Somali Piracy: The Business Model

U.S. National Public Radio reporter gets some pirates to discuss their business model in The Piracy Business: All The Headaches, But No Suits.

A link directly to the media player here.

Very well done, Gwen Thompkins!

And another voice. An interview conducted by Professor Claude Berube of the U.S. Naval Academy for As Maine Goes.

Somali Pirates: "Shipping Industry dismisses reports of targeted Somali pirate attacks"

Following up media reports of a "London-based" spy network for Somali pirates (see here), more experts join in doubting that any sort network exists, as in the case of the ICC International Maritime Bureau in

Shipping Industry dismisses reports of targeted Somali pirate attacks:

The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), in consultation with the International Chamber of Shipping, INTERTANKO and BIMCO, today dismissed a number of recent press reports claiming that pirates off the Somali coast target vessels in advance, allegedly making use of a network of international contacts.

Vessels attacked so far have included a range of vessel types from fishing boats and coastal dhows to bulk carriers and a supertanker. The vessels have been of many diverse flags, crewed by different nationalities, with various cargoes on board destined for a wide range of ports.

Pirates have even attempted to attack naval units mistakenly believing them to be merchant vessels. Pirates target vessels that are easy to board and in their vicinity. If an attack is successfully repelled they move on to another vessel. All the evidence indicates that these are primarily opportunistic crimes. The suggestion that vessels are targeted in advance using shore based intelligence is spurious.

That's not to say pirates are getting info on general ship movements or even on the location of military escort ships, but ....

Somali Pirates: Catching Suspected Pirates

Catching suspected pirates Turkish-Led CTF 151 Makes First Suspected Pirate Capture:

Ships from Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 prevented a piracy attack in the Gulf of Aden, which resulted in the apprehension of more than a dozen suspected pirates aboard an alleged “mothership” yesterday.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Republic of Korea Destroyer, ROKS Munmu the Great (DDG 976) and guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) responded to a distress call from the Egyptian-flagged Motor Vessel Amira, which reported being attacked approximately 75 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen.

Several assault rifle rounds and one rocket propelled grenade round struck M/V Amira resulting in little to no damage to the ship. A rope was thrown from the skiff in an attempt to board but the attempt failed and the suspected pirates abandoned their attack.

Gettysburg and Munmu the Great launched their embarked helicopters which flew immediately to Amira’s location. During its flight, the SH-60B helicopter assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 46 located a dhow suspected of serving as a pirate “mothership” with approximately 17 people onboard.

A Gettysburg visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team boarded the suspected “mothership” along with members of U.S. Coast Guard Legal Detachment (LEDET) 409 and apprehended the suspected pirates after finding eight assault rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and one rocket-propelled grenade. All 17 of the passengers were brought on board Gettysburg for further questioning.

Video of VBSS team:

Iran to send two warships to Somalia to fight pirates

Now that pirate season is winding down with the monsoon season arriving, Iran is sending a couple of warships to the area for "five months" as set out here:

According to IRNA reporter at UN Headquarters in New York, Khaza'ie in his letter added that the Iranian Navy ships would take position at operation region within the next two days and remain there for a period of at least five months.

The Iranian warships would in addition to safeguarding the Iranians ships and ships that are in a way related to Iran assist any other foreign ship that would seek assistance against the pirates, and help Somalia government in its combat against piracy.

I guess better late than never.

UPDATE: I suppose it's humorous that this site identifies the ships is the neaby photo as being "Iranian navy in Persian Gulf (photo IRNA)". Oddly enough, Wikipedia has the same picture and provides the following identification:

040625-N-0780F-070 Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (June 25, 2004) - The guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71), top, cruises into Souda Harbor for a brief port visit as the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG-61) departs following a brief stay in the eastern Mediterranean port. Both Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are assigned to Destroyer Squadron Two Eight (DESRON 28) and homeported in Norfolk, Va. Both ships are currently in the Mediterranean Sea conducting a regularly scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley (RELEASED)

The upper photo shows an actual Iranian ship.

UPDATE: An Iranian "frigate" or "corvette" -

Somali Pirates: Tactics and Intelligence

With recent reports of Somali pirate intelligence collection (see here and Daniel Sekulich's excellent post on the topic "The intelligence-gathering aspect of piracy") and reports of information sharing among pirates (see here, you might also wonder how those Somali pirates sneak around in patrolled waters? From an email from someone at Gulf of Aden Group Transits, this info:

Pirate Tactics:
-For some time the pirates have been radioing each other about different vessels they see and try to board – most of the “Mother Ships” are not mother ships at all they are scouts!

-In the last 2 months, the “Pirate Flotilla Commander” has changed tactics, hijacking larger dhows for a temporary period with innocent fisherman on them. This works by the pirates setting off in a "mother ship" which usually stays within 100 miles of Somali coast – dispatching skiffs to find legitimate fishing dhows– the pirates then hijack a fishing dhow and use it to take their skiffs to a merchant shipping lane or expected transit zone

-Then they scout or attack a merchant ship, using the captive dhow as a "mother ship."

-The attacked merchant ship calls in details of “mother ship” which, of course, is really a hijacked fishing dhow.

-If the boarding attempt on the targeted merchant is not successful, pirates in skiffs call off their attack and head back toward "mother ship" - but never re-board instead hopping to another dhow for another temporary hijack.

-The Navy eventually arrives and surrounds the original "mother ship" - a slow 6 knot dhow – which has remained on the merchant vessel radar unlike the skiffs which have disappeared.

-A compliance boarding team gets on the suspect dhow and finds – FISH!!!! And usually 1 shotgun or a couple of pistols etc.

-Military helicopter then departs to look for needles in haystacks!!

-The info regarding intel from London involved one particular case of a vessel that was due to go through the Suez canal for scrapping..........! A few people were going to do quite well from it if it had happened but they didn’t bargain on a resilient crew that were on a one way ticket and knew they were getting off soon as the vessel arrived on the beach – they had no intentions of an extended stay in Somalia...!

-Pirate attacks are way down and it's not due to the weather. Islamic Courts may be having an effect in slowing pirates. There was one small attack yesterday off of Mukalla and with 9 pirates in each skiff – they fired RPG at the targeted vessel. This brought a heavy naval response since there are a lot of warships in the area and not much action.

-If lull in pirate activity lasts until monsoon and some naval units leave, then with the end of the monsoon period in August, things could get very active.

A report on an attack thwarted yesterday by a ROK ship and a U.S. ship here:

South Korean and US helicopters have scared off pirates trying to attack an Egyptian ship off Somalia, military officials said Thursday.

It was the fourth time the South Korean naval unit has driven away pirates since deploying last month.

A pirate boat was about 1.8 kilometres (1.1 miles) from the 74,000-ton ship Amira Wednesday when a South Korean helicopter with a team of snipers aboard swooped in, the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said.

The team drove away the pirates in a joint operation with a US navy helicopter which arrived later, it said.

Daniel Sekulich sums it up well here:

We're dealing with an asymmetrical form of warfare here, against an enemy that has learned from its predecessors' mistakes. Just like pirates in Southeast Asia, Somali brigands have evolved far beyond some uncouth thugs and need to be combated with a greater degree of efficiency. And one way to do that is to locate, identify and undermine the support structures that allow pirates to stage their attacks.

Somali Pirates: EU says Somali Pirates coordinating attacks

Interesting, especially considering the discussion here (especially in the comments) about the alleged "London centered" pirate intelligence network, EU: Pirates coordinating attacks off Somalia:

Searches of captured mother ships operating off the Somali coast have revealed for the first time that pirate gangs are coordinating their attacks against commercial shipping, the commander of the European Union's naval task force said Wednesday.

British Rear Admiral Philip Jones said that in recent weeks his flotilla had captured four of the mother ships used to resupply the small pirate speedboats that operate far offshore in the Indian Ocean.

"We do fairly extensive trawls of all the vessels we capture to look for ... evidence we can use to work (out) ourselves what the pirates tactics are," Jones told reporters.

The most recent evidence, he said, shows the mother ships are telling each other about potential targets.

"They're exchanging positional information, they're exchanging information about ships they've seen or may have tried to attack," he said. "Obviously, that's a significant development."
***
Despite the international naval presence, attacks on commercial shipping off the Somali coast have exploded in the last two months as the pirates have taken to sailing far out into the Indian Ocean to attack vessels beyond the patrol range of the warships.

Since the small speedboats cannot operate that far from their bases, they require mother ships – mostly converted fishing trawlers or small cargo vessels – to resupply them.

Jones said he was "bemused" by media reports that the pirates were receiving intelligence on the movement of commercial shipping from sources in the West, adding that the searches of the mother ships had yielded no such evidence.

"The only thing we have seen in the ships operating in the Somali basin is evidence for the first time that there can be a degree of coordination between mother ships," Jones said.

Billions for "Entitlements" - Defense Not So Much

Read Basic Instincts: Defense and Cuts Are Synonyms - Steve Schippert:

While we are conducting two hot wars — pardon, “overseas contingency operations” — and trying to find ways to defend against both asymmetrical warfare and the traditional conventional military threats that have not disappeared just because al-Qaeda attacked us, the only place Obama can find any waste is in Defense.

I guess the Department of Education (budget request $46.7 billion) phones were busy. The appropriately nicknamed "ED" also plays a role in pushing another $13 billion or so to various states as part of the $53.6 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund.

Assuming that it will take eight years for any non-terrorist threat to be ready to challenge the U.S. militarily, and that in those eight years are 4 Congressional elections and two presidential elections, it would seem politically astute to bribe voters - er- "invest" in programs channeling money to one's voter base than to worry over national security matters, doesn't it?

Not much of a gamble in the short term. I mean the weapons, ships, carriers and aircraft we have now ought to be good for another 8 years, right?

Especially if it's not your children out there on the front lines.

Somali Pirates: An "intelligence network?" Maybe... but

Are you shocked by this headline? Somali pirates guided by London intelligence team, says report:

It says that pirate groups have "well-placed informers" in London who are in regular contact with control centres in Somalia where decisions on which vessels to attack are made. These London-based "consultants" help the pirates select targets, providing information on the ships' cargoes and courses.

In at least one case the pirates have remained in contact with their London informants from the hijacked ship, according to one targeted shipping company.

The pirates' information network extends to Yemen, Dubai and the Suez canal.
The intelligence report is understood to have been issued to European navies.

I would think any such information is of modest value to the pirates.

First, the courses may be of some use, but some shipping companies put their ship locations, even as they sail, on the web, and most sail very routine routes. The patterns of ship movement through the Gulf of Aden to or from the Red Sea is not all that hard to figure out. The map above comes from a Tamil Tiger friendly website. See the sea lanes?

Second, I have to question the importance of knowing cargoes to the Somali pirates. Since their business is ransom and release, the cargo being carried by the target ship (except for the crew and passengers) seems to play almost no role in deciding which ships to go after.

In my opinion, it is the characteristics of the ships themselves that matter most to the pirates. The pattern shows, as the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence has commented, that ships with low freeboard (easier to access the main deck), low speed, and not near any escorts (my addition) are at greater risk of capture.

As I commented over here:

As noted, there is lots of information on shipping available without conspirators selling it to their piratical co-conspirators, including the old standby methods of getting info from sailors in bars in departure ports or having “fishing boats” at choke points reporting on the passage of likely target ships.

Given the characteristics of the ships being taken (generally, slower, low freeboard, not part of a convoy) I tend to think that the Mark I eyeball, GPS and some comm gear are the biggest aids to the pirate ship selection.

Not that they may also be getting some info out of London, but …

In addition, it’s not like merchant shipping varies its routes very much. The fastest, shortest route is the cheapest route.

The sea lanes are pretty well known. As are the choke points to which the ships funnel themselves as they head to destination ports. Sit on a sea lane and wait for a good target.

If the pirates were in possession of great intel info, I don’t think they’d be attacking military oilers and frigates. Which, as we all know, some of them have done.

On that last point, see here and here.

Possible charges if you catch the perps?

Conspiracy to commit piracy, I suppose, would be one crime that could be charged … see here for a quick look at conspiracy law in the UK (and I defer to anyone with greater knowledge on the topic).

UPDATE: See here for a report on coordination in the pirate attacks.

Coast Guard issues Maritime Security Directive

Coast Guard issues Maritime Security Directive:

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard issued a maritime security directive Monday in response to the rise in piracy in the waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa and in light of recent pirate attacks on U.S. flagged vessels.

Maritime Security Directive 104-6 (rev. 2) issued by the Coast Guard under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2004 provides the maritime industry with specific, risk-based measures to take to deter, detect or disrupt piracy. Prior to entering high risk waters, U.S. flagged vessels should establish an anti-piracy plan that includes the hardening of rigging and operating vessels in a manner to prevent attacks and subsequent boarding. Ships shall also use established transit lanes, erratic ships maneuvering, increased speed and cooperation with military forces patrolling the area. During transits through high-risk areas, it is the ship’s responsibility to maintain a vigilant anti-piracy watch and ensure all shipboard anti-piracy precautions are in force.

Vessel security plans for U.S. flagged vessels that operate in high risk waters must have security protocols for terrorism, piracy, and armed robbery against ships that meet the performance standards in this directive by May 25. An annex to the directive provides further specific measures required for vessels transiting in the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden high risk waters. All vessel security plans must be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

"Piracy presents a multi-faceted threat to the United States, our international partners and the maritime industry and the seafarers who make their living on the global maritime transportation system," said Rear Adm. Brian Salerno, assistant commandant for marine safety, security and stewardship. "The Coast Guard has a unique role to play in response to this threat and we remain committed to working with our governmental, defense and industry partners to bring pirates to justice and to help provide for the safety of mariners upon the high seas."

In addition to working with the maritime industry to help vessel owners and operators develop plans to deter, detect and respond to acts of piracy, the Coast Guard is actively engaged in counter piracy operations under Combined Task Force 151, in which Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments and cutters are working with the U.S. Navy to deter piracy and apprehend criminals. Coast Guard units, working with U.S. Navy Visit Board search and Seizure teams, have made four interdictions, resulting in the apprehension of 30 suspected pirates.

Tuesday Reading

Starting, as usual, with Fred Fry's Maritime Monday 161 -where Fred crams a week's worth of stuff into one post. And then adds more. I've heard of Aquaman, but Fred has "AquaTrain."

CDR Salamander has a good rant. And here. Good thing we don't have a 600 ships Navy. We have trouble taking care of 200.

InstaPunk pays attention to his elders. Wise, worried elders. Ever wonder why all the hoopla by the left over "Halliburton" which actually does work when it gets contracts and government money and the dead silence over the UAW which just gets government money?

Somali Pirates: "Where are the Escorts?"

Kennebec Captain: Escorts for Group Transits asks that question.

Go see.

And you might ponder this: Asymmetric Warfare: Terrorists, Small Boats, Explosives and Unarmed, Unescorted Ships. And, Pirates of Somalia: Asymmetric Warfare.

Somali Pirates: Another "Beginning of the End?"

A usually reliable source has informed me that two leaders of Somali pirate groups (at least 30 hijacks between them, I am told) are under pressure from the Islamic courts to stop all hijacking by the end of this month, when the monsoon normally slows pirate activities anyway.

In other word, they have been told to "gather their rosebuds while they may..." but May is all they have.

These "pirate kings" have been told that failure to cooperate in a cessation of ship nabbing will result in serious sanctions - including being the threat of being killed.

In addition, mosques in Puntland have been told to inform their female attendees that the pirates are bringing shame to Somalia by their "sea robbery" and are not good Muslims.

The report also says that the pirate chiefs want infrastructure investment in Somalia in return for halting attacks - investments in Somalia's future, including improved education.

The Islamic courts have proved effective to slowing down piracy before. It remains to be seen whether that effect will work again. In the West there has been some concern that the Islamic courts are too "Talibanish" and may lead Somalia down the path of Afghanistan as an al Qaeda or other terrorist haven. The "West" is going to have to decide whether a more stable Somalia is worth some risk . . .

In the meantime, it would seem to me that a major slow down in pirate activity may result in some countries withdrawing their anti-piracy forces from the area, at least temporarily. Not that a bad idea to allow for refitting and refreshing the crews. I would hope that the various governments involved would sit down and work out details of creating means of better cooperation among the various naval elements off Somalia and a legal framework that will put an end to the "catch and release" programs when dealing with suspected pirates.

In somewhat related news, the weather forecast for the areas off Somalia where pirate attacks are likely to occur seem somewhat favorable for the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off the Somali east coast, but not so much nearer to the Seychelles. Winds and wave charts from here (click to enlarge):

Sunday Ship History: The Dismal Swamp Canal

If there is a better name for a swamp than the "Great Dismal Swamp" I am unaware of it. It speaks of all the things you might imagine of a swamp where Bogart and Hepburn pull their boat heroically through mud while fending off mosquitoes, leeches and despair. It sounds like something that should be in the "The Princess Bride" hosting R.O.U.S.s or their kin. Of course, unlike the Fire Swamp where Wesley and Buttercup venture, The Great Dismal Swamp is a real place, located along the borders of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.


The Great Dismal Swamp is also home to the earliest canal built in the North America, as is set out by the Army Corps of Engineers in The Dismal Swamp Canal:

The Dismal Swamp Canal and the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal form alternative routes along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) between the Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound. The canals and the rest of the waterway are maintained and cared for by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The AIWW provides pleasure boaters and commercial shippers with a protected inland channel between Norfolk, Virginia and Miami, Florida. The history of these two canals, which contain the only locks along the AIWW, paints a vivid picture of the development of transportation that goes back over two hundred years. It is also a fascinating tale rich in folklore and literature.
***
Over two hundred years ago, as it is today, transportation was the lifeblood of the North Carolina sounds region and the Tidewater areas of Virginia. The landlocked sounds were entirely dependent upon poor overland tracks or shipment along treacherous Carolina coast to reach further markets through Norfolk. The first to propose the “advantage of making a channel to transport by water-carriage goods from Albemarle Sound into Nansemond and Elizabeth River” was Colonel William Byrd II of Virginia in 1728. He had just returned from making a survey of the Virginia-North Carolina border for the English Crown. During the expedition, he and
his party had to struggle through the dense undergrowth and forests of the great swamp. Byrd, finding the place repulsive, is said to be responsible for the addition of “Dismal” to the name.

It would be nearly 60 years, following the Revolutionary War, before a canal was begun. The new nation desperately needed good roads connecting the isolated towns and villages with larger cities. If the country was to grow and prosper, an effective means of internal transportation had to be developed. Both George Washington and Patrick Henry felt that canals were the easiest answer and favored a route through the Dismal Swamp. Although Washington was not involved in the canal’s construction, he was familiar with the region. He and a group of business “adventurers” owned some 50,000 acres in the Dismal Swamp that they were logging. Washington Ditch, a separate cut through the swamp, was built to transport their timber. The remnants of it are still visible today.

Finally, in 1793, construction began on both ends of the Dismal Swamp Canal. The canal had to be dug completely by hand so progress was slow and expensive. Most of the labor was done by slaves hired from nearby landowners. It is interesting to note that the slaves became so familiar with the swamp during this period that it eventually became a haven for runaways. Later, in the anti-slavery era prior to the Civil War, “Harper’s Weekly” artist David Strother visited the area and reported that there were large colonies of runaway slaves in some sections of the swamp. Harriet Beecher Stowe patterned her main character in the novel, “Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp,” on one of Strother’s sketches. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was inspired to pen his poem, “The Slave in the Dismal Swamp,” based on Stowe’s character.

By 1796, the costs of building the canal had far exceeded the projected estimates. The company halted work and began a road to connect the two canal sections. The road was completed in 1802. The famous Irish poet, Sir Thomas Moore, visited the area soon after and immortalized “The Lake of the Great Dismal” in a ballad about a legendary love affair.

The completed canal would eventually open in 1805, twelve years after it was begun. Because it was so shallow, its use was limited to flat boats and log rafts that were manually poled or towed through. Shipments consisted mainly of logs, shingles, and other wood products taken from the swamp’s great stands of cedar and juniper. Needless to say, this was a far cry from what farmers, lumbermen and merchants originally envisioned as a regional trade route. Throughout its history, the Dismal Swamp Canal has experienced hard times.

The owners would give up trying to maintain it, let it fall into disrepair and eventually sell it. The maintenance problems were the result of flaws in the canal’s original concept and design. Water levels between its beginnings in Deep Creek and its original end in Joyce’s Creek were not correctly measured. This left the canal without an adequate source of water and subject to natural rainfall and drainage conditions. Even with the feeder ditch built to supply water from Lake Drummond, the canal was still dry in periods of low rainfall and drought. The problem remains, even today. To preserve water levels in the federally protected Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, the feeder ditch is periodically shut off during dry spells. This prevents the canal from draining waters of the swamp and damaging its fragile ecosystem.

The Dismal Swamp Canal is the oldest operating artificial waterway in the United States. It is also rich in history and folklore. Visitors and canal navigators travel where famous explorers and presidents have stood and literary greats have been inspired for over two hundred years. For example, astride the two states’ border is the site where the infamous “Halfway House” hotel was built in the late 1820’s. The hotel was a popular spot for marriages, duels and those escaping the law. Since the hotel was on the state line, this last group simply walked to the other side of the hotel to avoid being captured in either state. It is also said that Edgar Allen Poe wrote “The Raven” during one of his stays at the hotel. And, as you follow the canal, you retrace the course of James Adams’ Floating Theatre, where Edna Ferber got the idea to write the novel “Showboat” upon which the famous musical is based.

Today, the Dismal Swamp Canal is on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic Landmark, and is also noted as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. In February 2004, the Dismal Swamp Canal was included in the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. It is maintained by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a navigational resource along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

The Dismal Swamp was not all bad. As noted in Touring the Backroads of North Carolina's Upper Coast*:

Before the days of refrigeration, water from the swamp was a highly prized commodity on sailing ships. Chemically sterile, the water stayed fresh for long periods when stored in wooden kegs. When Admiral Perry his famous "Open Door Trip to Japan? in 1852, he carried Dismal Swamp water on his ships. Union ships carried large quantities of Dismal Swamp water during the Civil War to avoid sailing back to Washington, D.C. Those who have tasted the dark brown water claim that it is quite drinkable. They liken its taste to sassafras tea, which is also rich in tannic acid.

The Dismal Swamp has some unique properties:

The swamp itself is indeed both beautiful and hazardous, as well as unique in many ways. While most swamps are located in places lower than their surrounding lands, the Great Dismal Swamp is actually on a hillside 20 feet above sea-level, and rather than the more usual water flowing into the swamp, seven rivers flow outward from the central Lake Drummond. In most swamps, the moist heat and darkness make ideal conditions for rapid decay of matter, but the water in the Great Dismal is so acidic due to the leaching of juniper and cypress trees that there is little bacterial growth, and as a result, debris accumulates year after year; the Great Dismal Swamp is one of the few places where peat is formed. Because of its acidity, the water is also slow to become stagnant, and Commodore Perry is reported to have taken casks of the swamp water with him on his famous trip to Japan. In 1888, author Robert Arnold promoted the water of the Swamp as ‘the elixir of life.’

During the American Civil War, the Dismal Swamp Canal was the goal of a Union military expedition to eliminate its use by the South, though it appears the Battle of South Mills may not have accomplished much:

The Confederates made good use of the canal facilities during the initial stages of the conflict. A large volume of supplies passed through in both directions. Naval ordinances and supplies were shipped through the canal for the CSS Sea Bird,
commanded by Flag Officer W.F. Lynch, at Elizabeth City, North Carolina, on February 10, 1862. The supplies did not arrive before Union naval forces under the command of Commander S.C. Rowan in the USS Commodore Perry rammed and sank the Sea Bird. During this engagement in the Pasquotank River all but two of the Confederate “mosquito fleet” were destroyed or captured. The CSS Appomattox and CSS Beaufort sought escape via the Dismal Swamp Canal to Norfolk. The Appomattox was two inches too wide to enter the first lock and was burned by the Confederates. The Beaufort, however, could negotiate the locks and made it safely
to Norfolk. No attempts were made to capture the Dismal Swamp Canal until two months later. The Union, fearing that the Confederates planned to send an ironclad to the Albemarle Sound via the canal, mounted an expedition to block the canal.

On April 17, 1862, 3,000 men commanded by Brig. Gen. J.L. Reno marched toward South Mills where the Confederates had constructed fortifications. A brisk but brief engagement occurred at South Mills on April 19. The Confederates were forced to retreat, however, the Union forces were unable to destroy the locks at South Mills.
The Union gained control of the canal shortly after the fall of Norfolk on May 10, 1862. Yet, by 1863 their control over the region was tenuous. Great quantities of supplies were smuggled through the canal by Southern sympathizers and Confederate guerrillas annoyed the Federals with their periodic raids.

Today you can travel this old canal for pleasure:

Dismal Swamp Canal Traveling Information:
Maintained to a depth of 6 feet, however, boaters should verify the latest channel conditions. Our locks and bridges have minimum operating staff on duty from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Deep Creek and South Mills Locks normal operating schedule is: openings at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The schedule is subject to change during droughts or adverse weather conditions; call to confer before transiting the canal.

Drawbridges at Deep Creek and South Mills are unmanned and open in conjunction with the lock operating schedule. The lock operator also serves as bridge operator, therefore cannot be in both locations at the same time. Some delays in the opening can be expected, as they will be coordinated with the adjacent locks. Deep Creek Lock and Bridge operators can be reached at (757) 487-0831, the South Mills Lock and Bridge operators can be reached at (252) 771-5906 or marine radio channel 13.


Boats can anchor or moor overnight in canal; limited tie-up facilities are located along the canal.

The Dismal Swamp Canal Visitor Center, built by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, is located near mile marker 28 on the canal. The Visitor Center has a variety of published brochures and pamphlets with information on accommodations and attractions, 150’ dock, canoe/kayak launch, restrooms, vending machines, picnic tables, and grills. Call (252) 771-8333 or visit www.dismalswamp.com for additional Visitor Center information.

Some cruising tips through the canal here:

You need to be careful transiting the canal, but if you stay in the middle, any boat with a 6-foot draft or less shouldn’t have any problems. Overhanging branches reach over the canal from either side, so you have to learn to look up, as well as forward, to make sure your mast stays clear. However, there’s a wide opening between the branches, so stay in the middle to avoid them. You may also find some debris of logs or branches, but keep your eyes open to steer clear of them and you’ll be fine. It’s no worse than other parts of the ICW.

We’ve encouraged many to try the canal and they rave about it once they have traveled through it. The scenery and peacefulness of the Dismal Swamp Canal and the Pasquotank River is hard to explain; it’s something you need to experience yourself. Even though I have not seen the movie, my Dad said that it reminded him of the trip down the Amazon River in the movie “African Queen”.

Ah, that movie again.

The Great Dismal Swamp is also home to a National Wildlife Refuge. North Carolina has nice Welcome Center on the Canal.

The Great Dismal Swamp also played a role in the "Underground Railway" (see here), both as a hiding place and passageway for escaped slaves headed north or to ports where they might find a friendly ship to give them passage. Image: Fugitive Slaves in the Dismal Swamp, Virginia, David Edward Cronin, 1888, oil on canvas, 17 x 14 in., on display at the New-York Historical Society



*Touring the Backroads of North Carolina's Upper Coast By Daniel W. Barefoot Edition: illustrated Published by John F. Blair, Publisher, 1995, pp 41-42

Why we like the sea

Jack Kemp

Peggy Noonan at her best, describing the Happy Man:

Jack knew how to lead. He spoke of ideas with affability and authenticity. He wasn't angry and dark and simmering, didn't glower. He had the power of the happy man. "Sometimes now the cost of admission into politics is bitterness, bile and guile," said the pollster Kellyanne Conway. He was old-style, and humane. Ms. Conway got her first job in politics as an intern in Kemp's office. "Who are you?" he once said. "I'm just an intern here," she said. "No one is just an intern here," he replied.

You might go the distance for a leader like that.

Somali Pirates: Attack on USNS Lewis and Clark

Reported in this Press Release:

At approximately 10:30 a.m. local time yesterday, Military Sealift Command ship (MSC) USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE-1) was approached by suspected pirates off the eastern coast of Somalia and took evasive action to prevent a successful attack.

While transiting north to provide logistics support for U.S. Navy and Coalition ships operating in the area, two pirate skiffs pursued Lewis and Clark for more than an hour, closing to a distance of approximately one nautical mile.

Once shipboard lookouts spotted the two suspected pirate skiffs, Lewis and Clark conducted evasive maneuvers and increased speed to elude the pirates. The ship’s embarked security team also used a long range acoustical device (LRAD) to issue verbal warnings to the approaching skiffs.

Suspected pirates then fired small arms weapons from approximately two nautical miles toward Lewis and Clark, which fell one nautical mile short of the ship’s stern. Lewis and Clark continued to increase speed and the skiffs ceased their pursuit of the U.S. ship.

“The actions taken by Lewis and Clark were exactly what the U.S. Navy has been recommending to prevent piracy attacks – for both commercial and military vessels,” said Capt. Steve Kelley, Commander, Task Force 53, to which Lewis and Clark is operationally assigned. “Merchant mariners can and should use Lewis and Clark’s actions as an unequivocal example of how to prevent a successful attack from occurring.”

Despite recent successful pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia, merchant mariners have proven successful as first-line defenders against pirates. Along with Lewis and Clark, a number of merchant vessels have conducted evasive maneuvers and other pro-active defensive measures, including embarked security teams, to protect their ships and their cargoes.

More than 30,000 vessels transit the Gulf of Aden annually. In 2009, there have been 97 attempted attacks on merchant vessels, 27 of which have been successful.

Lewis and Clark, home ported in Norfolk, Va., is part of MSC and assigned to CTF 53 while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. CTF 53 is responsible for providing operational logistics support for the entire U.S. 5th Fleet and Coalition forces both ashore and afloat. The ship also provided support to the counter piracy task force, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, as an afloat staging base earlier this year.

U.S. merchant mariners have a long and storied history of providing direct support to U.S. military operations ashore. From re-supplying Navy ships at-sea to delivering combat cargo to deployed troops in war zones, merchant mariners have played an integral logistics support role in U.S. military operations.

Somali Pirates: Grab a Dutch Ship

An early report from here:

Somali pirates on Thursday hijacked a Dutch ship with eight crew members in the Gulf of Aden, the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme said.

"Pirates seized a small Dutch ship with eight crew. It was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden two hours ago (around 0730 GMT)," said the head of the programme, Andrew Mwangura.

No more information on the type of ship or its owners was immediately available, Mwangura said.

The latest hijacking brought to at least 20 the number of ships currently held by pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, together with more than 300 seamen.

Latest ONI Worldwide Threats to Shipping Report (to 6 May 09)

The latest ONI Worldwide Threats to Shipping Report (to 6 May 09) here. Highlights:

1. SOMALIA: EU Convoy Ships 'Less Likely To Suffer Pirate Attacks', 5 May 09. Just one vessel registered with the European Union’s anti-piracy operation was successfully hijacked in the first three months of the operation, according to the latest Brussels’ figures. Companies registering ships via the EU Navfor website were less likely to be victims of an attack than those choosing to go it alone off the Somali coast. “Since 12 December 2008, 41 attacks have been confirmed in the area of operations, resulting in seven actual hijackings. Only one of the seven hijacked vessels was following EU Navfor recommendations,” said the EU Council of Ministers, referring to the period to March 1. The EU Atalanta operation, the bloc’s first maritime venture,
escorted 11 World Food Programme vessels over the period, carrying 60,000 tonnes of food each week to the strife-ridden nation. Rather than being escorted, commercial vessels are organized into convoys which are then watched over by EU navy vessels stationed at strategic points. Ship operators register vessels over a website and are given convoy start times and locations. “The EU mission is not alone in the region,” the Council of Ministers pointed out. “Efficient coordination both with the shipping industry and with other naval units deployed by maritime powers (Russia, China and India) or groups (US-led coalition TF 151 + NATO) is therefore essential. “The Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) website, developed by Operational Headquarters in conjunction with the shipping industry, and voluntary exchange of information and best practices are the means through which efficient coordination is being achieved.” The council, which represents the EU member states, is now under pressure to extend the Atalanta mission beyond its 12-month mandate, which expires this December (LL).
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2. SOMALIA: Russian Navy captures Somali pirates, 29 Apr 09. The Russian destroyer (ADMIRAL PANTELEEV) seized a pirate vessel with 29 people on board off the Somali coast, Russian news reports say. Guns and navigation equipment were found during a search of the pirate boat. The substantial haul of arms and equipment on board is said to include seven Kalashnikov machineguns, handguns of different calibers, satellite navigation devices, and a large number of empty shells. They said the suspected pirates were thought to have launched two unsuccessful attacks against a tanker with a Russian crew. It is not yet clear whether or not the suspects will be tried (BBC, LL).
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1. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel fired upon 6 May 09 at 0910 UTC while underway in position 13:34N – 048:38E. Armed men in a skiff fired shots at the vessel while underway. The captain onducted evasive maneuvers, and in doing so, caused the pirate skiff to capsize, knocking six pirates into the water. EU warships arrived on the scene to investigate (IMB).

2. GULF OF ADEN: General cargo ship (VICTORIA) hijacked 5 May 09 at 1304 UTC
while underway in position 13:24N – 049:22E. Pirates boarded and hijacked the vessel while underway. Eleven crewmembers are currently onboard (IMB, Bloomberg).

3. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel (MICHAEL S) fired upon 5 May 09 at 0444Z while underway in position 13:09N – 049:08E. Four men onboard a boat opened fire on the vessel with an RPG. An Italian frigate in the vicinity arrived to provide assistance and the vessel was able to escape (Operator, LM: timesofmalta.com).

4. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel fired upon 28 Apr 09 at 0630 UTC while underway in position 12:31N – 046:07E. One blue colored speed boat with six armed men onboard approached the vessel and opened fire with automatic weapons. The vessel conducted evasive maneuvers and used rocket flares to prevent the boarding. Nearby coalition warships were contacted. The speed boat aborted the attempt approximately 30 minutes later. No injuries to the crew or damage to the vessel was reported (Operator, IMB).

5. GULF OF ADEN: Tanker (GNA) hijacked 26 Apr 09 at 1130 UTC while underway in position 13:25N – 047:24E. The vessel was attacked and hijacked by approximately 14 pirates. The tanker was later taken back by Yemeni forces (AFP, IMB).

6. GULF OF ADEN: General cargo ship fired upon 25 Apr 09 at 0600 local time while
underway in position 14:00N – 051:31E. Two small speed boats with five persons armed with guns approached the vessel. When they were approximately three cables away from the vessel, they opened fire using automatic weapons. The master enforced anti-piracy measures and prevented the boarding (IMB).

7. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier (PATRIOT) hijacked 25 Apr 09 at 0335 local time while underway in position 14:01N – 051:34E. Pirates in skiffs armed with guns attacked and hijacked the vessel. Seventeen crew members are onboard (Reuters, IMB).

8. GULF OF ADEN: Vessel fired upon 20 Apr 09 at 1115 UTC while underway in position 12:43N – 047:48E. Two speed boats with five or six armed men onboard chased the vessel with gun shots being fired. The vessel conducted evasive maneuvers and increased speed. Coalition forces were informed and a helicopter was deployed to the location. Upon sighting the helicopter, the men in the speed boats aborted their attempt (Operator, IMB).

9. GULF OF ADEN: Bulk carrier fired upon 20 Apr 09 at 0520 UTC while underway in position 13:15N – 047:40E. Twelve men armed with automatic weapons in two white speed boats chased and fired upon the vessel. The captain conducted evasive maneuvers and enforced anti-piracy measures to prevent the boarding (IMB).
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22. INDIAN OCEAN: Vessel reported attempted boarding 5 May 09 at 0930 local time while underway in position 02:38S – 053:49E, approximately 155NM northwest of Port Victoria, Seychelles. Eight pirates in two speed boats armed with automatic weapons approached the vessel with a speed of 23 knots. A third boat was observed further back and assessed as being a mother ship. The captain increased speed and alerted the crew. The two speed boats arrived approximately 10 meters off the stern and attempted to get alongside the vessel several times in an attempt to board the vessel by using a portable ladder. The vessel conducted evasive maneuvers for 20 minutes before the pirates abandoned their pursuit (Operator, IMB).

23. INDIAN OCEAN: Bulk carrier (ARIANA) hijacked 2 May 09 at 0230 UTC while
underway in position 07:19S – 052:11E, approximately 245NM southwest of Port Victoria, Seychelles. Armed pirates attacked and hijacked the vessel while underway. Twenty four crewmembers are currently onboard (IMB, Reuters).

24. INDIAN OCEAN: Tanker fired upon 2 May 09 at 0530 local time while underway in position 06:07S – 050:12E, approximately 320NM southwest of Port Victoria, Seychelles. A mother ship and two speed boats were observed at a distance of 6NM from the vessel. The captain altered course and the boats started chasing the vessel. The captain raised the alarm, sent out a distress message, increased speed, and took evasive maneuvers. The boats came close to the vessel when the second speed boat suddenly stopped, assessed as having engine problems. The first boat fired upon the vessel with an RPG but aborted the attack as the distance from the
mother ship increased to 20NM. No injuries to the crew were reported (IMB).

25. INDIAN OCEAN: Vessel reported suspicious approach 1 May 09 at 1100 local time while underway in position 08:04S – 057:11E, approximately 220NM southeast of Port Victoria, Seychelles. Vessel reported being chased for approximately 20 minutes after the suspicious craft diverted its course and headed towards the vessel’s direction. The captain conducted evasive maneuvers until they were able to increase their distance before the craft resumed its previous course (Operator, IMB).

26. INDIAN OCEAN: Vessel (ALMEZAAN) hijacked 1 May 09 while underway
approximately 100NM off the coast of Somalia. Armed pirates attacked and hijacked the vessel. The vessel was reportedly released without ransom 6 May 09 after local Somali traders confirmed the vessel was chartered by local traders (IMB, AFP).

27. INDIAN OCEAN: Bulk carrier fired upon 1 May 09 at 0540 UTC while underway in position 04:44S – 060:04E, approximately 270NM east of Port Victoria, Seychelles. Pirates in two small boats armed with automatic weapons opened fire on the vessel. The duty officer raised the alarm and the crew locked all access. The first boat attempted to board the vessel using a ladder and the second boat fired upon the vessel at the bridge and accommodation. The attack was aborted 40 minutes later due to evasive maneuvering and high freeboard of the vessel. No injuries to the crew were reported, while the vessel sustained minor damage (IMB).

28. INDIAN OCEAN: Tanker fired upon 1 May 09 at 0330 UTC while underway in position 03:05S – 053:19E, approximately 160NM northwest of Port Victoria, Seychelles. A mother ship and two speed boats were observed by the vessel at a distance of 8NM. The speedboats approached at a speed of 22 knots and fired upon the bridge with automatic weapons and RPGs. The pirates tried to board the vessel five times using a hand ladder. Due to the ship’s high freeboard and evasive maneuvering, the boarding was prevented. No injuries to the crew were reported, and the ship sustained minor damage (IMB).

29. INDIAN OCEAN: Container ship fired upon 30 Apr 09 at 1224 UTC while underway in position 04:01S – 059:33E, approximately 250NM east of Port Victoria, Seychelles. Eight pirates in two speedboats armed with guns and RPGs chased the vessel. The master raised the alarm, increased speed, and conducted evasive maneuvers. The pirates fired upon the vessel, but later aborted the attack. No injuries to the crew were reported. The ship sustained minor damages. One mother ship, 10-15 meters in length was observed at 3NM from the vessel (IMB).

30. INDIAN OCEAN: Vessel (JOLLY SMERALDO) fired upon 30 Apr 09 at 0350 UTC while underway in position 00:36N – 050:08E, approximately 250NM off the coast of Somalia. Pirates armed with automatic weapons in a skiff chased the vessel and opened fire. The captain conducted evasive maneuvers and escaped the boarding (IMB, PRESS TV, UPI).

31. INDIAN OCEAN: Container ship fired upon 30 Apr 09 at 0224 UTC while underway in position 07:46S – 051:32E, approximately 290NM southwest of Port Victoria, Seychelles. A speed boat with 6-7 persons onboard and a second speed boat with 3-4 persons onboard chased the vessel and opened fire with automatic weapons and RPGs. The vessel sustained damages to its starboard side accommodation. One RPG shell fell onboard but did not explode (IMB).

32. INDIAN OCEAN: Vessel (JOLLY SMERALDO) fired upon 29 Apr 09 at 1250 UTC while underway in position 01:40S – 047:12E, approximately 245NM southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia. Pirates armed with automatic weapons chased and fired upon the vessel. The captain conducted evasive maneuvers and prevented the boarding (IMB, PRESS TV, UPI).

33. INDIAN OCEAN: Vessel fired upon 29 Apr 09 at 1550 local time while underway in position 01:40S – 047:12E, approximately 280NM southeast of Barawe, Somalia. Five men armed with automatic weapons in a white colored speed boat approached the vessel from the starboard quarter and began opening fire. The captain increased speed and conducted evasive maneuvers while activating fire hoses. After 15 minutes, the speed boat aborted the attack (Operator, IMB).

34. INDIAN OCEAN: Vessel fired upon 28 Apr 09 at 0704 UTC while underway in
position 13:49N – 056:30E, approximately 380NM northeast of Caluula, Somalia. Two skiffs were launched from a mother ship and fired two RPGs at the bridge and missed. Automatic weapons were fired and struck the vessel on the starboard side. No injuries were reported (Operator, IMB).

35. INDIAN OCEAN: Tanker (NS COMMANDER) fired upon 27 Apr 09 at 1050 UTC while underway in position 13:10N – 056:37E, approximately 320NM east of Caluula, Somalia. One speed boat with three armed men approached the vessel and ordered it to stop. The captain conducted evasive maneuvers, and the gunmen opened fire. After 30 minutes, two speed boats with four to five men in each boat approached and opened fire on the vessel. The master continued to carry out evasive maneuvers and succeeded in preventing the men from boarding (IMB, LM: RIA Novosti).

36. INDIAN OCEAN: Passenger ship (MELODY) fired upon 26 Apr 09 at 1942 UTC
while underway in position 01:17S – 055:40E, approximately 480NM east of Hobyo, Somalia. Six men in a small white speed boat attacked and fired upon the ship. An armed security onboard the cruise ship returned fire and sprayed them with water hoses, forcing the pirates to retreat. The pirates reportedly linked to the failed attack were later captured by Spanish naval forces (AP, BBC, IMB).

1. MALAYSIA: Chemical tanker boarded 3 May 09 at 0400 local time, Karamunting palm oil terminal, Sandakan port. Four robbers in a fishing boat approached the vessel at berth. While crewmembers were busy at the manifold, the robbers boarded the tanker using a hook attached to a rope. Several crewmembers saw unidentified persons on forecastle deck and approached them. The robbers escaped in their boat upon seeing the crew alertness. Nothing was reported stolen (IMB).
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2. MALAYSIA: Container ship reported attempted boarding 3 May 09 at 0001 local time, Sandakan anchorage. A fisherman offering fresh fish approached the starboard side of the vessel at anchor. Four robbers in a speed boat approached from the port side of the vessel and attempted to board. The alert crew spotted the robbers and raise the alarm. The robbers aborted the attempt due to crew alertness (IMB).

Somali Pirates: Good Weather for Pirating

Once again, as noted here, this time of year is good for the pirates operating off Somalia, whether in the Gulf of Aden or off the Somali east coast, in the pre-monsoon season.

Winds and waves are reasonable. Click on the image below to enlarge, but it shows the forecast for the winds and waves on 7 May 09 from here. Winds are calm to 15 knots and waves under 3 meters in most of the pertinent areas. Ship masters and crews should keep a sharp eye for pirates and, if possible, participate in convoys:

Somali Pirates: Maersk Calls for Secure Somali Sea Lane Off Eastern Somalia

Reported here:

A.P. Moller-Maersk is calling for creation of a secure maritime corridor off the coast of eastern Somalia to protect vessels against the surge in pirate attacks.

The Danish shipping line made the call as part of its ongoing investigation into the attempted hijacking of the Maersk Alabama and kidnapping of its skipper Richard Phillips, the Financial Times reported.

Søren Skou, chief executive of Maersk Tankers, said the company supported proposals to launch new initiatives in the Indian Ocean, including a regional maritime patrol.

“We also call on the international community to establish a transit corridor so vessels can safely call at ports in Kenya and Tanzania,” he said.

Creation of a secure sea lane by allied navies would likely involve the use of air patrols far out at sea. Navies cannot deploy enough vessels to respond quickly to incidents in the Indian Ocean, but in the Gulf of Aden, helicopters can frequently reach the scene of an attack within 30 minutes, often in time to foil it.

But outside of the patrolled transit zone in the Gulf of Aden, ships are on their own. U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. (Ret.) Paul J. Pluta, who was responsible for safety and security before he retired, said the best way for the allied forces to protect this zone would be regular air patrols that could be mounted from Djibouti, from Mombasa in Kenya, or from the U.S. base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Not enough regular Navy ships to build up good patrols? I have some suggestions on how to assemble a 50-ship anti-piracy patrol in a hurry... here and here. They don't all have to be American . . .

UPDATE: A video of the attack on the MV Liberty Sun:
And a reminder of the story. The ship was, like the Maersk Alabama, delivering food aid for starving people in Africa, including Somalia.

UPDATE2: About secure sealanes: See my 6 April 09 post How to Beat the Somali Pirates:

Put helicopters and UAVs in the air and learn the local fishing patterns to find the "fishing boats" that don't acty like the others. Use the helicopters to scout routes ahead of merchant ships.

For the long transit down the eastern coast of Somalia, I propose a small variation on the convoy system. Points A, B and C on Map 5 become Ocean Convoy Collection Points (OCCPs) where ships desiring to transit piracy risk areas can gather for convoying to the other points.

It's still a good idea.