2 January 2007, Attempted attack on a vessel off South Somalia. A bulk carrier was approached by a boat pretending to be in distress. The boat pursued the vessel for some time before it finally gave up. This is the first such case off Southern Somalia in many months.| Islamic Courts looking for a ride? |
December 26 2006 0200 UTC, 10nm off Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Pirates from a 6 metre wooden fishing boat boarded a container ship underway in the forepart. They broke open 8 containers and stole cargo contents. The pirates escaped and were seen heading towards the shore.
December 26 2006 1950 LT, Inner Anchorage No.1 , Callao, Peru. Three robbers armed with guns and knives boarded a bulk carrier and tied up the watchman. Another watchman noticed the robbers and informed the bridge. Master sounded whistle and general alarm. Robbers jumped overboard and escaped with ship's stores.
December 23 2006 early hours, 8.2 nautical miles off Mullaithievu, NE Sri Lanka. A general cargo vessel at anchor, with engine problems was surrounded by six small boats with armed LTTE personnel on board. Shots were fired and the vessel was boarded by the armed group who forced the Master to weigh anchor. Communication and computer equipment from the vessel was said to have been stolen from the vessel. The 25 crew members were taken from the vessel to a rebel camp ashore and finally released to the International Committee for the Red Cross in Colombo. The condition of the vessel and the 14000 tons of rice cargo on board are not known.
December 19 2006 at 1932 LT, off Somalia. A bulk carrier underway received a distress call from a ship asking for help. The unidentified ship was at that time at five miles off the starboard bow and there were a group of men on deck. The vessel did not appear to be in distress. Master suspected piracy attempt took evasive manoeuvres and increased speed. The suspect ship followed for two miles before aborting the attack.