Posted on 09/28/2009 12:50:31 AM PDT by nickcarraway
An Australian naval ship has thwarted an attack on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen, by suspected Somali pirates armed with a rocket propelled grenade launcher.
The HMAS Toowoomba answered an emergency call from merchant vessel BBC Portugal after it sighted an armed boat approaching on Sept. 20, Australia's Department of Defence said today in a faxed statement. Along with the grenade launcher, staff from the Toowoomba found six AK47 assault rifles, a G3 assault rifle and a large quantity of ammunition.
Somali pirates venturing out to sea as monsoon winds abate are being met by an increased naval presence from the U.S., Pakistan, Turkey, South Korea and Australia. Pirates have attacked vessels off the coast of Somalia about 140 times this year, with a surge in April and May, the U.S. Navy said Sept. 16.
The occupants of the Somali ship denied they planned to attack the BBC Portugal, the department said. The ship was directed to leave the shipping lanes and return to Somalia, Commander Ivan Ingham said.
Naval forces have encountered 542 suspected pirates this year, releasing 315 and turning 212 over for prosecution. Eleven presumed pirates have been killed in the encounters. Four are still being held while their status is investigated.
Pirate attacks early in the year focused on the Gulf of Aden, a choke point for the Suez Canal that's used by 33,000 ships a year. With naval forces patrolling a security corridor through the Gulf, pirates in March shifted their attacks farther out into the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Somalia.
The Toowoomba is an Anzac Class long-range frigate equipped for air defense, surface and undersea warfare and surveillance. It's capable of carrying a Sikorsky Seahawk helicopter to enhance its anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and search and rescue capabilities, according to its Web site.
Good. It’s a shame, though, that they did not just blow the vermin out of the water.
Still baffled, though, as to why these merchant ships do not travel with a well-armed security force.
A Bit Off [Thread] Topic:
For more information regarding piracy check out
http://www.icc-ccs.org
#
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=table&tableid=70&calculations=0&Itemid=82
Live Piracy Report
The IMB Live Piracy Report displays all Piracy and Armed Robbery incidents reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre in the last ten days. Click on the map for more details.
Incident Details: View
19.09.2009: 2230 LT: Posn: 03:00N – 105:14E, Off Pulau Mangkai, South China Sea.
Eight pirates armed with long knives and crowbars boarded a bulk carrier underway. They broke into 2/O cabin, tied up his hands and threatened him with a long knife at his throat. Pirates forced the 2/O to call the master. While the pirates were waiting next to the master’s door, they seized C/E and tied up his hands. The pirates rushed inside the Master’s cabin once it was opened. They threatened the Master with long knives and crowbars and demanded money. Master’s hands were tied up and they forced him to the aft station. The pirates jumped into a long wooden skiff with ship’s cash and crew personal belongings and escaped. C/E and 2/O managed to free themselves and raised the alarm. No injuries to crew.
View
22.09.2009: 1555 UTC: Posn: 22:14.6N – 091:43.0E: Chittagong anchorage: Bangladesh.
Five armed robbers boarded a bulk carrier at anchor via the stern. Duty seaman doing routine rounds sensed suspicious activities astern and went to investigate. He encountered robbers and was threatened with knives but managed to escape. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Robbers escaped by jumping into the water. Upon investigation, it was discovered robbers managed to enter into the steering flat. Ship stores stolen.
View
21.09.2009: Outside breakwater, Lagos port, Nigeria.
Nine robbers in two boats came close to the astern of a vehicle carrier underway. One of the robbers managed to get onto the stern ramp recess. The vigilant crew sighted the robbers and shouted at them. Upon seeing crew alertness the robbers aborted their attempt and moved away.
View
20.09.2009: 0815 LT: Posn: 03:59N – 006:46E, Bonny river, Nigeria.
Six pirates armed with guns boarded a refrigerated cargo ship underway/drifting. Pirates stole ships and crew cash. The pirates ransacked the crew cabins, stole personal belongings and left the vessel after around one hour. No crew injured. SSAS alarm was raised.
View
18.09.2009: 1927 UTC: Posn: 03:55.2N - 098:45.8E: Belawan outer anchorage, Indonesia.
Three robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored chemical tanker via the forecastle by using a rope and hook. The robbers threatened the forward duty AB who raised the alarm and retreated into the accommodation. Crew mustered and went forward to check. Upon seeing the crew the robbers jumped overboard and escaped with ship’s equipment. Attempt to contact authorities were futile.
View
20.09.2009: 1545 LT: Posn: 12:49.48N – 048:11.82E: Gulf of Aden.
One speed boat with seven armed pirates approached a general cargo ship underway with intend to board. Ship activated anti piracy measures, armed guards onboard exchanged fire with the pirates. The pirates aborted the attempt were seen heading towards the Yemeni coast. All ships in the vicinity and coalition warship were informed via VHF radio.
View
19.09.2009: 0600 UTC: Posn: 13:54.2N – 051:09.8E, Gulf of Aden.
About six pirates armed with guns, in a small white coloured speedboat, attempted to attack a bulk carrier underway in a convoy with two other ships. Master altered course, contacted coalition warships for assistance and crew activated anti-piracy measures. Pirates chased the ship for 20 minutes and aborted the attempt upon arrival of a coalition helicopter.
View
19.09.2009: 0550 UTC: Posn: 13:52.10N – 051:04.17E, Gulf of Aden.
Four pirates armed with machine guns, in a six meter long, white coloured skiff, approached from a pirate mother vessel and fired upon a chemical tanker underway. Master raised alarm, increased speed, took evasive manoeuvres, informed ships in vicinity and contacted warships for assistance. Crew mustered and activated anti-piracy measures. A coalition helicopter arrived and pirates aborted the attack. No injuries to crew. Bridge window damaged.
View
19.09.2009: 0605 UTC: Posn: 13:52N – 051:07E, Gulf of Aden.
About seven pirates armed with guns in a six-meter long, white coloured speedboat, fired upon a bulk carrier underway. They attempted to board the ship but were unable to do so due to the evasive manoeuvres and anti-piracy measures taken by the crew. Master contacted coalition forces for assistance. Pirates aborted the attempt upon seeing a coalition helicopter arriving at the scene. No injuries to crew.
View
18.09.2009: 1720 UTC: Posn: 03:23.7N-105:22.1E: Off Anambas Island, South China Sea.
Six pirates armed with knives and machetes boarded a chemical tanker underway from astern using ropes. They entered the accommodation, went to the bridge and took hostage duty officer, hit him on his head, tied up his hands and left the bridge unmanned while they then took him to master’s cabin. The pirates stole cash money and personal belongings of master and duty officer. They then went to chief officer’s cabin and stole personal belongings. The pirates then took the captain on deck and held him hostage until they disembarked into their boat and escaped. No injuries to crew.
View
18.09.2009: 0120 LT: Posn: 14:20.2N – 049:47.1E: Gulf of Aden.
While underway, pirates in a small boat approached a ship and came as close as five meters. Alarm raised and crew alerted. Pirates aborted the attempt to board due to crew alertness.
View
18.09.2009: 0440 LT: Posn: 21:41.80N-088:01.00E: Sagar road Kolkata, India.
Whilst anchored, robbers armed with knives boarded a container ship from the starboard side when the duty watchman was taking rounds on the port side. As the duty watchmen came to the starboard side the robbers threatened him with knives. Robbers stole ship’s stores and escaped. Local authorities informed.
View
“Piracy Alert”
Friday, 25 September 2009
ON THE INTERNET:
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/pirates/index
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/piracy/index
If these helicopters would just start sinking a few of these pirate-filled boats, this nonsense would come to a rapid halt.
So long as the numbers look like the above, we will accomplish nothing but to (slightly) delay a few acts of piracy. The correct strategy would lead to numbers like this:
Naval forces have encountered 542 suspected pirates this year, releasing four and turning 212 over for prosecution. 315 presumed pirates have been killed in the encounters. Eleven are still being held while their status is investigated.
Catch and release is great for trout, but not the optimal strategy when dealing with evil.
What is needed is some nation or nations to simply declare that any such small boats caught in international shipping lanes will be deemed hostile and sunk on sight. These are not innocent fishing boats in the shipping lanes. The pirates can only win by intimidation and have been so successful because no one has the balls to take them out and instead pays them off. Few Somalis would become pirates if they knew that their chances of coming back would be slim.
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Thanks for the link to that site.
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