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| Africa Horn |
| Shots fired as pirates stalk bulker in Gulf of Aden for two hours |
| 2025-04-18 |
| [ShabelleMedia] A pirate group fired shots towards a bulker as part of a two-hour pursuit in the Gulf of Aden. The master of the unnamed Palau-flagged ship reported being followed by several gunnies in multiple small boats, maritime security companies Africa Risk Compliance (ARC) and Diaplous Group said. The incident occurred in a stretch of water between Yemen ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of... and Somalia. The captain altered course toward the Yemeni coastline and the small craft left the area. The crew was reported to be safe and the bulker carried on to its next port of call. Authorities are investigating the incident. In February, vessels were alerted to a potential renewal of the piracy threat off the coast of Somalia. Maritime intelligence company Ambrey Analytics said it has become aware of a suspected pirate action group sighted departing Marreya on the Eyl coast. Ambrey urged merchant vessels to increase vigilance, ensure adherence to best management practices and engage armed security personnel where possible. The company had earlier reported that a dhow in the region was boarded and robbed by armed individuals who stole three small boats, each equipped with a 60-horsepower engine. The Red Sea, West Africa and the Singapore Strait have all been of more concern to vessels in terms of attacks and piracy than Somalia in recent months. In January, a Chinese fishing boat hijacked by armed Somali robbers at the end of November was released to head for home. The Liao Dong Yu was "liberated", the European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... ’s Atalanta naval force (EUNAVFOR) said in a social media post, citing the Chinese embassy in Somalia. There were 18 seafarers on the Liao Dong Yu when assailants carrying AK-47s and machine guns boarded it just off the coast on 27 November, in the first recorded piracy event off Somalia in six months. Piracy incidents rise in Somalia waters [Garowe] The number of piracy incidents within Somali waters has raised concerns among members of the international community, with a report from the anti-piracy body painting a picture of a troubled coastline along the Indian Ocean. On February 7 and March 16, two fishing vessels and a dhow were hijacked within Somali waters, leading to questions about the safety and stability of the region, which serves as a gateway to the Horn of Africa. The report by the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB) shows that 26 crew members were taken hostage, further showcasing the dangers posed by the pirates in the country. “The IMB advises ships navigating these waters to exercise caution and to strictly follow the latest version of the Industry Best Management Practice,” the IMB said. According to the agency, all crew members and the vessels have been released. Vessel owners and operators have been cautioned against complacency, but the international navies continue to coordinate activities across the waters to make the waters safer in line with safety standards. “Although three Somali piracy incidents have been recorded, several hijackings of dhows and fishing vessels may have gone unreported,” the IMB said. IMB has also cautioned users on the Gulf of Guinea waters as the crew risk piracy cases, although the number of reported incidents within the region and adjoining littoral states continues to be at its lowest in nearly two decades. “All 13 kidnapped crew were reported in these waters in two separate attacks, with a total of six incidents reported in the first quarter of the year,” the IMB said. “While we welcome the reduction of incidents, the safety of crew members in the Gulf of Guinea remains at greater risk. It is essential to maintain a strong regional and international naval presence to address these incidents and ensure the protection of seafarers,” IMB Director Michael Howlett said. Piracy cases have, however, reduced significantly in comparison with the last two decades, when Somali waters were extremely dangerous. The government of Somalia is also training naval crews, who are important in the fight against piracy. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #3 Content snipped because I don’t want my private email permanently available. — tw 4/19/2025 |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2025-04-18 23:51 |
| #2 Roles have changed. Chris Covert helps run the server and its internals. I posted your message on the mods forum. |
| Posted by: badanov 2025-04-18 23:45 |
| #1 Snipped per poster request. — tw 4/19/2025 |
| Posted by: Fairbanks 2025-04-18 23:25 |