Somali Pirates Capture First Ship in 2 Years

[Mid]

Somali Pirates Capture First Ship in 2 Years
Sun Jan 19, 2014



TEHRAN (FNA)- Pirates have seized a merchant ship in the Red Sea and have taken it south towards Somali waters in the first successful hijacking in the region since 2012, maritime officials said on Sunday.

The vessel, identified as the MV Marzooqah, sent a distress signal on Saturday evening in the Red Sea and was then turned towards the Gulf of Aden, Andrew Mwangura, secretary general of the Seafarers Union of Kenya, told Reuters.

The number of attacks by Somali pirates dropped sharply in 2013, largely because of an international naval effort. But maritime experts have said the problem will remain as long as gangs operating out of Somalia are not disbanded on land.

Relative stability in Somalia in the past two years after 20 years of chaos and war has raised hopes that it could lead to a more permanent solution to a problem that has driven up shipping insurance rates, but it has yet to solve the issue.

english.farsnews.com

[Necron99]

Bout time they let merchant seamen be armed.

[Mid]

vesseltracker.com

Marzooqah was not hijacked but arrested

The "Marzooqah" wasn’t hijacked by Somalia pirates in Red Sea, instead the vessel was boarded by Eritrean forces under unknown circumstances in the Red Sea while the vessel that was in their territorial waters.

The crew initially reported as a pirate attack.

It was not immediately clear why the forces boarded the ship and why it was not possible to contact authorities in Eritrea.

Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Sherriff, spokeswoman for the European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) said the vessel was thought by them now to in the hands of the Eritrean forces.

The reason for the vessel's arrest was not yet clear.

(1 hour ago, by Timsen )

MV Marzooqah - Type of ship: Cargo Ship - Callsign: 5VAN6 - vesseltracker.com

[Bettyboo]

I was gonna say 'send in the Ruskies', but maybe everything is ok? Hopefully, more reports over the coming hours/days will clarify the situation.

Zero tolerance on pirates...

[Latindancer]

Send a message to the Phantom

[Bettyboo]

^in a bottle? May be appropriate.

This story does show how news outlets take massive liberties and are generally very unprofessional and misleading. The photo in the OP, presumably, has absolutely no connection with the story other than the people in the boat are black, and Somalians are black...

[Rural Surin]

Bout time they let merchant seamen be armed.

"Let them"...? As in: allow them?
Who is preventing independent sea carriers from arming themselves [to the hilt if need be]???

Been through the Straits lately?

[Necron99]

Bout time they let merchant seamen be armed.

"Let them"...? As in: allow them?
Who is preventing independent sea carriers from arming themselves [to the hilt if need be]???

Been through the Straits lately?

Treaties, Conventions. Problems that occur when the ship is inspected by customs and they find a shitload of guns.
Else Captain Phillips would have just mounted up a 50 cal and blown the little pirate boat to bits.

[Rural Surin]

Zero tolerance on pirates...

This would include the land-dwelling privateers and banksters [semantics], as well....??

Much more affecting one's life than the random sea-going variety.
We have blind as to whom the real "bad guys" might be.

[Bettyboo]

^I understand it's a multifaceted question, RS. &, I don't disagree with or underestimate your point. All I'm saying is, pirates are easy to deal with, it's about as black and white as you are gonna get. If folks go out to sea with the intention of attacking, murdering, stealing, terrorizing, kidnapping and blackmailing, etc, then they can be dealt with very firmly because there are no doubts in these cases - zero tolerance; let the Ruskies do what they do best...

[leemo]

Bout time they let merchant seamen be armed.

100%, and with effective RoE, but I guess in international waters you're allowed to defend yourself, not like in 'civilised' countries.