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International-UN-NGOs
Weekly Piracy Report 26 July-1 August 2005
2005-08-03
[July 29 2005] at 1445 LT in position 12:24N - 050:30E, off Caluula, NE coast of Somalia. Five pirates armed with guns in a white speedboat fired upon a bulk carrier underway. Crew mustered, activated fire hoses and fired rocket flares. Master increased speed, took evasive manoeuvres and moved away from the coast. Attempted boarding was averted. No injuries to crew.

[July 29 2005] at 0300 LT in position 01:27.39S - 116:45.76E at SPM terminal, Lawi-Lawi, Balikpapan, Indonesia. Robbers boarded a tanker during cargo operations. They broke into three storerooms and stole safety equipment and property and escaped.

[July 28 2005] at 0415 UTC in posn 04:08.5N - 049:49.3E, off east coast Somalia. Six pirates armed with guns in a white hull speedboat fired upon a bulk carrier underway. Alert crew mustered and boarding was averted.

[July 26 2005] at 2000 LT at Georgetown port, Guyana. Five robbers armed with guns boarded a container ship departing with pilot on board. They held a crew at gunpoint and broke padlock of forward storeroom. The crewmember managed to escape and raise alarm. Robbers left empty handed.

[July 26 2005] at 1110 UTC in position 03:09N - 048:47E, 90 nm miles off east coast of Somalia. Eight pirates armed with machine guns and RPG in two speedboats approached a product tanker underway. One boat came within 30 metres and fired shots at the tanker. Crew mustered and activated fire hoses. Master increased speed, took evasive manoeuvres, increased speed and proceeded away from the coast. Boats aborted attempted boarding. Boats were white hulled with blue stripes and each boat was manned by four persons. No injuries to crew and no damage to ship.
Posted by:Pappy

#6  And we loath rucksacks. Really.
Posted by: Lloyds of London   2005-08-03 17:28  

#5  Yes, Mrs Wife, we do.
Posted by: Lloyds of London   2005-08-03 17:27  

#4  I wonder if any of those steely-eyed Lloyds of London gents read Rantburg? ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-08-03 15:40  

#3  Thanks, Steve.
Posted by: Mike   2005-08-03 11:03  

#2  range is determined by the amount of fuel they carry and the horsepower. I did some checking and found this review of a 21 foot Boston Whaler Outrage:

* Over 350 mile cruise range with 225 4stroke (150 mile tuna trip only burned 47 gallons; with near 80 gallons in reserve).

So 90nm is nothing, drug smugglers do more than that with extra tanks all the time.
Posted by: Steve   2005-08-03 10:40  

#1  90 nm miles off east coast of Somalia. Eight pirates armed with machine guns and RPG in two speedboats approached a product tanker underway . . .

What kind of range does a speedboat have? Somehow, I doubt they have a 90-100 nm radius of action. There has to be a mother ship somewhere close by.
Posted by: Mike   2005-08-03 10:13  

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