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Recent ship hijackings by Somali pirates illustrate a new increase of piracy threat in the Gulf of Aden
On March 13 and March 24, 2017, 2 ship hijackings took place in Somali waters. These incidents highlighted the re-emergence of the piracy threat in the Gulf of Aden after a period of relative stability in the area. While the presence of international and regional naval forces has defused the piracy threat to a large extent since its peak in...
Somalia: A Solution to Somali Piracy Is in Sight – Local Communities Hold the Key
By Stephanie Carver, Monash University The recent hijacking of an oil tanker by alleged Somali pirates raises a number of important questions. The MT Aris 13 was the first commercial vessel to be hijacked since 2012.
MARAD advisory warns of Yemen risks to U.S.-flag ships
MARCH 28, 2017 — The U.S. Maritime Administration has issued an advisory warning that continued regional tensions in Yemen have increased the risks to U.S.-flagged commercial vessels transiting the Southern Red Sea.
Somalia: Somali Sea Hijack Is a Warning Signal – the Pirates Are Down but Not Out
The hijacking of an oil tanker on its way to Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, has sparked international attention. For almost five years nothing was heard from the Somali pirates. International naval patrols as well as self-defence measures and armed security guards on ships had, it seemed, solved the...
Heightened threat to mercantile shipping
India must implement measures to fortify security of its mercantile marine shipping as it drives exports.Threats to mercantile marine shipping heightened on the high seas in 2016 despite a decline in global piracy, according to the latest International Maritime Bureau’s annual piracy...
Update: Pirates hold 7 hostages on hijacked vessel off Somalia
According to the Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP), Somali pirates have kept 7 hostages on board the vessel hijacked on March 23th 2017 off Somalia, indicating that it could be intended for use as a mother ship for further attacks.
Somali pirates hijack vessel to use as mothership
Another ship has fallen pray of hijackers off Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region. It has been reported that the pirates have taken over a small Somali boat aiming to use it as a base to attack larger ships.
Pirates kidnap four from cargo vessel off Philippines
Pirates attacked Super Shuttle Roro 9 vessel and kidnapped four crew members, near Sibago island, off Philippines, on March 23
Maersk tanker robbed off Indonesia
In its weekly report for 7-13 March 2017, RECAAP ISC informed that robbers boarded a product tanker, owned by Danish Maersk, and stole ship equipment, while the vessel was at Inner Anchorage, Dumai, Indonesia, in early hours of March 12.
Somali regional anti-piracy chief says sacked over illegal fishing comments
The head of anti-piracy operations in the semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia said he had been fired for speaking out about illegal fishing, which he claims could trigger a new outbreak of piracy in the Indian Ocean.
With reduced patrols and illegal fishing, Somalia’s pirates could be making a comeback
Last week (Mar. 16), Somali pirates finally released a Comoros-flagged oil tanker that they seized off the coast of Somalia a few days earlier. They agreed to forego their demand for ransom after learning that a Somali businessman had hired the ship to take oil from Djibouti to the Somali capital,...
Ship Hijacking Shows Somali Piracy Risk Still High, UN Says
The hijacking of a fuel tanker off Somalia’s coast shows the threat pirates still pose to one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, a risk that may also hamper the Horn of African country’s efforts to explore for offshore oil and gas, a United Nations official...
Somali pirates told hostages on UAE-managed tanker to say final goodbyes
The woman whose sailor husband was taken hostage by Somali pirates said he and the rest of his crew were forced to call home to speak to their families “for the last time”.
Recent Incidents
ADVISORY NOTICE 004/MAR/2017 Investigations are currently on-going following reports that at 131154 UTC MAR 17 communications were lost with an MV in position
Maritime legal seminar held in Mogadishu
On 1 March Somali Prosecutors and Maritime Police Officers concluded a three-day Maritime Legal Seminar in Mogadishu organized by EUCAP Somalia in cooperation with EU NAVFOR Atalanta.
Vietnam warns of increased piracy in South-east Asian waters
The Vietnam Maritime Administration (Vinamarine) has ordered port authorities across the country to warn ship owners and maritime transport companies of the increasing pirate attacks in Southeast Asian waters
Cargo ship escapes attack by pirates off Boan Island
The Vietnamese-flagged general cargo ship Phu An 268 was attacked by pirates in Philippine waters off Boan Island, on March 5, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre informs. Fortunately, the captain of the vessel managed to escape the attack by increasing speed and maneuvering head towards...