Maritime Casualties--November 12, 2009

Multiple Pirate Attacks off Somali Coast

• Somali Pirates Hijack Cargo Ship and Fishing Vessel

In the latest pirate attacks, a Greek cargo ship and a Yemeni fishing boat have been captured off the Somali coast, demonstrating their ability to evade the multinational naval forces patrolling the Indian Ocean.

The 23,709-tonne, Marshall Islands-flagged MV Filista was seized Tuesday, with three Greek officers and 19 Filipino sailors aboard. The ship was carrying bulk urea from Kuwait to South Africa. Pirates attacked the ship in the south Somali Basin, about 400 nautical miles northeast of Seychelles.

While seizing the cargo ship, brief fighting occurred and three pirates were injured.

In addition to hijacking a Yemeni fishing boat near Hafun on Monday, pirates made an attempt to hijack a Hong Kong ship. Pirates opened fire on a giant Hong Kong-flagged crude oil tanker 1,000 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, but failed to successfully seize the ship.

Currently, Somali pirates are holding at least 12 vessels and more than 230 crew hostage, including a British couple whose yacht was hijacked off the Seychelles.
 

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• Pirates Attack Danish Vessel

Pirates attacked Danish-flagged container carrier, MV Nele Maersk in the Indian Ocean some 1,000 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. One small skiff of pirates fired automatic weapons, but no casualties reported.

The ship managed to evade the attack by increasing speed. The vessel sustained minor damage and the crew of 17 was unharmed. When the attack took place, the Nele Mærsk was on a voyage from Durban to Salalah on the MESA-service.

This attack came only one day after the pirates attempted the long-range attack on the Hong Kong tanker.