Merchant Marine
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Huge Rise
Ransom payments to Somali pirates have risen 36-fold in the past five years, averaging $5.4 million per ship. As a result, raids on tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz are […]
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Tanker Targets
Somali pirates, driven north by monsoon rains, will probably attack more tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz. The strait handles 17 percent of the global trade in oil, according to […]
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Port Calls
Private security escort vessels fighting piracy are seeking urgent clarification of the terms under which they can enter ports on key shipping routes. The call has come in the wake […]
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Shipboard Fire
A Somali pirate claims a fire is tearing through a hijacked ship that pirates are holding off the country’s coast. The pirate said an undisclosed number of pirates and hostages […]
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Into Trouble
The recently freed vessel “MV Suez”, reportedly ran into trouble again after being released by Somali pirates less than 48 hours ago. Crew members reportedly sent a message stating they […]
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Gun Crime
Lawyers are waking to the fact that using armed guards on ships could lead to unforeseen litigation. The use of armed guards on board merchant vessels is increasing but the […]
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List of Shame
The latest list of confirmed vessels held by Somali pirates is as follows and consists of 19 ships with around 392 crew in captivity. The longest currently held vessel has […]
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Release Confirmed
The reports about the release of the “MV Suez” appear to have been correct. The vessel with its 22 crew, held captive by Somali pirates for over 10 months, has […]
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Pirate Lies
Despite the claims of pirates, the ransom paid to release “MV Zirku” apparently fell well short of the widely-quoted figure of $12m. Once again it seems we are all too […]
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Low Point
Pirate activity in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean appears to be going through something of a change. With no succesful hijackings since the end of May, and with three […]
