Somali Pirates Use Mystery Ship
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Somali pirates have attacked 5 more ships this week after a failed attempt to seize the luxury liner "Seabourn Spirit."
Somali pirates attacked 5 more ships this week after a failed attempt to seize a luxury liner, in a sharp rise of banditry apparently directed by a mysterious "mother ship" that was prowling the Indian Ocean.
Most vessels escaped, but one was commandeered, bringing to 9 the number of vessels being held captive, along with their crews by pirates working the lawless southern section of Somali's coastline, which is Africa's longest.
Rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles were fired at the U.S.-owned "Seabourn Spirit" by gunmen in two small speedboats. However, the ship's captain managed to change course and speed away. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said this week the situation was completely out of control and very dangerous.
After 2 years of relative calm, IMB said 32 pirate attacks had been recorded since mid-March, including raids on ships carrying supplies for the U.N. World Food Program. Approximately, 9 ships were held hostage by pirates; including vessels registered in Thailand, Taiwan, Malta, and the Ukraine. In fact, 100 crew members are currently being held for ransom.
Somalia has been ruled by rival warlords since dictator Mohammed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. Many of the warlords are believed to run gangs that smuggle drugs, weapons, and people by road, sea, and air around the region. Piracy is a very lucrative and growing offshoot of this trade.
On Wednesday, the U.N. Security Council scolded Somalia's squabbling government and urged rival factions to come together to confront the chaos and piracy plaguing the lawless nation. The council expressed "serious concern" about the recent wave of pirate attacks off the coast and called on regional powers and international bodies to urgently address the problem.
