(Continued form last week)
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 continued next week
Concerns Over Health of Kidnapped Greek Captain, Giorgos Skalimis,
There are increasing concerns regarding the health of a Master held by Somali pirates.
Giorgos Skalimis, the 63-year-old Greek captain of a Saudi Arabian-flagged ship taken hostage by Somali pirates in March off the Gulf of Aden, is being detained in dire conditions by his captors and has been refused the medicine he requires for his high blood pressure and sugar levels, the captain’s wife has told Kathimerini.
“The pirates have taken his phone and only allow us to speak to him for one minute every 20 days,” Maria Skalimi said. She added that the 63-year-old, and the 13-strong crew, who are all Sri Lankans, have been living in unsanitary conditions, sleeping on the deck of the vessel even amid storms and not being allowed to wash. According to her most recent conversation with the captain, some of the crew members are near comatose due to malnutrition. Mrs Skalimi said she believed the ransom for the release of the vessel has been collected but has yet to be disbursed due to administrative obstacles.
WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT
10.09.2010:
2320 LT: Posn: 01:55.0N – 109: 05.0E: West Kalimantan: South China Sea.
About eight pirates armed with long knives boarded a vehicle carrier underway. Pirates tied up master and some crew members. They stole ships cash and crew properties before escaping. No injuries to crew.
11.09.2010:
1212 UTC: Posn: 12:54.0N – 043:10.7E, Bab el Mandeb, Red Sea.
Four skiffs with 2-3 persons in each skiff chased and approached a container ship underway at high speed. Ladders were seen in two skiffs as they approached the vessel. Master increased speed, altered course, contacted warships and informed ships in the vicinity. Master continued with the evasive manoeuvres and after five minutes of chasing the skiffs aborted and moved away.
12.09.2010:
2300 LT: Posn: 22:09.45N – 091:45.0E: Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh.
Duty anti piracy crew on board an anchored container ship reported three robbers armed with long knives to OOW. The robbers approached the crew and threatened him. OOW raised alarm and alerted the crew. Robbers escaped with ship stores. Incident reported to coast guard who boarded the vessel for investigation.
12.09.2010:
2130 LT: Posn: 03:53N – 009:32E: Douala port, Cameroon.
About 12 robbers armed with machine guns in two speed boats boarded a general cargo ship at anchor. They took hostage four crew members and damaged ship’s equipment. Local authorities contacted. Robbers left before the authorities arrived.
Security Alert Issued On Cameroun After Attack On Belgian Dredger’s
A maritime security alert has been issued for Cameroon following the kidnap of two foreign nationals from a vessel in Douala harbour last week aboard Belgian trailing suction dredger Amerigo Vespucci (4,730-dwt, built 1985).
The Filipino and Croat crewmembers were taken by armed men from the Belgian dredger. They are likely to be held on land until a ransom is paid.
A source told the Police that about seven attackers armed with rocket launchers and wearing black jackets attacked three ships in evening Sunday, September12, including the dredger.
“They kidnapped the Croat and the Filipino. The captain of the Belgian ship told police that the attackers were speaking in English,” said the source, who asked for anonymity.
“They retreated by sea. They were not able to enter the cabin of the Belgian ship. They did not take hostages in the first two ships, but did take money and mobile phones,” she said.
According to the dredger company Jan de Nul, the two crew members who were seized came from the Philippines and from Croatia. They said no ransom demand had yet been made. The attack took place on Sunday night.
The dredger is engaged in contract work on the approaches to the Cameroon port and has been maintaining and deepening the channel since June 2009.
The waters of Cameroon are gradually becoming another ‘hot spot’ of gang and pirate activity – the Gulf of Guinea accounts for 8.6% of worldwide activity so far in 2010, according to IMB statistics.
Two other vessels were also attacked by the armed assailants, and crewmembers had money and belongings stolen.
Drunken Sailor: The Story of Capt. Singh!
In the early hours of Wednesday 8th September 2010, Nord Fast, a 176 metre long tanker with a displacement of 48,983 tonnes was proceeding into Fawley oil refinery jetty with the assistance of a pilot.
The Pilot became concerned about the state of the Captain, Rajesh Kuman Singh (41) and subsequently the police attended the vessel and Captain Singh was breathalysed. He failed that test and so was arrested and taken to the police station for further tests. At the police station he recorded a reading of 78 but then failed to undertake a second test which is required by the procedures.
In summing up the Magistrates stated:-
“This is a very serious matter which was aggravated by your position of authority and your responsibility for the Vessel and crew, her size and the amount of fuel cargo that she was carrying. It is however mitigated by the fact that there was a Pilot on board and that you did try to provide a specimen, your early plea and your clean record.”
The magistrates fined Captain Singh £1600 plus £85 cost and £15 Victim support charge.
Keith Tatman, Head of Navigation Safety at the MCA said:-
“The Master has responsibility at all times for the safety of his ship, her crew and any other users of the sea with which his vessel may interact. To put any of them at risk due to the use of alcohol, at any time but particularly when within a very busy commercial and leisure harbour falls well below the standards expected of a Master Mariner”
When the vessel arrived at Fawley oil terminal, it was visited by Port State Control officers from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who detained the vessel with a number of defects.
Maersk Line Cuts Sulphur Emissions, Calls For Raise On Regulatory Bar On Sox
Maersk Line has announced that its ships will switch to using low sulphur fuel when at berth in Hong Kong, thus becoming the first voluntary fuel switch operation for Asia.
This announcement follows a successful Hong Kong-government test conducted on the container vessel ELEONORA MAERSK (170,794-gt, built 2007). “By switching from bunker to cleaner fuel at berth, we significantly reduced emissions of sulphur into the air,” said Tim Smith, Maersk Line’s North Asia Region chief executive.
Maersk Line ships make about 850 calls a year at Hong Kong and by switching from bunker fuel, which is used at sea, to low sulphur fuel will reduce Maersk Line’s emissions of unhealthy sulphur oxides (SOx) and particles by at least 80 percent.
The Hong Kong initiative will however cost Maersk Line an estimated additional US$ 1 million annually.
Smith said the wheels of government in Hong Kong turn very slowly and Maersk Line hoped that its initiative will help accelerate regulation and prompt others to follow suit. “We share the ambitions of the local government and Civic Exchange in Hong Kong and would like to contribute to a better air quality. We hope this initiative will show the way for future legislation.”
He hinted that Maersk Line would be repeating the switch to low sulphur fuels on berth in other regions. Northern Europe already employs legislation forcing shipping lines to use low sulphur fuels while within range of the European coast and it is expected that the legislation introduced by the European Union will spread to other regions as well.
Morten Engelstoft, COO of Maersk Line said that by engaging in voluntary fuel switches in Hong Kong and elsewhere, Maersk wanted to demonstrate that it is a way to quickly reduce sulphur emissions without any technical difficulties.
“We support strict sulphur regulation and we hope that our fuel switches will inspire authorities to raise the regulatory bar on SOx,” he said.
New Filipino Maritime Authourity Boss Says STCW Will Help Country’s Seafarers
Newly-appointed Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) administrator Emerson Lorenzo has said that the recently-ratified conventions in the standards of training, certifications, and watchkeeping (STCW), will make Filipino seafarers more competent and proficient mariners.
Lorenzo, in a statement, said the so-called Manila Amendments ratified by the International Maritime Organization and other stakeholders, is pretty easy for Filipino sailors to comply with considering their long experience and training at sea.
The Philippines supplies 28 percent of the 1.2 million strong crews manning the global merchant marine fleet.
He added that the MARINA is now in the process of ensuring that all maritime training centers and institutions in the country will comply with the new provisions.
“With the two-year period before the amendments take effect, we have more than sufficient time to fit these provisions into our training curriculum,” Lorenzo pointed out.
Rules agreed upon in this recently-concluded maritime meet include:
Measures to prevent fraudulent practices associated with certificates of competency and strengthen the evaluation process (monitoring of parties’ compliance with the convention);
Revised requirements on hours of work and rest and new requirements for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as updated standards relating to medical fitness standards for seafarers;
New certification requirements for able seafarers;
New requirements relating to training in modern technology such as electronic charts and information systems (ECDIS);
New requirements for marine environment awareness training and training in leadership and teamwork;
New training and certification requirements for electro-technical officers;
Updating of competence requirements for personnel serving on board all types of tankers, including new requirements for personnel serving on liquefied gas tankers;
New requirements for security training, as well as provisions to ensure that seafarers are properly trained to cope if their ship comes under attack by pirates;
Introduction of modern training methodology including distance learning and web-based learning;
New training guidance for personnel serving on board ships operating in polar waters; and
New training guidance for personnel operating dynamic positioning systems
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