Greek tanker latest ship released in Somali pirate drama

Somali pirates have released a Greek tanker, the Maran Centaurus, one of the largest ever taken, after the ship-owners paid out millions of dollars in ransom.

It is believed that a plane dropped up to $5 million dollars in a bag onto the deck of the vessel, which would make this payment one of the largest ransoms ever.

The hijack and subsequent release of merchant vessels following the payment of ransoms has become a common occurence in the Indian Ocean waters off Somalia.

While world powers continue to patrol the waters off the troubled nation, the pirates have begun to move further out to sea.

A 'mother ship' of sorts is used to carry smaller powerboats as far as 1,800 kms from shore so that attacks may be launched on vulnerable vessels.

This may have been the case when British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler were hijacked aboard their 38ft yacht enroute to Tanzania from the Seychelles.

In an emotional telephone call with ITN, Rachel said she was prepared to die, but wanted to see her husband one last time before they killed her. The couple were seperated shortly after they were captured in October last year.

Following repeated refusals by the British government to pay the ransom demanded, the pirates have threatened to kill the couple within the next three days.

A rescue operation, similar to that undertaken by the US to free Captain Richard Phillips, was ordered by Whitehall. But it has now come to light that the Special Forces operation was bungled and delayed, according to what a Whitehall official told the BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner.

It is necessarily unclear whether another rescue attempt will be made, and in the meantime two lives hang in the balance.

Source:haitinews.net/s

Somalia: Pirate Ship 'Was Registered in Kenya'

Nairobi — A witness told the court that he saw a document showing a suspected pirate ship was a Kenyan registered vessel.

Lieutenant David Ratner testifying against 17 Somalis charged with piracy also told the court that another document he saw indicated that MV Ishaka was a Puntland registered vessel.

Upon cross examination by defence counsel Mr Donald Muyundo, the witness who is a member of the US Coast Guard told the court that it could be true the vessel was registered in the country then in Puntland.

The witness who was giving evidence before senior resident magistrate Mr Michael Kizito said the ship was registered as a fishing vessel.

He told the court that each suspect apprehended had a separate bag with a tag in which their clothing was kept.

"I could not see any specific reason to seal weapons in the evidence bag," said Mr Ratner adding that Yemen navy took custody of MV Ishaka.

He said he was not party to the decision why the vessel was not brought into the country.

The court heard that the grenade allegedly found on the suspected pirate vessel was poorly maintained and could have exploded hence it was documented and discarded.

Another witness Mr James Powers, a helicopter pilot from the US navy told the court that on May 13 at around 9am he was on a flying surveillance mission and had contact on a vessel along the International Transit Recommended Corridor.

Mr Powers said he saw people on the deck of the vessel which he described as red in colour who appeared to be "hanging out" and that he could not recall if the vessel was in motion.

"I kept surveillance for three hours before retuning to USS Gettysburg, a US naval ship, and downloaded pictures which he took while over the vessel.

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The witness told the court that later in the day while on another flying mission he received a distress call from MV Amira saying that they were under attack from pirates who were firing rocket propelled grenades (RPG) at them.

The helicopter pilot who said he had no knowledge if fishing vessels carry firearms told the court he did not witness the attack on MV Amira.

He described the crew on the suspected pirate boat as unfamiliar since they did not acknowledge their presence.

"From the past experience fishermen acknowledge navy vessels and aircrafts by waving their hands," said Mr Powers.

The 17 Somali's allegedly committed piracy against MV Amira on May 13, last year, in the high seas.

Source:allafrica.com/

Profiting from Piracy: Somalia’s New Stock Exchange

The lawless town of Haradheere, Somalia, used to be a small fishing village, but now it’s in the pirate business—and business is booming.

Despite heightened attempts to keep the pirates at bay, they still have been able to successfully plunder the shipping lanes around the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean.

So how have the pirates been able skirt the law? They’ve actually had some help from “investors.”

Pirates of lore were notorious for burying their treasure. But in the 21st century, they’ve adopted a new business model.

Reuters reports that the pirates have established a “stock exchange” with Somali civilians which allows the landlubbers to get a cut of the booty if they invest money or weapons to help the pirates pull off their hijackings.

A former pirate took Reuters around the bustling pirate haven and explained how the locals have come to depend on piracy, which is the town’s most stable and profitable economic output.

Learn how the pirates operate on the high seas with Pirates of the Indian Ocean: A Military Analysis from NBC Correspondent Colonel Jack Jacobs

The Western-backed government of Somalia has no presence in Haradheere. The pirates’ extravagant luxury automobiles contrast garishly with the town’s dusty and pothole filled streets. With few other opportunities available, it’s easy to see why civilians would want to get in on the action.

Reuters spoke with a 22-year-old woman who has parlayed her assets into $75,000 in just 38 days since joining their enterprise. She’s now anxiously awaiting the returns of her most recent investment—a rocket-propelled grenade.

In addition to paying back investors, pirates have curried favor with the locals by setting aside a percentage of their ransom funds for projects that benefit the community, like hospitals and public schools.

But these pirates are far from lovable rascals or modern day Robin Hoods—they’re brutal terrorists. The growing acceptance of their seductive pirate lifestyle has forced the U.S. and other countries to up the ante and use naval warships and aerial drones to protect their vessels.

With higher stakes and investors to protect, the pirates have had to become more ruthless and demand higher ransoms. Without an effective Somali Navy, Coast Guard or government to stand up to them, that’s the way it will likely continue.

Source:petergreenberg.com/