Hostage Case Under Negotiations:
Sea-jacked British couple, Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 60 and 58, were abducted from their 38-ft yacht S/Y LYNN RIVAL, seized October 22, 2009 en route to Tanzania, and are still held in Somalia. The yacht was recovered by the crew of UK naval vessel Waveknight, after they witnessed the transfer of the Chandlers to commandeered MV KOTA WAJAR. The yacht was brought back to England. The elderly couple is now held on land close to Adado, sometimes separated for fear of a commando attack. The case is turning more and more ugly with pirates becoming brutal, politicians ignorant and the financially incapable family intimidated by several sidelines, whose money-guided approach is undermining bids by local elders, human rights groups and the Somali Diaspora to get the innocent couple free. Some humanitarian efforts, however, have succeeded and Somali elders, respected leaders and the Somali Diaspora have renewed their demand for an unconditional release. Latest reports from the ground say that the couple is now treated better, though they often are kept separated for fear of a military rescue attempt. Since the health of both elderly people at the beginning of the year was reportedly deteriorating rapidly relief and medicine has been sent by a humanitarian organization and was received by the couple. Repeatedly rumours were spread concerning attacks, wounding or killing one of the hostages and also about a release managed by the TFG, but all these stories became so far not true. With former British Premier Gordon Brown gone, some believed that the incoming politicians under conservative Premier David Cameron maybe would be more rational and humanitarian minded, would not abandon their citizens but would extend help to solve the appalling case. Unfortunately for the elderly couple in captivity also the new government in the UK made it clear that no ransom would be paid by the British government and British MPs, who had enough and wanted to cut through, were quickly whistled back. Professor Mohamed Omar Dalha, the Minister for Rehabilitation and Social Affairs of the Somali Transitional Federal Government of Somalia had repeatedly been pleading with the hostage takers to release the couple, but to no avail. Also the direct approach by the family seems to have had some not so successful advisers, because an attempt to free the Chandlers mid June 2010 didn’t work out, while the family according to Reuters allegedly already lost the 430,000 US$ they had collected by paying that amount blindly to some people in Somalia. Most recently the British officials who still hold a firm grip on the next of kin of the abducted couple, seem to have embarked on a campaign under the motto: "If we can’t get them free, nobody else shall!" and concentrated their efforts not on uniting capable people and available resources to get a solution, but to just frustrate any independent effort. Such can be summarized as factual abandonment.
MV SOCOTRA 1: Seized December 25. 2009. The vessel carrying a food cargo for a Yemeni businessman and bound for Socotra Archipelago was captured in the Gulf of Aden after it left Alshahir port in the eastern province of Hadramout. 6 crew members of Yemeni nationality were aboard. Latest information said the ship was commandeered onto the high seas between Oman and Pakistan, possibly in another piracy or smuggling mission. 2 of the original crew are reportedly on land in Puntland. VESSEL STILL MISSING and/or working as pirate ship.
SOMALILAND LORRIES: Seized February 25, 2010. Seven lorries and at least 9 persons from their driver-crews of Isaaq ethnicity from Somaliland were captured by a gang of sea-shifta from Garacad in order to press their comrades free from Somaliland jails. No financial demands have been made. According to sources close to the pirates, the trucks are still being kept in a small town near the pirate lair of Garacad called Kulub. However, a counter-hijacking has taken place and negotiations to exchange the lorries and drivers from both sides are well under way.
FV AL-SHURA (AL-SHUVAL?): Seized after February 20, 2010 and most likely on 25th February with one of 9 the Yemeni sailors being killed by the Somali pirate-attackers. Allegedly the pirates now left the vessel and the dhow was returned to her owner, but independent confirmation is still awaited from Yemen. A similar dhow named AL-SHUVAL was said to have be moored off Garacad at the North-Eastern Indian ocean coast off Somalia until recently and is now observed at Dhanaane.
BB AL-NISR-AL-SAUDI: Seized on March 01, 2010. The relatively small bunker barge Al Nisr Al Saudi with a deadweight of 5,136 ton s was returning to Jeddah after delivering its cargo to Japan . The vessel therefore was empty when it was sea-jacked in the Gulf of Aden and in the vicinity of Aden port . The captain of the ship is Greek and the nationality of the 13 other crew is Sri Lankan. All crew is believed to be safe. The ship was not registered with maritime authorities and was outside the designated route that naval warships patrol. Communications between the pirates and the owner were established soon after the capture and contrary to many other vessels the families of the hostage-seafarers are very well taken care of, though the negotiations concerning the release of the vessel and crew were at first not forthcoming. The vessel then moved from Garacad and is currently held at Kulub, from where negotiations commenced again and are near to be concluded. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) had asked the ship owner to explain the prolonged difficulties being faced by the ship’s crew in the light of complaints lodged by Sri Lankan and Greek authorities. Kamal Arri, manager of International Bunkering, the company which owns the Al Nisr Al Saudi ship, told a newspaper the insurance company had agreed to pay the ransom after the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) gave preliminary approval. "We are now waiting for the Interior Ministry’s approval," he told Arab News on Monday, August 01, 2010. He had requested Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif to intervene in the matter to win the release of the ship and crew as quickly as possible. He said the insurance company’s refusal to provide fuel could lead to the ship drifting powerless and possibly being damaged or sunk. Arri told the paper his company had lost SR30m (US$8m) as a result of the hijack and that the insurance had agreed to pay the US$20m ransom, which sounded strange. But he later stated that he made a mistake while speaking to Arab News in how much ransom the pirates were demanding, saying: “I told the reporter that the sum was $20 million. In fact, this was the amount previously demanded by the pirates which was greatly reduced later,” said Kamal Arri, the owner of the Al-Nisr. “I am only concerned now with the safe return of all sailors on board. They were desperate. In my last telephone conversation with them yesterday (Monday 02. Aug.), the Greek captain complained that the pirates were making them sleep on deck while they were using the cabins and rooms themselves, and they have been physically beaten and tortured,” he said.
MV ICEBERG I: Seized March 29, 2010. The UAE-owned, Panama-flagged Ro-Ro vessel MV ICEBERG 1 with her 24 multinational crew members ( 9 Yemenis, 6 Indians, 4 from Ghana, 2 Sudanese, 2 Pakistani and 1 Filipino ) was sea-jacked just 10nm outside Aden Port, Gulf of Aden. The vessel was mostly held off Kulub at the North-Eastern Indian Ocean coast of Somalia, while negotiations have not yet achieved a solution. The USS McFaul intercepted and identified the ship on 19th May 2010, despite the pirates having painted over her name and re-named the ship SEA EXPRESS, while the vessel was on a presumed piracy mission on the high-seas. Since about 50 pirates on the ship made any rescue operation impossible without endangering the 24 crew, the naval ship followed the commandeered vessel’s movements for the next 36 hours, until it began to sail back towards the coast of Somalia. It has transpired that the shipping company Azal Shipping based in Dubai refuses to pay any ransom and the ship is apparently not insured, though it carries very valuable cargo and it seems that the cargo owner is in charge of the negotiations. The sailors have no more food, water or medicine on board. While all the seafarers are starving, a few of them already are getting sick, though none of the sailors suffers from a serious health condition. Chief engineer Mohammed also stated that they urgently need Diesel for the electricity generators. Recently negotiations for the release started in earnest, but have not been concluded. The crew requested again humanitarian intervention as before.
FV JIH-CHUN TSAI 68 Seized March 31, 2010. The Taiwan-flagged and -owned fishing vessel with factory facility was attacked together with sister-ship Jui Man Fa, which managed to escape. The vessels are operating out of the Seychelles. The crew of Jih-chun Tsai No. 68 consists of 14 sailors – a Taiwanese captain along with two Chinese and 11 Indonesian seamen. The vessel is now held at Kulub at the North-Eastern Indian Ocean coast of Somalia and attempted negotiations face serious communication problems.
FV NN – IRANIAN FISHING VESSEL: Seized before April 02, 2010. The gang of sea-shifta, which had captured the Indian dhow MSV KRISHNA JYOT and ran out of fuel near Socotra, seized the Iranian fishing vessel and set the dhow free with her crew unharmed while going off with the Iranian fishing vessel. While the vessel had at first not come to any shore in Somalia and was believed to be used as piracy platform, some sources reported the vessel later from Kulub and now from Habo at the Gulf of Aden coast.
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.
MV RAK AFRIKANA: Seized April 11, 2010, the general cargo vessel (IMO 8200553) with a dead-weight of 7,561 tonnes (5992t gross) was captured at 06h32 approximately 280 nautical miles west of Seychelles and 480nm off Somalia in position 04:45S – 051:00E. The captured vessel flies a flag of convenience from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and has as registered owner RAK AFRICANA SHIPPING LTD based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and an offices in the Seychelles, while industry sources say the beneficial owner is from China. AL SINDBAD SHIPPING & MARINE from Ras al Khaimah (UAE) serves as manager. While China’s Seafarers Union, based on an outdated ITF database, first spoke of 23 Chinese nationals as crew, the shipowner says there are 26 seamen from India, Pakistan and Tanzania on board. The actual crew-list has not been provided yet and the crew is not covered by an ITF agreement, but it could be established that the crew comprises of 11 Indians, including the captain, the second and third officer, as well as 10 Tanzanians and 5 Pakistanis. The vessel stopped briefly due to engine problems – around 280 nautical miles (520 kilometres) west of the Seychelles – but was then commandeered to Somalia and was held off Ceel Huur not far from Harardheere at the Central Somali Indian Ocean Coast, from where it was moved to Ga’an . The captors have forced the crew to fly the Italian flag, signalling the beneficial owner of the vessel. Negotiations are ongoing.
NOTE: To be concluded next week
SHIPTALK: A GLOSSARY OF SHIPPING AND MARITIME TERMS
ASTERN – Behind or a backward direction in the line of a vessel’s fore and aft line. When a vessel moves backwards it is said to move astern; opposite to ahead.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT – The document containing all particulars relating to the terms of agreement between the Master of the vessel and the crew. Also known as ship’s or shipping articles.
BUOY – A floating object marking the navigable limits of channels, sunken dangers, isolated rocks, telegraph cables etc.
CREW LIST – List prepared by the master of a ship showing the full names, nationality, passport or discharge book number, rank and age of every officer and crew member engaged on board that ship and is one of the essential ship’s documents presented to the customs and immigration authorities on arrival at a new port.
CUBIC CAPACITY – The most important commercial measurement when the intrinsic weight of the cargo is so low that the ship becomes full without being loaded to the cargo line. It is expressed in cubic metres or cubic feet.
FORECASTLE – The raised part of the forward end of a ship’s hull, taking its name from the days of sailing ships where the forecastle was effectively a ‘castle’ on the ship’s prow used for defending the ship. On some ships this area may be used for crew accommodation or quarters but on most new ships the space is used for the storage of paints, tackle, deck and engine stores, tarpaulins, etc.
HARD AGROUND – A vessel which has gone aground and is incapable of refloating under her own power
INTERNATIONAL LOAD LINE CERTIFICATE – A certificate which gives details of a ship’s freeboard and states that the ship has been surveyed and the appropriate load lines marked on her sides. The certificate is issued by a classification society or coastal authority such as a coast guard.
MANNING SCALES – The minimum number of officers and crewmembers that can be engaged on a ship to be considered as sufficient hands with practical ability to meet every possible eventuality at sea.
NEOBULK – Shipments consisting entirely of units of a single commodity, such as
cars, lumber, or scrap metal.
PALLET – A flat tray, generally made of wood but occasionally of steel, on which goods particularly those in boxes, cartons or bags, can be stacked. Its purpose is to facilitate the movement of such goods, mainly by the use of forklift trucks.
POOLING – The sharing of cargo or the profit or loss from freight by member lines of a liner conference. Pooling arrangements do not exist in all conferences.
WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT
04.09.2010:
0001 LT: Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh.
About 25 robbers armed with knives approached a general cargo ship in two boats. While approaching and boarding the vessel they continuously threw stones on the ship’s crews. The robbers stole ship’s stores and escaped. Master reported to port control and coast guard who indicated that help would be sent however no help arrived.
04.09.2010:
0130 LT: Posn: 05:51.93S – 013:03.01E, Congo.
Three pirates armed with long knives boarded a vessel underway. Duty officer noticed and raised alarm. The pirates managed to steal ships stores and escape
05.09.2010:
0140 LT: Posn: 12:01.7S – 077:11.7W: Callao anchorage, Peru.
Two robbers armed with long knives boarded a general cargo ship at anchor. Duty crew spotted them, raised alarm and crew mustered. Robbers jumped overboard and escaped.
05.09.2010:
1940 LT: Posn: 06:07.7N – 112:26.4E, 11 nm north of Friendship Shoal, South China Sea.
C/O on board a container ship noticed two speed boats with four/five persons onboard approaching at high speed from either side of the ship. He switched on deck and over side lights, raised alarm and mustered crew. Master carried out evasive manoeuvres. After chasing for few minutes the pirates noticed the razor wires around the ship and, aborted the attack.
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.
06.09.2010:
0702 UTC: Posn: 13:32.0N – 049:39.7E: Gulf of Aden.
Six pirates in a skiff armed with guns attempted to board a chemical tanker transiting under naval convoy. Vessel initiated anti-piracy measures and reported to the coalition forces. The pirates aborted the attempt as coalition navy helicopter approached. Later the coalition forces boarded the skiff for investigation. No shots fired. Vessel is safe.
06.09.2010:
0300 LT: Posn: 03:51N – 077:06W, Buenaventura anchorage, Colombia.
Three robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier during heavy rain. They attacked and tied up the forward watchman. When OOW did not received response he told the aft watchman to check. Seeing the alerted crew the robbers jumped over board and escaped with ship stores. Incident reported to coast guard who arrived after 30 minutes.
08.09.2010:
0540 UTC: Posn: 13:23N – 049:58E: Gulf of Aden.
Armed pirates in a skiff boarded and hijacked a container ship underway. The ships crew locked themselves in a safe room and requested for assistance.
08.09.2010:
Gulf of Aden
Armed pirates boarded and hijacked a chemical tanker and took its crew as hostage.
Capt Turkson : “ISPS Won’t Solve Maritime Security Problems in Africa” –
The immediate past Rector of the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Accra, Ghana, Captain Aaron Turkson has picked holes in the much-touted International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), saying that the International Maritime Organisation’s policy is not the solution to maritime security in Africa particularly the West African sub-region.
Speaking last week at a two workshop on maritime security, Captain Turkson stated that before the ISPS code was introduced, the shipping industry in West Africa has had maritime security challenges.
He noted that ISPS is good adding that it will address the entire maritime security problems in Africa and other parts of the world.
He explained that ISPS is made to protect some interest against the terrorist movements, noting that when the core needs of the people of the shipping host communities are met the issue of maritime security challenges will be reduced.
Turkson who spoke on the topic: “Strategies for ensuring maritime security in the host communities” stated that the issue of maritime security is associated with political and social conflicts.
He lamented that the shipping, oil and gas industries have expanded without carrying the host communities along.
The former Black Star line and Nigerian National Shipping Line sailor said that the neglect has resulted in the insecurity being experienced in the Sub-Region particularly in Nigeria’s Niger-Delta area.
Referring specifically to Nigeria, he said: “You have a huge human capacity, a huge maritime, oil and gas industry, a huge coastline, but only one maritime training institution and this is grossly inadequate as the training of these militants could be gainfully employed”.
Captain Turkson counselled that rather military option, negotiated and socio- economic solutions are the best ways to resolve the issue of maritime security challenges in Nigeria.
According to him, the fastest way to gainfully engage the militants is by pushing them to the international maritime labour market and getting all the necessary International Maritime Organisation (IMO) certifications.
BIMCO Raises Alarm Over Likely Upsurge In Piracy
World’s largest shipping organisation, BIMCO has passed on a warning and recommendation from the United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence regarding piracy off the coast of Somalia and the Western Indian Ocean.
The warning says that Somali pirates have the capability and intent to surge into merchant shipping lanes as soon as heavy seas in the Horn of Africa region subside in mid- September. Somali pirate activity will likely increase in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden as the southwest monsoon season ends. Waters will calm and be conducive for pirate small boat operations.
Pirates will attempt to access merchant shipping lanes and attack vessels in the Indian Ocean in excess of 1,000 n.miles from the eastern Somali Coast. Pirates will attempt to operate as far east as the Maldives and as far south as Madagascar. Pirates have demonstrated the capability to attack merchant ships transiting the Red Sea as well.
The next few notices come from EU NAVFOR, the European Union naval presence operating off the coast of Somalia mainly to provide escorts for ships carrying food and welfare aid parcels and also to assist in anti-piracy activities generally.
On 5 September, while patrolling in the Gulf of Aden, the EU NAVFOR Spanish ship INFANTA CRISTINA was replenished at sea by the EU NAVFOR German Oil Tanker FGS RHOEN. In such an activity, the manoeuvring between the ships always has to be clear, safe and quick. In less than half an hour, replenishment was performed from one ship to the other and the refueling was completed. With replenishments at sea, tankers enable EU NAVFOR warships to remain longer at sea.
During the recent port visit in Mombasa by the French flagship FS DE GRASSE, the Force Commander, Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, liaised with local authorities and partners. These included the Chief of the Kenyan Navy, Mayor of Mombasa, Coast Province Commissioner (regional representative of the State) and the Head of the Kenyan Maritime Authority.
The Chief of the Kenyan Navy expressed concern over piracy and a desire for the Kenyan Navy to be more involved in EU NAVFOR’s efforts against these criminal activities. Kenyan authorities have praised EU NAVFOR for its actions and have declared their concerns about piracy and its affect on the local economy, particularly as Mombasa port is a main point of entry on the East coast of Africa.
The meetings between the various parties were aimed at sharing matters of common interest and contribute to form a coherent understanding of the anti-piracy operations. Mombasa is also a logistic base for the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA), and the World Food Program (WFP), two key partners for EU NAVFOR.
Another ship on the way to join with Operation Ocean Shield, which is NATO’s involvement in anti-piracy activity off the Somali coast, is the Arleigh Burke type US destroyer, USS LABOON (DDG-58), which called at Malta en route for allow the crew a few days of rest and recuperation. The warship subsequently left for Greece before joining with other NATO naval forces off the Horn of Africa. USS Laboon has 260 crew on board, including 55 women. Many of the crew enjoyed the opportunity in Valetta to go ashore and explore the town.
Another ship to be joining naval forces in the Somali area is the French patrol frigate FS FLOREAL, which is based in Reunion. She joins FS DE GRASSE, the current flagship of the EU NAVFOR task force as the second French ship.
Kenyan Court Sentences Somali Pirates To Five Years In Prison
In a bid to showcase its commitment towards combating sea piracy, Kenya has sentenced seven pirates to five years imprisonment.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia is no news but the gun-toting men who defy international calls havecaused the maritime world countless losses for years.
The call to end piracy is gaining momentum and so are the neighbouring countries of Somalia standing up to the challenge.
Seven Somali pirates were sentenced to five years imprisonment in Kenya for attacking a German Navy Supply Ship in March last year. Mombasa Chief Magistrate Rosemelle Mutoka read out her verdict to the dismay of the seven men aged between 24-30 years.
They were convicted of being armed with AK 47 rifles, rocket propelled grenade, pistols and a knife and for attacking Spessart – a German navy ship on March 29, 2009 around mid-day off the Indian Ocean.
This brings the total number of Somali Pirates in Kenyan jails to 25. Kenyan courts sentenced 10 pirates to seven years imprisonment in 2006 and eight others were handed 20 years behind bars in March this year.
Under the Kenyan law, the maximum sentence upon conviction for piracy offences is life imprisonment and according to lawyers this sentence is fair.
European Union Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) involved in combatting piracy has welcomed the judgment by the Kenyan court.
“This first judgement marks an important step in the co-operation between European Union and Kenya in the repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia”, said Major General Buster Howes, Operation Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia.
Since 2005, the International Maritime Organization and the World Food Programme, have expressed concern over the rise of piracy off the Somali coastline. This illegal business has contributed to a sharp increase in shipping costs and shipping insurance premiums and has hampered the delivery of food aid to the vulnerable population of war-torn Somalia.
The European Union anti-piracy task force said it welcomes the court’s decision.
The "judgment marks an important step in the cooperation between EU and Kenya in the repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia," said Maj. Gen. Buster Howes, the force’s operation commander.
Riding in a single skiff, the seven pirates opened fire on the FGS Spessart, a German Navy tanker, mistaking it for a commercial vessel. They were repelled by ship’s security and later captured by the German frigate FGS Rheinland-Pfalz. The pirates were handed over to Kenyan authorities in April last year.
Before last week’s judgement, Kenyan courts had convicted 28 Somalis of piracy since 2006, when the first piracy case was concluded in the East African nation.
Somalia has been mired in anarchy and chaos since 1991, and the lawlessness has allowed piracy to thrive off its Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden coastlines. Somali pirates are able to make multimillion dollar ransoms from their hijackings.
apshot of the deteriorated access road to the tank farms along Ibafon axis of Apapa-Osodi expressway, Lagos after last week’s downpour.
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