Somali Pirates: Warnings

Somali Pirate Warnings:

September 21, 2010

WARNING Somali Basin
Latitude: 06 59N Longitude: 049 24E
Alert number 408 / 2010.

Pirated FV PRANTALAY 14 left Garacad anchorage (06 59N 049 24E) in the morning of the 20 SEP.
Three skiffs and three ladders were sighted on board. The FV is probably involved in mother ship operations.

---------------------------
September 20, 2010
WARNING Somali Basin
Latitude: 01 17N Longitude: 052 51E
Alert number 407 / 2010.

At 0847 UTC on 19th SEP a Pirate Action Group consisting of 1 white wooden skiff (approx 5m long) and 1 blue fibreglass whaler (approx 10m long) was reported in position 01 17N 052 51 E.

 Monsoon weather in the area is beginning to clear allowing small boat operation in the Indian Ocean and raises the possibility of increased pirate attacks, though it's still brisk. See the wind maps on the right side.


Meanwhile, the Thai Navy is going pirate hunting:

Two Thai navy ships with 351 sailors and 20 special warfare troops on board have set sail for the Gulf of Aden to take part in the hunt for pirates off the coast of Somalia. The mission marks the first time Thailand has sent forces overseas to protect its own interest. The HTMS Pattani (OPV 511) and HTMS Similan (Oiler) left yesterday with two helicopters lashed to the decks from Chuk Samet port at Chon Buri's Sattahip naval base to join a 28-country effort to police the shipping lanes off the Somali coast, which has become a piracy hotbed.

The use of the fishing boat extends the pirate's range substantially.

UPDATE: USS Kaufffman (FFG-59) busy stopping attacks:

Yesterday afternoon the helicopter from NATO warship USS KAUFFMAN located a suspicious skiff with five suspected pirates on board. USS KAUFFMAN is operating as part of NATO’s maritime counter-piracy task force in the Gulf of Aden. As USS KAUFFMAN closed to investigate the skiff, the nearby helicopter of coalition warship ENDURANCE from the Singapore Navy, operating with Combined Task Force 151, also closed to support.
“The level of cooperation between navies is exceptional,” said Commander Dale W. Maxey, Commanding Officer aboard USS KAUFFMAN. “We may represent different nations but we all have the same goal in mind - to deter piracy in the area.”

As both helicopters approached, the pirates threw a long ladder, which they use to scale innocent merchant ships, in to the sea, together with other pirate related items. As soon as she was close enough, USS KAUFFMAN sent her boarding team to search the skiff, and so ensure the suspected pirates could no longer pose a threat to shipping.

RSS Endurance is an LPD. Photos are of class ships.

Somali Pirates: EU naval force blockades pirate group

You can call it whatever you like, but I call it a blockade (look at Section II, Methods of Warfare, Sect 93 to 108).

What am I referring to? This - EU naval force flagship disrupts large pirate group:

On 17 September, while executing a patrol along the Somali coastline, the crew of EU NAVFOR ship FS DE GRASSE located and disrupted a Pirate Action Group comprising of six boats. She thus prevented them from reaching the shipping lanes on the high seas to conduct attacks on merchant vessels.

On 16 September, the helicopter from the EU NAVFOR ship FS DE GRASSE was conducting a routine patrol when it spotted suspicious boats on a beach, loaded with pirate paraphernalia (ladders, fuel tanks…), indicating the imminent departure to sea of a Pirate Action Group.

The following morning, the same helicopter from FS DE GRASSE relocated this same group at sea. This time, the Pirate Action Group comprised of several skiffs and a whaler; a boat of larger size and often used as a refuelling asset without which the skiffs cannot sail far enough to conduct attacks.

A first skiff of this group was quickly disrupted by the boarding team of FS DE GRASSE and was sent back to shore, having removed all the pirate paraphernalia. The French destroyer then steamed at high speed towards a second position provided by her helicopter to intercept the whaler. Once the whaler had been placed under surveillance, the boarding team of FS DE GRASSE chased and successfully disrupted the two remaining skiffs that were still in range.

In total, twelve suspected pirates and four boats (three skiffs and one whaler) were intercepted; two further skiffs fled the scene. As none of the pirates were caught in the act of piracy, it was not possible to proceed with a prosecution under international law. However, all of the equipment which could have been used for an attack was seized and one whaler and one skiff were destroyed.

Despite having to release the pirates, this action by the EU NAVFOR ship FS DE GRASSE has disrupted a pirate group’s action and successfully prevented them from reaching high seas to commit acts of piracy against vulnerable merchant vessels.

You know, when you prevent the bad guys from going to sea to do harm, that's a blockade. And a damn good idea.

EU Photo captions and my comments (top to bottom) (click on pictures to enlarge them):

"The whaler intercepted by EU NAVFOR was used as a logistical asset for the five skiffs."

I guess this is the "whaler" that had to be destroyed. Note the large amount of fuel. The pirates appear to have been ready to engage in some serious "ship hunting."

EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE, the whaler, and the warship's boarding team (from right to left)

Note the beach in the background. the De Grasse is not doing high seas patrols . . .

Update: more thoughts on blockading the Somali pirates:

Here, here, and here.

Fearless Navy Bloggers Take to the Air: Episode 37 The November Election and National Security 9/19/2010 - Midrats on Blog Talk Radio

Sunday, 5pm Episode 37 The November Election and National Security 9/19/2010 - Midrats on Blog Talk Radio:

Six-and-a-half weeks from the NOV 2010 election with economic issues dominating the debate, what are the national security implications if the one or both Houses of Congress switch from Dem to Rep? What, if any, national security issues are part of the "Tea Party" movement - and what will possible new-comers such as Rand Paul and Marco Rubio bring to DC? Our guests to discuss will be Mackenzie Eaglen, Research Fellow for National Security and James S. Robbins is Senior Editorial Writer for Foreign Affairs at the Washington Times. He is also author of the books "This Time We Win" and "Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point," and a political commentator and contributing editor for National Review Online.

Listen to internet radio with Midrats on Blog Talk Radio

Somali PIrates: VLCC "Mother Ship" - Just a change of pirate port?

Tradwinds reports Samho Dream ‘off Garacad’:

Mystery continues to surround a hijacked Korean VLCC which TradeWinds has learned has moved from one notorious Somali pirate lair to another.

The 319,000-dwt Samho Dream (built 2002) is now said to be a short distance off the coast of Garacad in the semi-autonomous Puntland region.

The reason for its move from the town of Hobyo some way south of this spot earlier this week, however, remains shrouded in mystery.

Garacad is a popular prate ship holding area.

Yes, I am one of those who speculated about why the ship sailed from Hobyo.

In my defense, I did write here, "Well, this seems an unlikely "mother ship" to me - it's awfully big. But perhaps the pirates lack a more suitable vessel."

Maybe they just moved it to get it further away from the al-Shabab crowd. Map from the "Ecoterra" group, which keeps an eye on the Somali pirates from a - well-  different perspective than mine. Here's part of their report dated August 26, 2010:

VLCC SAMHO DREAM: Seized April 02, 2010. The Marshall Islands-registered "Samho Dream", a 300,000t oil tanker owned by South Korea's Samho Shipping, was seized by three Somali pirates in waters some 1,500 km south-east of the Gulf of Aden at around 16:10 Seoul time (0710 GMT). There are a total of 24 crew members on board, including five South Koreans and 19 Filipinos. The 319,000 dwt very large crude carrier was on its way from Iraq to Louisiana of the United States. The Samho Dream, which was built in 2002, is carrying crude oil that could be worth as much as $170 million at current oil prices. The vessel had been commandeered to Hobyo at the Central Somali Indian Ocean coast  and is now anchored 4.6nm off the beach. The South Korean government ordered their destroyer Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin out of the Somali waters and back to its working routine in the Gulf of Aden, but still there are two warships keeping a watch close by, staging mock attacks and caused tension on board, which made the pirates to issue a statement that they would blow up the oil-tanker if the harassment would not stop and no ransom would be paid. soon. Though negotiations with the owners are ongoing no conclusion has been reached. The vessel was moved from Hobyo, where she was held since her capture until the advancement of Al-Shabaab spearheaded Hizb-ul-Islam groups, to Garacad, but was returned to Hobyo. The pirates' demand has not been accepted by the company.

Hat tip to Bryan.

Constitution Day

Happy 223!

UPDATE: True story - I walked into a room with 30 lawyers in it and wished everyone "Happy Constitution Day!"

Got about 30 blank looks in return.

We need to work on this celebration of one of the miracles of human intelligence.

Syria to Get Advanced Anti-Ship Missiles from Russia

Not good news Syria to Get Advanced Anti-Ship Missiles from Russia:

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has announced that his country will sell advanced anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria, as agreed in a 2007 contract. Israel has expressed concern that the deal will endanger Israeli ships in the Mediterranean. The United States had also objected to the deal.
***
The missiles that will be sold to Damascus are P-800 Yakhont supersonic cruise missiles. They can carry a warhead weighing up to 200 kilograms, have a range of 300 kilometers, and are difficult to detect due to their ability to cruise near the water's surface.

Silliest quote:

Serdyukov said Russia sees “no cause for the concern” expressed by the U.S. and Israel. Russia does not believe that the weapons will make it into terrorist hands, he said.

Right.

About the P-800 here.

So, Iran, you got "high speed boats?" - Better practice defending against this!

From Agent Zoo Social Media, the
Seabreacher X:



Made by Innespace, apparently in California. I think that's Lake Oroville, but I could be wrong.

Movie quote: "I have got to get me one of these!"
Name the movie.

Somali Pirates: A Great Big "Mother Ship"? Or a Weapon?

Platts reports that the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Center says some Somali pirates have gotten underway in a Very Large Crude Carrier for use as a "Mother Ship" for conducting piracy operations:

In an advisory sent to ship captains, the PRC warned ships to keep away from the 320,000 dwt crude carrier, which was taken by the pirates from the Indian Ocean.

"On September 14 morning, hijacked MV Samho Dream departed from Somalia with pirates on board ... the tanker was sighted heading east and 80 nautical miles from Somali coast. The tanker may be used to conduct pirate mother ship operations to attack other vessels," the PRC advisory said.

"All vessels are advised to keep clear of MV Samho Dream and report her position to the centre."

The Samho Dream, which is owned by South Korea's Samho Shipping Corp., had 24 crew members -- five South Koreans and 19 Filipinos ? when it was hijacked on April 4.

Well, this seems an unlikely "mother ship" to me - it's awfully big. But perhaps the pirates lack a more suitable vessel.

On the other hand, if I were going to sail a ship that could pose a threat, a fully loaded VLCC might be just the thing.

The danger of an oil spill raises stakes in dealing with this situation.

The possibility of taking this thing into a restricted strait or channel and ramming other ships? I bet she picks up an escort naval vessel PDQ. Lurking at a safe distance, of course.

Keep an eye on this. It could get very interesting.

UPDATE: Of course, one other threat is engage in eco-piracy by threatening the crude oil in the ship - "if you don't pay, we'll open the valves and ..."

Or maybe they have a buyer for the stuff . . .

UPDATE2: A pirate "lord" yuks it up before the big move, millions of dollars poured into the sand, while this jackass lectures us on his down-trodden people. Well, stop the piracy, set up a legitimate Coast Guard and enforce Somali fishing rights. But quit whining while enjoying the fruits of your piracy. Really.

West Africa "Piracy": Cameroon Harbor Attacks

A couple of kidnappings and some robberies of ship crews of vessels moored in Douala Harbor are worthy of note as set out in "Shipping Piracy Moves To West African Coast" from the Handy Shipping Guide:

The fashion for piracy has seemingly moved directly across the continent with several attacks taking place on Sunday 12th September in the harbour at Douala. An armed gang roamed the moorings and attacked two vessels terrorising the crews and robbing them of valuables.

After the initial assaults the gang attacked a trailing suction hopper dredger, the Amerigo Vespucci, and despite some resistance, seized two crew members, one Filipino, the other Croatian.

Robberies of a similar sort happen in ports around the world and do not meet the UNCLOS definition of "piracy" ("high seas" being a required location).

On the other hand, the International Maritime Bureau has long taken a more expansive view of piracy, a matter of an email exchange that I had with Noel Choong, director of the International Maritime Bureau's anti-piracy office a couple of years ago (see here). The IMB has a commendable goal of saving ship crews and improving safety and takes in a broader scope of crimes against shipping is covered by the UNCLOS definition.

Call it what you will, there are a couple of kidnapped sailors at risk and that is the real concern here.

Piracy. robbery and kidnapping are not new visitors to West Africa, though, as the following IMB derived maps show:

Ship photo from the owner's website here.

South China Sea Piracy: Tankers Most Often Hit by Pirates off Pulau Mangkai

Platts reports Tankers targeted most in South China Sea piracy attacks: watchdog. This is based on a RECAAP report that can be downloaded here as ICS Special Report 3/10.

In 2010 to date, 16 attacks on merchant vessels have occurred within 60 miles of the island Pulau Mangkai. (see nearby ReCAAP map).

Fifteen of the attacks succeeded, resulting in robbery and assault of the crews. The loot has included cash, radios and computers. Weapons shown by the pirates include guns and long knives.

Despite the Platts' headline, the ReCAAP ISC states that "No specific types of ships were targeted."

A slightly larger number of tankers of various types have been attacked. My view is that with lower freeboards, tankers are easier to climb aboard for the pirates.

ReCAAP is calling for a similar agreement among the countries of the area as that which greatly slowed attacks in the Strait of Malacca. See my earlier post on this topic.

Before Arizona: "Border Emergency Declared in New Mexico" - in 2005

See CNN.com - Border emergency declared in New Mexico - Aug 13, 2005:

Richardson's declaration makes $750,000 in state emergency funds available to Dona Ana, Luna, Grant and Hidalgo counties.

Richardson pledged an additional $1 million in assistance for the area, his office said in a news release.

He said on CNN that the funds will be used to hire additional law enforcement personnel and pay officers overtime.

In announcing the state of emergency, Richardson -- a Democrat who served in President Clinton's Cabinet -- criticized the "total inaction and lack of resources from the federal government and Congress" in helping protect his state's residents along the border.

And my post on the topic at the time where I wrote here:

By ignoring minor incursions, we now have a much larger and more complex issue to deal with. While I am not a fan of Governor Richardson, I do admire his effort to do something now on this problem. I can only hope the politicos in Washington will act cuanto antes to make sure we remain a country open to legimate immigrants and genuine guest workers who are willing to obey our laws. Law breakers and scofflaws deserve no special treatment. I cannot imagine that we can long continue to allow this particular "broken window" to remain unrepaired.

Of course, with a Hispanic governor and a Republican president, the New Mexico shout out mostly was an attempt to embarrass the Bush Administration and did not receive the attention that the Arizona law and situation has, with cries of racism and all. In fact, I don't think Rev. Sharpton even phoned.

In fact, I can't recall any suggestions at the time that New Mexico be boycotted...

Of course, some NM legislator had a short memory as seen here:

Maestas says, "We should immediately start an ad campaign saying 'Come to New Mexico — we're not Arizona'."

Nice. Welcome illegal border crossers from a foreign country and insult a neighboring state.

Somali Pirates: US aims at reversing dismissal of piracy indictment

The U.S. attorneys in Norfolk's Somali pirate trial are aiming at the judge's dismissal of the "piracy" count of the charges brought against the defendants, as reported by the Washington Examiner US appealing dismissal of piracy indictment :

The U.S. government is appealing a federal judge's decision to dismiss piracy charges against five Somali defendants accused in an April attack on a U.S. Navy ship off the coast of Africa.

Prosecutors signaled their intent to appeal to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a filing Friday in federal court in Norfolk, where the five are scheduled for trial. They also are seeking to delay the start of the trial, scheduled for Oct. 19, while they seek to have the piracy ruling overturned by the Richmond appeals court.

U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson on Aug. 17 dismissed the most serious charge against the Somali nationals, concluding the government failed to make the case that the men's alleged actions met the legal definition of piracy.

I suspect a basis for the appeal will be the trial court's failure to accept that certain international treaties should be used in considering what the definition of "piracy" is. While the United States is not a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it is a signatory to the predecessor to that Convention - the 1958 Convention on the Law of the Sea. Article 15 of the 1958 Convention reads:

Article 15
Piracy consists of any of the following acts:
(1) Any illegal acts of violence, detention or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:
(a) On the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft;
(b) Against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;
(2) Any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;
(3) Any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in subparagraph 1 or subparagraph 2 of this article.

Shooting at ships, even if boarding is not accomplished, would seem to fall under paragraph 1 of Article 15. This argument was raised at the pretrial hearing and dismissed by the judge.

We'll see if the Court of Appeals in Richmond has a differing view.

As noted in my first post on this dismissal (here), lots of legal wise men feel the judge was in error:

. . . Prof. Eugene Kontorovich quoted here:

...The Law of the Sea treaty clearly includes attempts as part of piracy. Here the judge errs in claiming the U.S. did not ratify the treaty: it ratified the 1958 version of the treaty that had the same piracy language. And Washington accepts the current UNCLOS as stating customary international law. Moreover, the Executive has in recent times treated attempt as part of piracy. In 2006 the US Navy captured some Somalis in the Gulf of Aden and turned them over for trial in Kenya on piracy charges (the first such handover). The incident involved an attempted piracy.

The opinion’s due process argument is also pretty weak. If one is on notice that piracy is illegal under international law, isn’t one also on notice that trying to commit it will also get you in trouble, especially when as in this case the attempt failed not through lack of trying, but solely because of resistance by the would-be-victim?

Perhaps we'll see a ruling that "piracy, like pornography, is hard to define, but you know when you see it." (see Justice Stewart's concurring opinion in JACOBELLIS v. OHIO, 378 U.S. 184 (1964)).

Not Forgotten

Killed on 9-1-2001: A list here.

Remembered at Steeljaw's Place.

The Magellan Star: Pirate Takedown, Force Recon Style by Capt. Alexander Martin | USNI Blog

Go read at The Magellan Star: Pirate Takedown, Force Recon Style by Capt. Alexander Martin | USNI Blog

Somali Pirates Meet the U.S. Marines - Pirates Lose

From the Wall Street Journal U.S. Marines Retake Ship From Pirates

U.S. Marines early Thursday boarded and seized control of a German-owned commercial vessel that had been commandeered by pirates, in what appeared to be the first American-led military boarding of its kind amid a recent surge of attacks in the Gulf of Aden and along the east coast of Africa.

See also this on the Marines from the U.S. Naval Insitute Blog Pirates Beware: Force Recon Really Does Have Your Number:

“We got word that the pirates wanted to stay on and fight — it was funny b/c when we came alongside and they saw us board and rush the superstructure, you could see the look change in their eyes…they didn’t want to play anymore…you’d be proud of the men today, they represented America with honor. It didn’t need to be a bloodless day (for the pirates) but it was…


The guys executed with the highest violence of action, and yet, highest level of restraint, I’ve ever seen.”

For an earlier blog post by the Marine Captain with this unit, Alex Martin, on the nature of piracy, see The Reality of Piracy.

Marines doing what Marines were meant to do, taking the fight to the enemy at sea.

UPDATE: Photo added. Photo info:

Helicopters from USS Dubuque (LPD 8) provide aerial watch as U.S. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force, embarked on Dubuque, right, boarded and seized control of Antigua and Barbuda-flagged, German-owned vessel M/V Magellan Star, left, early Sept. 9. Pirates attacked and boarded Magellan Star Sept. 8. Dubuque is part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, the multinational task force established by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to conduct counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali basin. (U.S. Navy photo by Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class William Farmerie)

From NavCent press release:

MANAMA, Bahrain – At approximately 5 a.m. local time, Sept. 9, 24 U.S. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force (MRF) aboard USS Dubuque (LPD 8) operating under Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), boarded and seized control of Antigua-Barbuda-flagged, German–owned vessel M/V Magellan Star from pirates who attacked and boarded the vessel early Sept 8.


This successful mission by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) secured the safety of the ship’s crew and returned control of the ship to the civilian mariners. Nine pirates are currently under control of CTF 151, pending further disposition. This ship’s crew has not reported any injuries or casualties. There were no reported injuries from the U.S. Maritime Raid Force.


The CTF-151 flagship, TCG Gökçeada, a Turkish frigate, was the first ship on scene, responding to a distress call received from Magellan Star, Sept. 8. Two additional warships assigned to CTF-151, USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Princeton (CG 59) arrived in the vicinity of the attack to provide support to Gökçeada.


Turkish Navy Rear Adm. Sinan Ertugrul, commander, CTF-151 said, “units from the multi-national maritime force, under Combined Task Force 151, are actively engaged in anti-piracy operations. This regional problem, truly, has global impact and we are completely committed to bringing the disruptive acts of piracy to an end. We have full support of the international community and will continue to do everything possible to bring security to the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin.”


CTF-151 is one of three task forces operated by the 25 nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). CTF-151 was established in January 2009 in order to deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy, protecting maritime vessels of all nationalities and securing international freedom of navigation.

BZ to everyone involved!

Somali Pirates: Pirates Grab Ship in Gulf of Aden

Reported here:

Pirates earlier today hijacked a Malta-flagged cargo ship carrying a crew of 15 Georgians and three Turks in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia, the European Union's anti-piracy mission said.

A US warship deployed a helicopter to check on the ship after several unsuccessful attemps to make contact with the Olib G, a 6,375-tonne vessel, the EU mission said in a statement.

"The helicopter was able to identify two pirates on board," the EU Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) said.

The ship had been sailing west in the internationally recommended transit corridor, an area where international navies coordinate the patrol of maritime transits, the statement said.

Update: Photo from MSC(HOA).

Update2: Map from IMB Live Piracy Report

Naval War Gaming Issues of Humanitarian Issues Raised by Environmental Disasters

The title says, "The Coming Conflicts of Climate Change", but really it was about "natural disasters" and the consequences thereof:

The case of Pakistan reflects how natural disasters can weigh on U.S. national security considerations. Interest in these types of contingencies is such that the U.S. Navy recently conducted a gaming exercise at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, to study scenarios where the Navy might have to support U.S. or international relief efforts to help maintain regional and global stability. In each scenario, a climate-induced disaster (or disasters) triggered catastrophic death tolls, migration, and panic affecting regional or global security and spurring the UN Security Council to issue a humanitarian response resolution. This was the first time the Navy had conducted a gaming exercise to determine how to respond to climate-induced challenges. This unique effort brought together climate scientists, water experts, health practitioners, logisticians, diplomats, aid workers, and military officers to think through possible response options.

The exercise follows a real world trend of Navy support for humanitarian aid missions and responses to natural disasters at home and abroad.

I leave it to you to decide about the "climate change" aspect of the report, but I note that the U.S. Navy was heavily involved in two massive relief efforts caused by the shifting of the earth's crust - earthquakes - with its work in the Christmas Tsunami and Haiti. Closer to home, the Navy also provided assistance following the San Francisco earthquake and fire and many other such events.

See here, here, and here and the post found by clicking on the "Disaster Relief from the Sea" label below.

Still, nice to see an exercise devoted to the topic.

Photo info: PANO AQUIL (Sept. 4, 2010) An aerial view of flooding in Pakistan taken from a an CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter assigned to the White Knights of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM-165) Reinforced. The squadron is embarked aboard the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5). Peleliu and embarked U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units are conducting humanitarian assistance missions in flooded areas of Pakistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan/Released)

Piracy and Medical Concerns

A PowerPoint show by Dr. William A. Freeland on general issues Piracy and the Ships Medical Adviser:

Occupational Health, Piracy and the Ships Medical Adviser -


Nice to know someone is thinking about the crews.

A Piracy Conviction in Kenya

European Union Naval Force Somalia - Operation Atalanta | Verdict for the first EU NAVFOR case in Kenya:

The conviction involved seven Somali men accused of acts of piracy. The presiding Chief Magistrate, the Hon Rosemelle Mutoka CM, delivered the verdict at the Mombasa Law Courts on 6 September, sentencing the seven Somali men accused to prison sentences of five years as from the judgement date.

The conviction relates to the attack on the FGS SPESSART, a Rhoen – class tanker of the German Navy, on 29 March 2009. The attack by seven men aboard a single pirate skiff was repelled by the onboard security detail. The skiff was then tracked through the combined efforts of three multinational taskforces and finally apprehended by the German frigate FGS RHEINLAND-PFALZ, operating as part of EU NAVFOR.

EU NAVFOR has to date transferred 9 groups of suspected pirates comprising 75 individuals to the Kenyan authorities for prosecution in the Kenyan national courts.

It's a start.

Caribbean Pirates: "Fishermen in fear"

Reported as "Fishermen in fear" by The Trinidad Guardian:

Pirates who are stealing boat engines from fishermen have been exchanging them for marijuana in St Vincent, sources in the fishing industry are claiming. “The most amount of weed in T+T coming out of St Vincent,” the source said. “We understand these engines are going to St Vincent in return for a boatload of weed.

“These bandits are operating around all the fishing ports in the country and they are linked. “They operate out of one of the main rivers in south Trinidad.” The source said the marijuana is sold on drug blocks throughout T+T. He said while sea pirates have been stealing boat engines for years, the crime has escalated within recent times. The latest attack on fishermen occurred in the Gulf of Paria recently, resulting in the death of three fishermen from San Fernando and Claxton Bay.

T+T refers to Trinidad and Tobago.

A report on the earlier attack that left the three fishermen dead here. As noted in the main link, the act was unusually barbarous since the pirates wouldn't do anything to provide even simple flotation for the fishermen they tossed overboard.

Message

In America, no man is above criticism.


Now, who could I be referring to?

He'd better develop a thicker skin soon or the next two years will be most unpleasant for him.

UPDATE:

As for blaming the Republicans, with only 40 and then 41 Senators they couldn't stop so much as a swinging door. The GOP couldn't even block the recent $10 billion teachers union bailout. The only major Obama priorities that haven't passed—cap and tax and union card check—were blocked by a handful of Democrats who finally said "no mas." No Administration since LBJ's in 1965 has passed so much of its agenda in one Congress—which is precisely the problem.

South China Sea Pirates: Chemical Tanker Robbed

From IMB's Live Piracy Report:

05.09.2010: 0305 LT: Posn: 03:14.2N – 105:17.2E: Off Mangkai Island: South China Sea.

Four pirates armed with long knives boarded a chemical tanker underway. They took hostage duty bridge crew and duty anti piracy watch crew and proceeded to masters cabin. Pirates stole ships cash and escaped. Ship sent a distress message.

This is another in a string of attacks in this area (see here), prompting an IMB warning here:

Indonesia : Anambas / Natuna / Mangkai islands area. Attacks are increasing. Pirates normally armed with guns / knives and / or machetes. Generally be vigilant in other areas. Many attacks may have gone unreported.

Somali Pirates: Indian warship stops a hijack

Reported here:

Somali and Yemeni pirates' attempt to hijack for ransom Indian cargo vessels sailing off the Somalia coast was thwarted by an Indian warship, a navy spokesperson said here today.

INS Delhi, a guided missile destroyer, was assisting the merchant ships that were sailing through the Gulf of Aden when the armed sea brigands made the attempt on one of the 12 ships in the formation yesterday.

The pirates' boat was intercepted by the Indian warship that deployed a helicopter with marine commandos, who seized a cache of weapons and offloaded the fuel and left their boat adrift, the spokesperson said.

This was the 16th piracy attack on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden that was prevented by the Indian warships that have been deployed there since October 2008.

The attack took place in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), described here as being:

4. THE IRTC EAST BOUND LANE BEGINS AT 045 EAST BETWEEN 11 48 NORTH AND 11 53 NORTH. THE LANE IS ORIENTED ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE COURSE OF 072 DEGREES AND TERMINATES AT 053 DEGREES EAST BETWEEN 14 18 NORTH AND 14 23 NORTH. THE IRTC WEST BOUND LANE BEGINS AT 053 DEGREES EAST BETWEEN 14 25 NORTH AND 14 30 NORTH. THE LANE IS ORIENTED ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE COURSE OF 252 AND TERMINATES AT 045 DEGREES EAST BETWEEN 11 55 NORTH AND 12 00 NORTH.

Map from here.

Somali Pirates: The UN offers Seven Options

Reported by the AP as UN chief offers anti-piracy options :

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered the Security Council seven options for grappling with the piracy problem, ranging from simple legal support for individual nations to a full international court established by the council, the U.N.'s most powerful body.

An effort instigated by the Russians, no less.

The seven options:

1. basic support for nations in prosecuting suspected pirates; 
2. establishment of a Somali court, applying Somali law, in a third state in the region; 
3. two variants for helping a regional state or states to establish a special court inside its existing judicial system to conduct piracy trials;
4. a regional court establishment by regional states and the African Union;
5. an international "hybrid" tribunal with national participation by a state in the region;
6. a full internatinal tribunal, established by the Security Council.

Number 3 counts as two options, I gather, thus giving a total of 7.

I suppose it might be useful to have an internationally recognized definition of piracy and/or armed assault at sea and some minimal level  of required evidence needed to prove attempted piracy.

Further, there has to be some system in which sworn video evidence of mariners may be used in court so that shipping companies will not be forced to send deck hand or officers from remote corners of the planet to testify against "suspects."

Make it too hard to get the captured pirates to trial and you will just get a continuation of the current situation - a "catch and release" program for misguided Somali youth.  Though some forms of this treatment are more harsh than others - see here.

My own personal option is a blockade of known Somali pirate ports and an announcement of "no warning shots" by the various international naval units in the area if a small boat is found firing on a ship at sea. Aim for the motors on the boat and let the survivors drift home. They better have life jackets and oars.

Of course, this probably violates their human rights.

I have an idea for a low-cost anti-pirate vessel with just the right weapon to take out small boats:

Put a UN flag on it.

Swarm Tactics: Training Aid for Defense

 Meggitt Canada has developed a system to assist modern naval forces to train against "swarm tactics" as set out in a press release here:

Meggitt Training Systems Canada, the world’s leading naval target company, has conducted the world’s first large-scale ‘swarmex’ demonstration.
The simulation of a real-world threat of swarming fast in-shore attack craft (FIACs) was designed to create a maritime self-protection training scenario for one or more naval ships.
Conducted at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in British Columbia, the swarmex involved the simultaneous operation over seven hours of 16 Meggitt Hammerhead boat targets controlled on a single radio frequency using Meggitt’s universal target control station.
A FIAC threat arises when a hostile force fields a significant number of small lightly-armed vessels to overwhelm the defences of larger vessels or deny them access to coastal waters.   Since the attack on the USS Cole in 2000, many navies have invested heavily in sensors and weapon systems to defend their vessels from such attacks.  Until this swarmex demonstration, the tools did not exist to conduct live fire exercises to counter target swarms.
Live exercise planned
The swarmex demonstration, in which the Hammerhead flotilla was controlled in a safe, effective and efficient manner, is a significant technical achievement, enabling Meggitt to offer sophisticated FIAC threat replication training services worldwide.  The Canadian Navy has now asked Meggitt to support a major multi-national live-fire naval exercise using Hammerhead in 2011.
Hammerhead, an advanced unmanned surface vehicle target (USV-T) with an award-winning surface-effect hull that enables it to operate at over 35 knots in high sea states, is a derivative of Meggitt’s “Barracuda” naval target.  Barracuda, which has enjoyed extensive worldwide sales replicating the larger Fast Attack Craft (FAC) threat, is in service with the armed forces of Canada, Japan, Sweden, Korea and others.   Like Hammerhead, Barracuda can be controlled by Meggitt’s universal target control station.

Info on the "Barracuda" here.
 


Train like you'll fight. Then train some more.

"You won't rise to the occasion – you'll default to your level of training."

- Barrett Tillman

The Northeast Passage -Shorter, Faster, Avoids Somali Pirates and Adds to Maritime Security Concerns

Interesting look at an effect of global warming that may put a dent in piracy off Somalia found at "Bye pirates, hello Northeast Passage" :

Climate change may have delivered a solution to the risk faced by ships and crew passing through the waters of Gulf of Aden. A cargo ship bearing Hong Kong flag carrying 41,000 tons of iron ore will become part of maritime history as it sails from Norway to China through Russia's arctic passage instead of the pirate-infested Somalian waters.

Although Nordic Barents is not the first ship to pass through the Arctic wasteland, it becomes the first foreign-registered vessel allowed by Russia to make a voyage between two non-Russian ports. The ship's owner aims to prove that the route would become a viable alternative to the longer southern route from Europe to Asia. Nordic Barents is scheduled to leave the small Norwegian port of Kirkenes and head towards the Chinese port of Dalian. If the trip proves successful, the route enters one more step in competing against the Suez Canal sea route.

Yep, during the appropriate seasons -

A report of the first modern commercial voyage from the Barents Observer "Route through Northeast Passage faster than expected":

The first high-tonnage tanker to take the Northern Sea Route from Europe to Asia has arrived Pevek on the Chukotka Peninsula one day earlier than expected.

It took the 100 000 tons tanker “Baltica” 11 days to cover 2500 miles. The vessel is expected to arrive in Ningbo, China, in the first half of September, web site Portnews.ru reports.
***
The fact that the tanker has covered the distance in less time than expected, shows the potential of the Northern Sea Route when it comes to cutting back on transport time and increasing cost efficiency of oil and gas deliveries to Asia and regions in the Pacific Ocean, the ship owner Sovcomflot says.

See also here.

Not without risk, though, as The Old Salt Blog reports on a collision between two Russian ships on the route.

Naturally, this new route poses a lot of concerns, both environmental and, for the U.S., national security:

Arctic melting is leaving new coastline and waterways up to the north, but some Arctic strategy experts are concerned that polar ice is melting faster than U.S. military planners are gearing up for what an open-water arctic will mean for U.S. security.
***“If you think strategy relates somehow to means and investment in means then we don’t have a strategy,” said Robert Laird, a security consultant based in Washington and Paris. “You have five stakeholders in the Arctic,” he said. The U.S., Russia, Denmark, Norway and Canada each have Arctic territory. “The only country that’s not strategic in this is us.”

It's not like the U.S. Coast Guard has been silent on the ramifications of this situation- here are a couple of links to DoD Live Blogger Roundtables in which former Commandant Adm. Thad Allen discussed the situation: Part 1 and Part 2.

The U.S. has three (yes, only 3) ice breakers suitable for operating in the Arctic environment and two of those are over 30 years old.

There is a NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/NSPD -- 66 on "Arctic Region Policy":

National Security and Homeland Security Interests in the Arctic

1. The United States has broad and fundamental national security interests in the Arctic region and is prepared to operate either independently or in conjunction with other states to safeguard these interests. These interests include such matters as missile defense and early warning; deployment of sea and air systems for strategic sealift, strategic deterrence, maritime presence, and maritime security operations; and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight.
2.The United States also has fundamental homeland security interests in preventing terrorist attacks and mitigating those criminal or hostile acts that could increase the United States vulnerability to terrorism in the Arctic region.
3.The Arctic region is primarily a maritime domain; as such, existing policies and authorities relating to maritime areas continue to apply, including those relating to law enforcement.[1] Human activity in the Arctic region is increasing and is projected to increase further in coming years. This requires the United States to assert a more active and influential national presence to protect its Arctic interests and to project sea power throughout the region.
4.The United States exercises authority in accordance with lawful claims of United States sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the Arctic region, including sovereignty within the territorial sea, sovereign rights and jurisdiction within the United States exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf, and appropriate control in the United States contiguous zone.
5. Freedom of the seas is a top national priority. The Northwest Passage is a strait used for international navigation, and the Northern Sea Route includes straits used for international navigation; the regime of transit passage applies to passage through those straits. Preserving the rights and duties relating to navigation and overflight in the Arctic region supports our ability to exercise these rights throughout the world, including through strategic straits.

The Spring 2010 issue of the Naval War College Review contains an article by Rear Admiral David W. Titley, U.S. Navy, and Courtney C. St. John, "Arctic Security Considerations and the U.S. Navy's Roadmap for the Arctic":

The Navy understands the wide range of security considerations in the Arctic region and that the effects of climate change in the Arctic will influence the geostrategic landscape.
***
While the Navy has a rich history in the Arctic, several challenges must be met
to ensure successful operations in the future. These include the lack of support
infrastructure and logistics support, environmental hazards such as drifting sea
ice and icing on exposed surfaces, and communications difficulties. Antiquated
nautical charts, drifting ice, low visibility, and the paucity of electronic and visual navigation aids hinder safety of navigation. A lack of coastal installations
also contributes to the difficulty of search and rescue (SAR) operations. The only American-owned deepwater port near the Arctic basin is Dutch Harbor, in the Aleutian Islands.

More on the Arctic Roadmap here. And a USNI article Arctic Melt: Reopening a Naval Frontier. Of course, the topic was raised in the Sea Services' A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower:

Climate change is gradually opening up the waters of the Arctic, not only to new resource development, but also to new shipping routes that may reshape the global transport system. While these developments offer opportunities for growth, they are potential sources of competition and conflict for access and natural resources.

Previous USNI Blog posts that are related: CHINA: Linking the South China Sea and the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Diplomatic Meet Gets Frosty.

UPDATE: China's Arctic claim "or claim jumping?"

I guess it's time to get busy. Where's the funding?

Earlier post on Russia's Arctic Sea ambitions here.

More on this later.
UPDATE: Northern Passage vs. Suez Passage:

Epic Failure of Juxtaposition

And CDR Salamander has it.

Was the author passive aggressive? Clueless? Filled with sarcasm?

Who was the releasing authority who let this get out?

A head will roll.






By the way, the term "dunce" is of Scottish origin. 

South China Sea Pirates: Tanker Attack 1 Sept 10

From the ICC CCS IMB Live Piracy Report:

01.09.2010: 0100 LT: Posn: 03:14.3N – 105:19.6E, Off Pulau Mangkai, South China Sea.

Six pirates armed 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 pirates also took hostage master when he opened his cabin door. Pirates stole ships cash, crew and ship's properties before escaping.

This is the seventh attack on ships in this area since August 1 (see here) and since the beginning of 2010, there has been a surge in attacks in the area (red arrow on map below points to area of most recent attack):

 And, a slight revision to the ReCAAP map of attacks in the the area since 1 August 10:

 These attacks have led to calls to Indonesia to boost patrols in the area, as set out here:

An international maritime group urged Indonesia on Thursday to increase patrols in the South China Sea after pirates attacked nine vessels in less than three weeks.

The International Maritime Bureau said pirates armed with guns and machetes had robbed tankers and bulk carriers of cash and other valuables in the attacks off the Indonesian islands of Mangkai, Anambas and Natuna.

This brought the number of pirate attacks so far this year to 26 in the area, which is a transit route used by vessels heading southeast to the Singapore Straits or northwest to East Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Only seven attacks were reported all of last year.

The IMB is exactly right - while these are not the ship grabbing attacks like those conducted by Somali pirates, they are dangerous (3 sailors injured in August) and disruptive of a major sea lane.

The pirates, once again, are operating in an area where the territorial waters of two countries meet - Malaysia and Indonesia (Pulau Mangkai is Indonesian).

This may become important if Malaysia and Indonesia don't make an agreement covering the area, as noted in older post:  

Some Piracy Law from UNCLOS concerning the right of hot pursuit:

Article 105. Seizure of a pirate ship or aircraft
On the high seas, or in any other place outside the jurisdiction of any State, every State may seize a pirate ship or aircraft, or a ship or aircraft taken by piracy and under the control of pirates, and arrest the persons and seize the property on board. The courts of the State which carried out the seizure may decide upon the penalties to be imposed, and may also determine the action to be taken with regard to the ships, aircraft or property, subject to the rights of third parties acting in good faith.
***
Article 111. Right of hot pursuit
1. The hot pursuit of a foreign ship may be undertaken when the  competent authorities of the coastal State have good reason to believe  that the ship has violated the laws and regulations of that State.  Such pursuit must be commenced when the foreign ship or one of its  boats is within the internal waters, the archipelagic waters, the  territorial sea or the contiguous zone of the pursuing State, and may  only be continued ouside the territorial sea or the contiguous zone if  the pursuit has not been interrupted. It is not necessary that, at the  time when the foreign ship within the territorial sea or the  contiguous zone receives the order to stop, the ship giving the order  should likewise be within the territorial sea or the contiguous zone.  If the foreign ship is within a contiguous zone, as defined in article  33, the pursuit may only be undertaken if there has been a violation  of the rights for the protection of which the zone was established.

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

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

Naive you are . . .

Interesting read about a disconnect between the State Department and the Army about the possible consequences of that long ago invasion of Iraq at The Skeptical Bureaucrat: Odierno: "We Came In Naive".

And, yes, in my experience there is a tendency among the military to not play well with the DOS folks.

And vice-versa.

More's the pity.

Photo of the Day

From here:

Two MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters transit between the aircraft carriers USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) while conducting a vertical replenishment transferring ammunition. George H.W. Bush is undergoing its first underway replenishment with another aircraft carrier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua D. Sheppard/Released)