Piracy & Ship Attacks April 27, 2010

Pirates attack four ships off Somalia

On Sunday, April 25 a Japanese VLCC, a Malaysian chemical tanker, a Yemeni chemical tanker, and an Indian bulk carrier were attacked, but all managed to escape. The first attack occurred off Suqutra Island in the Arabian Sea. Four pirates armed with machine guns and RPGs, in a skiff chased and fired at the Japanese tanker. Pirates fired an RPG at the accommodation area and attempted to board the tanker using a steel ladder.

The pirates gave up after several attempts to hijack the tanker after the vessel increased speed and took evasive measures. An hour later in the same location, six pirates attacked a Malaysian chemical tanker, the ship took evasive measures and the pirates failed to board the ship. Somali pirates also attacked a Yemeni chemical tanker and an Indian bulk carrier in the southern Red Sea, near the Gulf of Aden.

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Spain captures eight suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia

The Spanish defense ministry announced Sunday that the frigate Victoria intercepted a whaling ship and some smaller boats. A search of the captured vessels revealed weapons and other items that could be used to attack ships. The Spanish frigate destroyed the whaling ship, which was thought to be operating as a mother ship for the pirates, and took the eight suspects on a smaller vessel towards Somalia.