quick forth would the rescuers sally
To pick up the victims who fell off the cliff,
With their ambulance down in the valley.

Then an old man remarked, "it's a marvel to me
that people give far more attention
to repairing results than to stopping the cause,
when they'd much better aim at prevention.
Let us stop at its source all this mischief, cried he.
"Come neighbors and freinds, let us rally :
If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense
with the ambulance down in the valley."

"Oh, he's a fanatic." the others rejoined:
"dispense with the ambulance Never!
He'd dispense with all charities, too, if he could:
no, no! We'll support them forever.
Aren't we picking up folks just as fast as they fall?
And shall this man dictate to us? Shall he?
Why would people of sense stop to put up a fence?
While their ambulance works in the valley?"

But a sensible few who are practical too,
Will not bear with such nonsense much longer
They believe that prevention is better than cure
And their party will soon be the stronger
Encourage them, then with your purse, voice and pen
And (while other philanthropists dally)
They will scorn all pretense, and put up a stout fence
On the cliff that hangs over the valley.

-Joseph Malines

From The Best Loved Poems of the American People
Compiled by Hazel Felleman
Published by Doubleday, 1936

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Naval Institute Piracy Conference 20 October

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Martin N. Murphy, Author and Piracy Expert

Panel: Blackbeard to Barbary Pirates: Making Their Mark on History
RADM Joseph F. Callo, USNR (Ret.), Author (moderator)
Dr. Virginia W. Lunsford, USNA, Author
Frederick C. Leiner, Author
LCDR Benjamin Armstrong, USN, Author

Panel: Piracy's Impact on International Commerce, Law and Diplomacy
CAPT Robert "Turk" Maggi, USN (Ret.), U.S. Department of State (moderator)
COL Iya J Gababo, Defense Attache, Embassy of the Republic of Kenya,
Robert Gauvin, Piracy Policy, U.S. Coast Guard
CAPT Mark Tempest, USNR (Ret.), Attorney

Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Stephen M. Carmel, Senior Vice President, Maersk Line, Limited

Panel: Pirates: How Do We Defeat Them?
CDR John P. Patch, USN (Ret.), U.S. Army War College (moderator)
RADM Terence E. McKnight, USN (Ret.),
Capt Zachary D. Martin, USMC, Marine Expeditionary Force Recon Company
Laurence Smallman, Defense Research Analyst, RAND Corporation

Annapolis, October 20, 2010

Details and much more information here.

Come on, take the day off and join the fun!

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Predators Take the Fight to the Terrorists

So, after a Predator UAV strike, the world is a little safer (for a short time). From BBC News - "Taliban 'remove German militants' bodies' after attack":

The Taliban have removed the bodies of eight militants killed in a US drone attack in Pakistan, the BBC has been told.

Pakistani security officials say that four of the dead were German nationals.

They were killed by two missiles fired at a house in North Waziristan. A number of people were said to have been wounded.

Security sources have closely linked the area to a reported al-Qaeda plot to attack European cities.

The attack destroyed the home of a tribal leader with close links to a local Taliban commander in a village 3km (2 miles) from the main town of Mir Ali.

Identification of the victims is being made more difficult because Taliban militants sealed off the area after the missile strike, taking away the remains for burial.

See also this Wall Street Journal opinion piece Preventing the Next Mumbai .

Photo is from an earlier operation in another place, but the song's message should be clear to the currently alive would be terrorists.

Monday, October 04, 2010

Somali Pirates: Frustrated Pirates Call Shipping Company

An interesting interview from Der Spiegel Online Pirates and the Panic Room: 'We Got an Angry Phone Call' involving the thwarted highjacking of the Magellan Star:

Salamon: What is most important is that they could not take any hostages. Furthermore, the captain set up the engine so it could not be started in the usual way. When the pirates noticed that, we got an angry phone call from them at the shipping company.

Worth reading it all.

Kenya: "No more pirate trials here"

Reported as "Kenya refuses to host Somali pirate trials":

"Arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating pirates here exposes Kenya to these very serious security challenges," Adan Keynan, chairman of Kenya's Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Foreign Relations, said. "It's not in the interest of Kenyans to try Somali pirates here."

Warships belonging to the EU and others have been patrolling the sea off the East African coast in an effort to end pirate activity with the result of more than 100 Somalis being captured at sea, the BBC reported in its Saturday edition.

Dozens of suspected pirates were handed over to Kenyan authorities to face justice, but they now say their prisons are overcrowded and can ill afford more prisoners from Somalia.

Another arrow removed from the anti-piracy quiver.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Fearless Navy Bloggers Take to the Air: Episode 39 The Coast Guard and Counter Narcotics 10/3/2010

Here's a Midrats episode that ought to prove interesting as we talk about that other long-term war we've been fighting - the "War Against Drugs."

Join us at 5pm Sunday for Episode 39 The Coast Guard and Counter Narcotics on 10/3/2010 for a discussion of :

. . . the U.S. Coast Guard's role in defending the USA from the flow of illegal drugs
. Their guest will be CDR E. A. Westfall, CDR, USCG, Commanding Officer of the USCGC ESCANABA (WMEC 907).

By way of background, a report on some of what Escanaba's crew has been up to at this Navy Times article Coast Guard boarding team engages in firefight. Really, though, expect the discussion to be broader than one incident. After all, from chasing "go fasts" to interdicting drug submarines to finding drug stashes on merchant ships, the Coast Guard has been involved in this fight a long time.

And they have that cool racing stripe.
Listen to internet radio with Midrats on Blog Talk Radio

Friday, October 01, 2010

Somali Pirates: Status Report

Let's start with the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence's "SOMALIA: Piracy Analysis and Warning Weekly (PAWW) Report (Horn of Africa) for 23 Sep –29 Sep 2010" issued 29 September, with this warning area map:

As you can see, the monsoon conditions have waned and the threat areas increased.

NATO Shipping Center has issued the following warnings (as of 30 Sept 10):

September 30, 2010
WARNING Somali Basin
Latitude: 07 34 N Longitude: 057 39 E

Alert number 419 / 2010 (update to ALERT number 416) .

At 301015 UTC a Pirate Action Group consisting of one skiffs with ladders and weapons was reported in position 07 34 N 057 39 E. This PAG is assessed to be connected to Mother Ship operation reported in ALERT number 416 that was in pos. 0647N 06051E.
------------------------------

September 29, 2010

WARNING Gulf Of Aden
Latitude: 12 22N Longitude: 043 58 E

Alert number 418 / 2010.

At 0420 UTC a Pirate Action Group consisting of 2 skiffs with ladder and armed people on board was reported in position 12 22 N 043 58E.

ICC CCS IMB report of recent piracy activity near Somalia:

28.09.2010: 2000 UTC: Posn: 07:07S – 041:02E (around 100 nm SE of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania), off Somalia. Armed pirates attacked and hijacked An Asphalt tanker underway. Tanker activated ship security alert. Further details are awaited. (note by Eagle1: Since confirmed see here and EU confirmation here)

29.09.2010: 0455 UTC: Posn: 06:47.5N – 061:51.0E: (Around 1000nm NE of Mogadishu, Indian Ocean), off Somalia. Five pirates armed with AK-47 in a white coloured skiff approached a container ship underway with intent to board. Master altered course, sounded security signal and crew mustered and locked all access doors. The security team onboard activated the LRAD, SSAS and fired warning shots when the skiff approached around 100 meters off the port quarter. The pirates retreated and aborted the attempted attack.

28.09.2010: 0740 UTC: Posn: 06:28S – 039:48E, around 40nm NE of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (off Somalia).
Pirates armed with automatic weapons and RPG attacked a chemical tanker underway. A military helicopter arrived at location. Vessel evaded the attack.

25.09.2010: 0315 UTC: Posn: 07:24N – 064:50E: Around 1200nm ENE of Mogadishu. (Indian Ocean), off Somalia.Heavily armed pirates boarded a general cargo ship underway. The crew members disabled the ships engine and locked themselves in the safe room /citadel. When the pirates could not sail the ship they damaged the ships equipment, set the bridge on fire and abandoned the ship. Later the crew emerged from the citadel, extinguished the fire and proceeded to a safe port.

ONI summaries of events in Tanzania area (excluding hijack of asphalt ship):

1.(U) TANZANIA: Tanzanian Navy patrol boat fired upon 25 Sep 10 at 2000 UTC while underway in position 09:34S – 040:14E, approximately 175NM southeast of Dar es Salaam. One skiff with four pirates onboard armed with small arms and RPG approached and fired upon the vessel, attempting to hit the rudder. Patrol boat fired back and skiff retreated. Two personnel on patrol boat were injured. Due to small size of skiff, captain believes a mother ship may be operating in the vicinity. Patrol boat attempted to chase the pirates but could not because the rudder was blown out. (UKMTO)

2.(U)TANZANIA: Research vessel fired upon 26 Sep 10 at 2050 UTC while underway in position 06:54S – 040:27E, approximately 80NM east of Dar es Salaam. Two to three skiffs opened fire. The pirates aborted attack after vessel returned fire. No injuries reported. (UKMTO, TW)

3.(U) TANZANIA: Chemical tanker (MISSISSIPPI STAR) fired upon 28 Sep 10 at 0747 UTC while underway in position 06:28S – 039:48E, approximately 40NM northeast of Dar es Salaam. Five pirates armed with M16s and RPG on a speedboat approached along the starboard side at the main deck. The crew observed aluminum hook ladders. Pirates fired at crew and superstructure. Crew activated fire pumps, foam monitors, and fire hoses. After 30 minutes, the pirates aborted their attack after 30 minutes. A helicopter arrived on location to assist the vessel. (IMB)

Ecoterra (here) and Reuters (here) list 18 ships and fishing boats (my count) being held by Somali pirates. In addition, Somalis hold one yachting couple, as reported by Ecoterra:

Sea-jacked British couple, Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 59 and 56, were abducted from their 38-ft yacht S/Y LYNN RIVAL, seized October 22, 2009 en route to Tanzania, and are still held in Somalia. The yacht was recovered by the crew of UK naval vessel Waveknight, after they witnessed the transfer of the Chandlers to commandeered MV KOTA WAJAR. The yacht was brought back to England. The elderly couple is now held on land close to Adado, sometimes separated for fear of a commando attack. The case is turning more and more ugly with pirates becoming brutal, politicians ignorant and the financially incapable family intimidated by several sidelines, whose money-guided approach is undermining bids by local elders, human rights groups and the Somali Diaspora to get the innocent couple free. Some humanitarian efforts, however, have succeeded and Somali elders, respected leaders and the Somali Diaspora have renewed their demand for an unconditional release. ***

Last word I have found on the Samho Dream was that she had been moved to Garacad (see here) and is not a huge "mother ship." She is still full of oil, though, and thus a hazard.

UPDATE: Reliable reports indicate that the Samho Dream, is, in fact, at sea and being used as a "mother ship." The report indicates the vessel is operating roughly 190 nautical miles SE off Socotra Island and another pirated vessel FV Tai Yuan 227 is also in use in the area east of 60 degrees East. Shipping is encouraged to keep a good watch. Red circle on map is in general area of concern (and best I can do where I am for now). Will update as I get more info.

UPDATE2: NATO info from NATO Shipping Centre :

Increased Risk of Piracy – Updated 1. Oct afternoon.

The monsoon is abating in northeast and southwest Somali Basin and Arabian Sea but temporary poor weather, particularly along the central Somali Coast will have an impact on pirates’ activities.
In the northeast Somali Basin there are several possible pirated ships being utilized as mother ships operating in the vicinity of 55 degrees east, including VLCC SAMHO DREAM. Media reports have also mentioned that two Iranian dhows were pirated near 60 degrees east. There was activity at 60 degrees east probably linked to the last known location of the FV TAI YUAN 227 but the two events cannot yet be linked. Pirates frequently force these pirated vessels and crews to be mother ships, thereby extending their range and increasing their endurance. However, their size allows early detection by radar. The area south of 3 degrees south off the Tanzanian coast has had a lot of recent piracy activity with several attacks and the pirating of MV ASPHALT VENTURE. This area is likely to remain active for some time due to the prevailing weather conditions.
Masters should note that the Tai Yuan 227 is a white hulled fishing vessel, approximately 50 metres long, with the registration numbers BH3Z87 painted in large black letters on the hull.
VLCC SAMHO DREAM is probably being used by pirates as a mother ship in operations south southeast of Socotra Island. The SAMHO DREAM is a 319,000 dwt, crude oil tanker, approximately 333 metres long, with an orange hull and white superstructure.
Pirates on these vessels represent an active threat to merchant shipping and any small boat observed in the open ocean more than 300nm from the Somali coast should be considered to be a potential pirate vessel.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Psychics Warn: "Al Qaeda is coming!"

Here the psychic "network" line - get ready for a new "Mumbai-style plot":

The current psychic warnings, which hit the Internet in late August, concerned a series of at least four to five attacks at locations in England and France, and appear to have foreshadowed the current situation being reported by the mainstream media.

The "where" and the "when" are a little vague - though ferry boats, wharfs, the U.S., England, France and Germany get mentioned.

In other words, the psychics are saying that you should be sort of generally afraid of things that have happened in the past and may happen again, somewhere, sometime..

My "psychic" prediction: People will continue to believe psychics based on their claiming to be right part of the time. Read about what John Allen Paulos labeled the "Jean Dixon Effect" here.

If I predict that you or someone you know will be involved in a car accident within the year, I will be right. Given the number of people reading this and the odds of one of them being in or knowing someone who will be in an auto accident in the next year is pretty staggering.

If I predict there will be a "terrorist" event in the U.S., German, or England . . . come on, that's a lot of turf and a loose definition of terrorism. I'm almost bound to be right.

My psychic powers? Well, ~~the odds are that you will make it out of bed tomorrow, by the way~~ - I mean I can see that you will -uh- drink a chemical containing hydrogen and oxygen in the next 48 hours. And so forth.

Now, if only I could predict the winning numbers in the Mega Lottery . . .

Valid points made in "Don't be terrorized".

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Somali Pirates Grab Asphalt Tanker

Reported here

The Panama-flagged, 3,884dwt asphalt/bitumen carrier Asphalt Venture was seized at 0358 local time about 7 degrees south and 41 degrees east in the Indian Ocean, according to Ecoterra International.

The ship, which was in ballast and carrying 15 Indian crew, had “turned around and obviously is commandeered [by pirates] northwards to Somalia”. . .

Hat tip: Bryan

Iran: "Stealth" Flying Boats Join IRGC Force As Squadron

A little (okay, much) overlap in the following videos showing Iran's latest asymmetric weapon system being deployed by the Iranian Republican Guard (IRGC):

In Western terms, these might be called "targets."

However, the Iranian Press TV report:

Iran takes the design and manufacturing of domestic-built military hardware to a new level by delivering stealth flying boats to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

"Bavar 2," is a radar-evading fixed-wing seaplane capable of patrol and reconnaissance missions. At least 11 flying boats joined the IRGC fleet on Tuesday after an official ceremony.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said the new delivery was in line with the country's efforts to boast regional security.

"Equipping the country's Naval and Armed forces with advanced and modern weaponry will bolster the stability and security of the region and play an effective role in consolidating Iran's deterrent power," a statement on the Defense Ministry's website quoted Vahidi as saying.

The country has finished several major defense projects this year, despite several rounds of UN Security Council sanctions targeting Iranian military and financial sectors over Western allegations that Tehran is following a military nuclear program.

Iran will soon unveil and launch the second generation of Jamaran destroyers, Sina class frigates as well as a new generation of submarines, Commander of the Iranian Army Major General Ataollah Salehi announced last Wednesday.

In August, the Iranian Navy was equipped with four more domestically-made stealth Ghadir class mini-submarines.

And, actually, these mini-wing in ground thingies have been mocked before here.

UPDATE: Of course, one question for the IRGC is - suppose your initial stealthy attack doesn't send your hated enemy to the sea floor? And you lose almost all of your boats and WIGs. What's your follow up?

Just asking . . .

Memo to fleet. Order some more 20mm ammo and a few more Hellfires. Suicide attacks en masse are back in fashion for the IRGC.

And you might wanna rustle up a AC130-like version of the Osprey. Just for fun.