But these days, Pirates talk in Swahili, or Bahasi Indonesian, or Mandarin....
From the ONI WORLDWIDE THREAT TO SHIPPING for September 15th :
MALAYSIA: General cargo vessel (PAULIJING) was stormed by Malaysian marine police on 23 Aug under suspicion of being the vessel (NATRIS), which was reportedly hijacked on 17 Nov 2003 while off Batam Island, Indonesia. The police arrested the crew of 20 Chinese nationals and detained the vessel after a 17 hour pursuit, in which the captain of the (PAULIJING) ignored the sirens and loudspeaker hails from the police, and maintained his original course at a speed of 10 kts. At 0320 local time, after the vessel was out of heavy shipping traffic, Malaysian special operations and special marine unit forces boarded and took control of the ship with no resistance. The seizure occurred after a tip from the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center, which had been tracing the vessel for five to six months, with the owner preferring to have the vessel apprehend while in Malaysian waters.
Per 30 Aug reporting, the Belize Registry, under which the (PAULIJING) is flagged, says it followed international regulations to prevent “phantom ships” when it registered the vessel. The current owner stated the vessel was bought legitimately and denies any wrongdoing. Additionally, records show that port state inspections in India and China in 2003 and 2004 failed to notice that the ship was the missing vessel (NATRIS). Maritime officials did not specifically criticize the Belize Registry; however, they expressed a general concern that a vessel, which had been reported stolen, could be legally registered and carry on trading.
[...]
There is reported active violence against shipping, a credible threat to shipping, or the potential to develop into a direct threat to the safety of shipping in the following areas:
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A. NORTH AMERICA: No current incidents to report.
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B. CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN:
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1. JAMAICA: An unidentified tanker was boarded 08 Sep at 2235 UTC while moored to a buoy in position 17:52.8N, 077:06.2W, Old Port Harbor. Four robbers, armed with knives and hooks, were detected onboard the vessel by the alert crew. Crew raised alarm and robbers escaped empty handed in an unlit speedboat. Harbor authorities were informed (IMB).
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2. JAMAICA: An unidentified bulk carrier reported attempted boarding 25 Aug at 0225 UTC while anchored in position 17:48.5N, 077:06.5W, Rocky Point anchorage. Three persons in an unlit speedboat attempted to board the vessel via anchor chain. Alert duty crew raised alarm and boarding was averted (IMB).
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C. SOUTH AMERICA: No current incidents to report.
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D. ATLANTIC OCEAN AREA: No current incidents to report.
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E. NORTHERN EUROPE-BALTIC: No current incidents to report.
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F. MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA:
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1. TURKEY: On 11 Aug, Turkish courts charged a suspected terrorist with plotting to use a speedboat packed with explosives to attack Israeli cruise ships. Reports quote the suspected terrorist, a Syrian national, as saying “I wanted to attack Israeli cruise ships in the open seas without harming Turkish civilians. I have no regrets.” On 05 Aug, Israel’s transport ministry diverted four Israeli cruise ships bound for Alanya, Turkey, after Turkish Police discovered the alleged plot while investigating a suspicious apartment fire. The apartment fire, located in Antalya, Turkey, aroused suspicions after a sharp smell of chemicals began spreading in the vicinity of the fire. Police said they found incriminating evidence, including the suspect’s passport. As a result of the recent Turkish anti-terror efforts, the Israeli Counter Terrorism Bureau downgraded its Turkey terror warning (LM, FP, REUTERS).
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G. WEST AFRICA:
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1. NIGERIA: An unidentified container ship was boarded 02 Sep at 0200 UTC while drifting in position 06:05N, 003:24E, 19 nm off Lagos. Four robbers in a wooden boat, armed with long knives, boarded the vessel. Alarm was raised, crew mustered, and robbers escaped (IMB).
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2. NIGERIA: An unidentified tanker was boarded 25 Aug at 0140 UTC while undergoing STS operations in position 06:18N, 003:22E, off Lagos. Three robbers, armed with long knives, threatened duty crew, stole ship’s stores, and escaped in a
speedboat (IMB).
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3. NIGERIA: An unidentified general cargo ship was boarded 22 Aug at 0245 UTC while anchored in location 06:20.7N, 003:20.3E, Lagos anchorage, Nigeria. Two robbers boarded the vessel and tried to assault duty a/b. He managed to raise alarm and crew mustered.
Robbers stole ship’s stores and broke seals of two containers before escaping (IMB).
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H. INDIAN OCEAN-EAST AFRICA:
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1.SOMALIA: An unidentified fishing vessel was reportedly hijacked 16 Aug while fishing off the Somali coast, south of Kismayo. The fishing vessel, reportedly owned by a Chinese company, was seized by six unidentified gunmen as it was fishing inside Somali territorial waters. Abdullahi Sheikh Fartag, spokesmen for the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) militia, which controls the main southern port of Kismayo, condemns this action.
He warned that if the vessel is not released unconditionally, his militia will attack the hijackers, and rescue the crew. A Kismayo journalist reported witnessing several gunmen unloading a cargo of fish, lobster and shark fins 60 km south of Kismayo, near
Koyame. The journalist reports the gunmen stated the cargo was from a fishing vessel their colleagues are holding along with its 10 “Indochinese” crewmembers. On 26 Aug, Taiwan reported that three deep sea fishing vessels were hijacked off the port of
Kismayo and their crews held hostage on 16 Aug. ONI Note: Given the similar date and location, the Chinese fishing vessel hijacking report and the three Taiwanese fishing vessel hijacking report are likely interrelated. Further reporting from 06 Sep indicates the hijackers have lowered their ransom demands from $500,000 per vessel down to $50,000 per vessel. Other reports out of Taiwan and the Philippines state the hijacked vessel’s names are (ZHONG I 218), (CHENG QING FENG), and (SHIN LIAN FA 36). A total of 48 hostages are reported held, three Taiwanese captains and 45 crewmembers whose nationalities include Indonesian, Chinese, and Filipino. (LM, REUTERS, IMB,
ONI, LL).
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2. SOMALIA: The general cargo ship (SEMLOW) was hijacked 26 Jun while underway in position 04:47.6N, 048:12.0E, off Hobyo.
Hijackers are demanding $500,000 to free the vessel and ten crewmen. The vessel was under charter of the UN World Food Program (WFP) and is carrying 850 MT of rice, donated by Japan and Germany, destined for Bossaso, Somalia. On 12 Jul, the UN WFP
director warned the pirates that if the vessel, crew, and cargo were not released within 48 hours, then the WFP would blacklist the area of Haradheere and Hobyo for the next 10 years. Mohamed Abdi Hassan/Afweyne, the leader of the group holding the vessel, denied they were demanding ransom but rather simply guarding the seas against
illegal fishing and dumping of toxic waste, and impounded the vessel because of improper documentation. Per 01 Aug reporting, the hijackers said they were going to release the eight Kenyan crewmembers, but were going to keep the Sri Lankan master and Tanzanian crewmember in captivity. Per 10 Aug reporting, the pirates have failed to release the vessel and crew as previously negotiated, and it is feared the talks have broken down. As part of the negotiations, the vessel was to be allowed to return to a Somali port by Aug 9th, and the rice onboard to be distributed throughout the central region, vice its intended destination to the north. Per 17 Aug reporting, the hijackers are unloading the rice themselves for local distribution/sale in the town of Haradheere.
As a result, it is reported the price of rice had dropped sharply and some businessmen in Mogadishu are sending lorries up to purchase the cheap rice. Muhammad Shaykh Ali, the self proclaimed district commissioner of Haradheere, denies any rice has been offloaded and sold. The UN/WFP believes the majority of the rice is intact and unsold per 19 Aug reporting. On 23 Aug, Muhammad Shaikh Ali announced that the crew from the (SEMLOW) will be prosecuted for illegally entering Somali waters but neglected to neither provide details of the law nor explain why the crew would be tried under it. Both Ali and Afweyne explained the vessel’s owners and the WFP are wasting their time by using intermediaries with no power to release the ship, referring to the fledgling transitional federal government. A Kenyan press report stated the hijackers placed a new ransom demand of only $100,000 US dollars on 04 Sep. Vessel was reportedly released 14 Sep and is in route to the port of Elmaan, just north of Mogadishu. As part of the negotiation, the rice will be handed over to the Somali Transitional Federal Government to be distributed to communities in central regions of Somalia. ONI NOTE: This is likely the same militia group responsible for the attempted boarding of M/V (TIMBUCK) and successful hijacking of a LPG tanker back in April (see 20 Apr ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping report paragraphs 5.H.3 and 5.H.4). After 18 days of captivity, the LPG tanker and crew were released unharmed upon receipt of ransom payment. All vessels should heed the IMB warning to stay as far away as practical from the eastern coast of Somalia, particularly in the area off Haradheere and Hobyo. (IMB, REUTERS, BBC, LM, ONI, LL).
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3. INDIA: An unidentified container ship was boarded 06 Sep at 2050 local time while berthed at Cochin. Several robbers boarded the vessel and stole ship’s stores and escaped. Local authorities were informed (IMB).
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4. BAY OF BENGAL: General cargo ship (EUGENIA P) reported attempted boarding 25 Aug, 1300 local time while underway in position 21:36N, 091:19E, 30 nm off the coast of SE Bangladesh.
Several persons in two fishing boats approached the vessel in an attempt to board. Crew raised alarm, activated fire hoses, and fired one rocket flare. Master took evasive maneuvers and after 35 minutes, boats moved away. Master reported the fishing vessels, as well as additional vessels, trailed his ship until dusk, after
which the master was able to lose the pursuers under the cover of darkness (IMB, Operator).
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5. BANGLADESH: Tug boarded 25 Aug at 0100 local time while underway near Chittagong anchorage. Seven robbers, armed with long knives and jungle bolos, stole stores and escaped. Later, the Coast Guard arrived for investigation (IMB).
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I. RED SEA:
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1. SOUTHERN RED SEA: An unidentified bulk carrier thwarted an attempted boarding 31 Aug at 0130 local time while underway in position 15:01N, 041:53E, about 150 miles NW of Bab El Mandeb TSS.
Pirates attempted to board a bulk carrier underway from starboard side. Master took evasive maneuvers; crew mustered, directed searchlights, and activated fire hoses. Pirates then tried to board from the stern, but aborted attempt at 0215 local time
(IMB).
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2. JORDAN: Three Katyusha rockets fired 19 Aug from the port of Aqaba. One rocket narrowly missed the (USS ASHLAND) and hit a dockside warehouse. One rocket hit a military hospital, and the other one hit near an airport in Eilat, Islrael. One Jordanian soldier died and one Jordanian soldier was injured in the attack.
On 22 Aug, Jordanian security forces announced the arrest of a Syrian national, residing in Amman, who is believed to be a prime suspect for masterminding the attack (BBC REUTERS).
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J. PERSIAN GULF:
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1. IRAQ: An unidentified LPG tanker was boarded, robbed 27 Aug at 0230 local time while anchored in position 29:43.7N, 048:39.1E, by buoy no. 3 and 5, Khawr Abd Allah. Three robbers, armed with machine guns and steel bars, smashed the bridge window and held second officer and master at gunpoint. They fired a shot at the master, narrowly missing his shoulder, and forced him to open the safe. Robbers took the cash, threatened the chief engineer, and escaped at 0315 local time, stealing the ship’s stores too. Master reported incident to coalition forces who asked him for details on the attack. Master advised ships not to anchor in this area during night hours (IMB).
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2. IRAQ: General cargo ship (CEY PIONEER) was boarded 21 Aug at 1945 UTC while anchored in position 29:43.6N, 048:39.3E, Um Qasr-Khawr Abd Allah Channel while awaiting berthing. Two boats slowly approached the vessel from the port side. Three watchmen and the officer on watch started flashing search light and torch lights at the approaching vessels. Meanwhile, four robbers armed with machine guns and knives, boarded unnoticed from the port side and overpowered the watchmen. Robbers gathered up a total of seven crewmembers and forced them into the master’s cabin at gunpoint.
By this time, the master had escaped down to the engine room.
Robbers assaulted the hostages and threatened them with guns and knives and ordered them to open the safe. As none of the hostages knew the combination, the robbers forced the crew to offload the safe onto their boat. The robbers escaped in a 2 m dark green speedboat at 2020 UTC (IMB).
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K. SOUTH EAST ASIA:
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1. INDONESIA: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 12 Sep at 0330 local time while anchored in position 03:17S, 116:23E, Pulau Laut anchorage. Four robbers broke open bosun store and stole ship’s stores and escaped (IMB).
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2. INDONESIA: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 11 Sep at 0415 local time while at anchor near Tg. Mangkok, Sebuku Island. Robbers, armed with long knives, held the crewman on duty and stole ship’s stores (IMB).
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3. INDONESIA: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 29 Jul at Jakarta anchorage (reported 13 Sep). Alert crew sounded alarm after detecting for robbers onboard. Robbers escaped empty handed (IMB).
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4. INDONESIA: An unidentified tug was fired upon 19 Aug at 2030 local time while underway in position 02:37.1N, 108:57.0E, off Natuna islands. Pirates in a fishing vessel, and armed with guns, approached the tug as it was towing a barge. Gunfire caused damage to navigation equipment and accommodations. Master cast off the barge, took evasive maneuvers, and proceeded to Singapore.
No injuries to crew. August 25 reporting indicates the Indonesian Navy has rendered its assistance to help recover the barge of scrap metal (IMB, LL).
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5. INDONESIA: Tug (ZARA) and barge (ZARA 3) hijacked 16 Aug at 0200 local time while underway in approximate location 01N, 104E. Pirate threw one crewmember overboard, who was later rescued by a nearby craft. He reached shore and reported the incident to naval authorities in Tg. Pinang. Per 22 Aug reporting,the barge was transporting oil platform spare parts and a joint search operation between the Malaysian Marine Police and Indonesian Navy is underway. Sources said the ship owner in Sibu has yet to receive a ransom demand (IMB, LL, REUTERS)
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6. PHILIPPINES: Ferry (DONA RAMONAON) experienced an explosion 28 Aug while in the port of Lamitan on Basilan Island. A homemade device was reportedly placed next to liquefied petroleum gas tanks. The bomb caused a fireball that injured both passengers and soldiers with cuts and burns. Thirty injuries were reported, with three being severe. Per 30 Aug reporting, local officials have blamed the Abu Sayaaf terrorist group for the attack (LL, REUTERS).
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7. VIETNAM: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 19 Aug at 2000 local time while moored to a buoy at Ho Chi Minh City port (reported 13 Sep). Two robbers, armed with knives and swords, boarded the vessel. One of the robbers tried to attack duty crewman, who then ran away and raised the alarm. Crew mustered and robbers jumped overboard, escaping with ship’s stores. Police investigated the following morning (IMB).
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8. VIETNAM: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 04 Aug while moored to a buoy at Ho Chi Minh City port (reported 13 Sep).
Robbers broke store locks and stole ship’s stores (IMB).
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9. VIETNAM: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 31 Jul at 1900 local time while moored to buoy no. 39 (reported 13 Sep).
Four robbers, armed with long knives, boarded the vessel. Duty officer and crew gave chase after detecting the trespassers.
Robbers escaped with ship’s stores in a small boat. Port control informed (IMB).
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10. VIETNAM: An unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 10 Jul at 0200 local time while moored to a buoy at Ho Chi Minh City port (reported 13 Sep). Two robbers boarded the vessel during cargo operations with barges alongside. They broke open forepeak store and stole ship’s stores. Duty officer raised the alarm and robbers escaped (IMB).
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L. NORTH ASIA:
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1. CHINA: an unidentified bulk carrier was boarded 30 Jul while at Xingang port. Robbers boarded the vessel during cargo operations and stole ship’s equipment (IMB).
Incidentally, this is a complete refutation of the Flying Spaghetti Monsterism Theory of ye Global Warming. Contrary to their chart (below), there are far more Pirates on the Seven Seas than ever before.
.As to why I'm not doing the "Arr" bit, well, I doubt Anne Bonney, Mary Reade or any of their ilk ever said "Arr" in their lives. But I will say "Ni Hao Wo-duh Ming T'zih Zoe" just as Ching Shih might have said. Arr. (Blast! just slipped out!)
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