Updated: Piracy & Ship Attacks - Nov. 16, 2010

Pirates Capture Cargo Ship & Crew

On Saturday, November 13, the MV YUAN XIANG was pirated in the Somali Basin, approximately 650 nautical miles East of Salalah, according to EU NAVFOR.

The EU’s anti-piracy force says the panama flagged cargo ship has 29 Chinese crewmembers onboard.

EU NAVFOR also reports that pirates are currently holding 21 vessels with 498 hostages.

Warship Disrupts Pirate Action Group

Also on Saturday, the EU NAVFOR warship SPS INFANTA CRISTINA responded to a suspicious whaler, initially spotted by an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft. The whaler was found to be operating with a skiff and was suspected of being a support vessel for pirating.

EU NAVFOR reports that the warship launched a special team to investigate and found four suspected pirates on board. The skiff, travelling nearby, fled. The whaler was destroyed and the four suspected pirates were returned to Somalia, as there was not enough evidence to prosecute.

Ship Attacks as Reported by International Maritime Bureau

Nov. 16, 2010: 0315 LT: Posn: 07:08.5S – 112:39.5E, Berth no.5, Gresik port Surabaya, Indonesia.

Two robbers armed with knives boarded a bulk carrier at berth while the other two robbers wait on a boat. Duty crew sighted the robbers on the forecastle stealing ships property and raised the alarm. The robbers escaped with stolen stores.

Nov. 16, 2010: 0205 LT: Posn: 01:01.7N – 106:40.0E, west of Kepulauan Tambelan, Indonesia.

Eight pirates armed with long knives boarded a bulk carrier underway. Pirates stole ships cash, crew personal properties and escaped.

Nov. 15, 2010: 0805 UTC: Posn: 14:03N – 049:08E, Gulf of Aden

A pirate skiff was observed two nautical miles abeam of a chemical tanker underway. The skiff increased speed to 22 knots and approached the chemical tanker. At a distance of around five cables the onboard armed security team fired warning shots. The skiff reciprocated by firing two shots. The onboard team returned fire the skiff aborted and moved away.
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EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

International Maritime Bureau (IMB) - Dedicated to the prevention of trade finance, maritime, transport and trade fraud and malpractice, the IMB is a focal point for the international trading and shipping industry and those associated with facilitating the movement of goods. The IMB also manages the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, which is dedicated to the suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships.