Pirate Attacks Soared in the First Quarter of 2009

Senator Wants Armed Teams on US Ships—MSC Changes Cruise Schedules

Violence against ships and crews is surging in the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia. A total of 102 attacks took place around the world in the first three months of 2009, up from 53 in the same period a year ago.

A total of 34 vessels have been boarded in the first quarter while 29 have come under fire and nine have been successfully hijacked. Of the 102 attacks, 61 took place along the east coast of Somali and the Gulf of Aden with five vessels being captured. The worse month of the year so far has been March with 18 attacks on ships and four successful hijackings, and during January and February only two attacks were reported.

Nigeria is also a hotbed of piracy, as there were at least 20 incidents mostly on offshore vessels. Peru witnessed seven successful attacks while the Malacca Straits, which was a hotbed of piracy just a few years ago, reported only one incident during the first quarter of 2009.

The MT Stolt Strength, captured on November 10, 2008 was released with its crew by Somali pirates. Norway's Stolt-Nielsen, a leading transporter of bulk liquid chemicals which chartered the ship, confirmed its release in a statement issued in London.

Manila also confirmed the Philippines-flagged vessel was free but gave no details on the circumstances of the release.

Foreign navies have also prevented dozens of attacks and captured approximately 200 suspected pirates. However, most navies simply disarm the pirates and let them go due to there not being a legal framework in which to prosecute the captured pirates.

•Senator Dianne Feinstein wants armed teams aboard US ships

The senior senator from California says she has written President Obama asking that US-flagged vessels operating off Somalia's coast be required to carry armed security teams.

In a released statement, Feinstein said she had heard enough "rhetoric" on how "a political solution to the ongoing chaos within Somalia" was needed to blunt the threat from piracy. She also said that some pirates have threatened to target US-flagged ships after US forces rescued the abducted captain of the Maersk Alabama and killed three of the captors.

The senator said that in 2008, pirates attacked over 90 commercial ships, hijacked 40, and were paid over $120 million in ransom.

•MSC Cruises Changes Course

MSC Cruises changed the itinerary for MSC MELODY to sail farther from the coast of Somalia in an attempt to avoid acts of piracy. During its three-week cruise from Durban, South Africa, to Genoa the MSC Melody will take a revised route that is about 400 miles longer than the previous itinerary, maintaining a greater distance from the coast of Somalia.

MSC Cruises said it was adhering to navigation recommendations of the International Maritime Organization and the Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa, a coordination center run by the EU Naval Force to safeguard shipping in the region. While in this region, MSC Cruises’ vessels adopt a range of additional security measures to minimize any risk.

Additionally, to allow for the more time at sea, the MSC Melody will no longer call at the Egyptian port of Safaga; however, the ship will continue to call at Aqaba, Jordan, and Sokhnan, Egypt, for the popular excursions to Petra and the pyramids of Giza. The new itinerary also offers more time in the Seychelles with an overnight stop at Port Victoria. The overall duration of the cruise is unchanged at 21 nights. For more information, visit www.msccruisesusa.com