The Best Defense is...

(Photo: U.S. Navy/Bryan Reckard Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class)

self defense apparently. Despite the large numbers of military vessels in so many pirate hot spots the best defense continues to be self defense.

This will come as no surprise to experienced mariners the world over who appreciate that their decisions make all the difference in an emergency situation, whether their defense of their vessel is ultimately successful or buys enough time for military intervention.

Just as the solution to piracy does not lay with military action rarely does it provide a solution to the attacks that take place.

These solutions are both found ashore, whether with the high standards of training of mariners, no matter their nationality, or the stability which will remove the motivation sending so many young men to sea to rob and kidnap.

That is not to belittle the part the military play, alone the numbers that were released by the CTF 151 show what a positive impact they are having is making the seas safer and ensuring safe passage is still possible. A difficult feat when you consider the vast areas of operation.

Swedish Navy Releases Video of Pirates Pursuit

(Video: Forsvarsmakten)

The pursuit and capture of a pirate skiff were captured in high definition by the Swedish Navy (Forsvarsmakten), who have release this unique insight into the daily fight against piracy experienced by members of the Operation Atalanta Task Force.

More Pirates Captured

(Photo: Jimmie Adamsson/Forsvarsmakten)


(Photo: Mats Nystrom/Combat Camera/Forsvarsmakten)


(Photo: Mats Nystrom/Combat Camera/Forsvarsmakten)


(Photo: Mats Nystrom/Combat Camera/Forsvarsmakten)

EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta task force member HMS Malmo, a Swedish Warship (far left of top image), today engaged pirates after a distress call was received from a Greek flagged Bulk Carrier transiting the Gulf of Aden.

A skiff containing 7 pirates fired both small arms and rocket propelled grenades at the Bulk Carrier before the warship intervened firing warning shots and flares. After a short pursuit the skiff surrendered to the Swedish boarding team and are currently being held on board the HMS Malmo.

A search of the skiff revealed an assortment of weapons and equipment, all carefully prepared to ensure the success of the pirates once a target was acquired.

This is the second party of pirates captured in under a week, with 9 pirates detained by the Italian frigate ITS Maestrale on Friday after another attack upon a greek vessel.

Lessons Learned in the USA

(Photo: US T&I)

The subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation at the House of Representative met to discuss the security situation and the effect of piracy against US flagged Vessels.

Their paper on recent lessons learned as well as a video of the hearing is available here.

This paper highlights just how large an explosion in piracy has been experience in the first half of 2009.

EU Proves Commitment to Pirate Fight

The European Union demonstrated it's commitment to the fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean with the recent extension of the operational area of the anti-piracy task force based there.

The 'Area of Operations' now includes the Seychelles Islands, an area which has seen an increase in pirate activities recently.

IMO Recognises Deteriorating Somali Situation

(European Press Association)

The deputy director of Maritime Security and Facilitation at the International Maritime Organization, Nicolaos Charalambous, recognised the severity of the Somali/Gulf of Aden in a speech given at the Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Piracy and Crimes At Sea yesterday.

"The situation is a symptom of a wider problem of lack of (a functioning and effective central) government and the rule of law, both ashore in Somalia and the sea (of Somalia".

Iranian Warships Join Fight

Iran takes the threat to the tankers servicing it's crude export market very seriously.

It is to demonstrate this commitment with the deployment of 2 warships to the Gulf of Aden.

And as the world's 5th largest crude exporter it has every reason to get involved in this ever worsening situation.

It should be arriving in the Gulf over this weekend.

South Korean Intervention - Update

(Photo: U.S. Navy/Eric L. Beauregard Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class)

The US naval cruiser 'USS Gettysburg' working with the South Korean destroyer as part of Combined Task Force 151 also intervened and captured all 17 suspected pirates.

A cache of arms were found aboard their vessel and the suspects are now aboard the cruiser for interrogation.

South Korean Intervention

On Wednesday a South Korean destroyer intervened in a suspected pirates approach to an Egyptian vessel.

The deployment of snipers aboard a military helicopter was enough to stop the attempted hijacking.

The military team were sent from the destroyer 'Munmu the Great" which was operating under the joint task force nearby.

(Reuters)

2nd Death at the Hands of Pirates This Year

The recent release of the tanker Sea Princess II has brought with it news of the 2nd killing of a mariner in 2009.

The Directorate of Shipping of India released a press statement detailing the incident which left 1 seaman dead and another injured.

This is the 2nd killing this year of a captive, on the 23rd of March a yachtsman was murdered during a robbery off the coast of Thailand.

Pirate Attacks Continue to Increase

A statement issued by Captain Pottengal Mukundan, director of the International Maritime Bureau yesterday highlights the desperate times currently being experienced by mariners transiting security hotspots.

The worst increases in crime in the 1st quarter of 2009 once again come from the Somali/Gulf of Aden area.

The Somali/Gulf of Aden issue in numbers:

62% of global pirate attacks take place in the Somali/Gulf of Aden area
21% of vessels appraoced in this area are then fired upon
12% of attacks end in a successful hijacking
478 is the number of seafarers currently held hostage hostage

All of this highlights the desperate problems that are very real to the mariners operating in this area.

Piracy Premiums Boost Hiscox Growth

Hiscox Ltd (LSE:HSX) boasts a very healthy growth of 51% (GBP) in the 1st quater of 2009.

This is in part due to the continued success of it's Guernsey based 'Kidnap and Ransom' team which saw it's premiums increase by 26% (Q1) to $28.5 million.

The Hiscox Group Chairman stated "Our Kidnap and Ransom team continues to lead the market in response to piracy in the Gulf of Aden, giving shipowners and charterers the ability to trade despite the risk involved. We have had considerable interest in our products and our underwriting expertise and swift service has set us apart."

Informants Help Pirates

The Guardian reported today that evidence has come to light suggesting the Somali pirates are receiving assistance from London based consultants.