Month: October 2011
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Insurance Demands
A number of kidnap and ransom insurers are demanding the presence of armed guards on vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean before they will provide cover. […]
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Finally Free
MV Iceberg 1, a ship owned by a Dubai-based company, has been released by Somali pirates after nearly 19 months. An undisclosed sum was reportedly paid as ransom to the […]
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Friendly Fires
Foreign military forces have joined the offensive against the Shabab militant group in Somalia as Kenyan troops advanced toward the rebel stronghold of Kismayu from two different directions, Kenya said […]
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Scathing Attack
The Chandlers have launched a scathing attack on Britain’s efforts to tackle piracy. The couple, whose yacht was hijacked in the Indian Ocean in 2009, gave a warning that “people […]
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Local Campaign
The security forces of Somalia’s semi-autonomous state, Puntland launched an offensive against local pirates gangs over the weekend. The operation saw 15 pirates arrested – they were taken to a […]
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Danger Zone
It is not just the officers of crews of merchant ships who fall victim to the perils of piracy. According to a presentation at the World Maritime University, a third […]
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Harsh Reality
According to calls from humanitarian charities, the international shipping community stands accused of ignoring the plight of seafarers held by pirates. As humanitarian groups stress the psychological plight of crews […]
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Abandoning Ships
According to officers speaking at a recent piracy conference, crew members are increasingly demanding to leave vessels about to transit the Indian Ocean if the owner has not put a […]
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Transparent Fears
With shipowners increasingly employing armed guards, there have been calls for greater transparency about their use. Serious concerns have been voiced over the presence of guards leading to an escalation […]
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Joining The Debate
The secret as in life is quality not quantity. A recent Hanson Wade West African Maritime Security conference in London was attended by over 120 delegates in a sensibly structured […]
