MORE ATTACKS OFF SOMALIA

MORE ATTACKS OFF SOMALIA
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
A TUG has been hijacked by Somali pirates. The latest ICC International Maritime Bureau report gives only brief detaisal but says that, on 04.08.08 at 0300 LT: off Bosasso, pirates attacked and hijacked a tug underway. It adds that the pirates took the crew hostage and sailed the tug into Somali coastal waters and that further details are awaited.
The tug joins the supramax bulk carrier Stella Maris, hijacked on 22 July and the largest vessel seized to-date. The ship and 18-strong crew are still being held and it is understood negotiations for their release are continuing.
Meanwhile the IMB has reported an incident in which it was able to inform naval forces in time to intervene to foil a violent armed attack on a merchant vessel. On 08.80.2008 seven pirates, in two speedboats, armed with guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers chased and fired on a bulk carrier underway. The master contacted the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre for assistance. The duty officer at the Piracy Reporting Centre advised the master to enforce anti piracy measures to prevent boarding of vessel and informed him that the Coalition naval force and other relevant authorities would be contacted to render assistance to the vessel. The Coalition dispatched one warship to assist the vessel. The constant manoeuvring of the bulker prevented the boarding of the pirates. On seeing the coalition warship, the pirate boats aborted their attempt and moved away. The vessel was able to resumed its and voyage and all crew were safe and no damage had been done to the ship. However unexploded grenade was then found on the bridge wing which was defused by a team from the warship.