Fyi - Resource Link:
QUOTE - SNIPPET:
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1123.html
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
Consular Information Sheet
Please click on this link to read important information you should see before you travel abroad
Germany
Americans planning travel to Germany should read Intercountry Adoption Germany , Avian Flu Fact Sheet, Germany Public Announcement and Worldwide Caution Public Announcement available on the Department of State web site at http://travel.state.gov
February 12, 2007
http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php
ICC-CCS.ORG - THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT
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THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT - REPORT SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php
Weekly Piracy Report
27 June-3 July 2007
The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast by the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 27 June to 3 July 2007.
ALERT
Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
Fifty two incidents have been reported since 28.01.2006. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Ships are advised to take extra precautions.
The 2006 Annual IMB Report on Piracy and Armed Attacks against Ships is now published. Please see the end of this page to order.
Suspicious crafts
18.04.2007: 2320 LT: Entrance Cartagena Colombia.
A container ship, while disembarking her pilot on the port side noticed, on radar, one unlit suspicious boat approaching from the stbd side at high speed. The master alerted the crew. The boat came very close to the vessel (about 10 m from the hull). On seeing the alert crew on ship’s side, the boat retreated and disappeared into the darkness. The master informed the Centre to alert other vessels calling Cartagena, Colombia.
Recently reported incidents
21.6.2007: 2302 LT: Posn 04:15N 05:35E, Pennington, Nigeria.
A tanker undergoing cargo operations at a SBM was attacked by armed pirates. The pirates boarded the standby tug at the stern of the vessel and contacted the ship via VHF demanding to be let on board or they would sink the ship. The crew mustered, cargo operations were stopped and the vessel disconnected from the SBM. The tug was cast off and the ship proceeded at full speed to sea. All attempts to contact the authorities and the Nigerian navy were futile.
25.06.2007: 1820 LT: Posn 01:51.5S 105:02.8E Dep Tanjung Ular Port, Palembang, Indonesia.
Around eleven pirates, armed with long knives and shotguns boarded a tanker underway. On sighting the pirates, crew ran inside the accommodation and closed all doors. On taking the head count master realised one oiler was being held hostage. Master contacted the shore authorities. The pirates opened fire but there were no injuries to crew. The pirates escaped in a small speedboat. Coast guard arrived to investigate. No stores missing.
23.06.2007: 2145 LT: Pulau Lima, Kota Tinggi, Malaysia.
Six robbers armed with long knives and pistols boarded a product tanker while she was alongside. One of the crew was hit on the head with the machete. Another crewmember stood up to the robbers. In the struggle, he fell overboard but managed to swim to the shore and contacted the police with assistance from the local fishermen. The robbers spent around 30 minutes ransacking and robbing the crews personal effects, before escaping. The injured crews were sent to the hospital