27 October – 2 November 2012 (Vol.1; No. 39)

Kidnap victims released; delayed hijack news - Seven crew from Bourbon vessel released unharmed in Nigeria, whilst 8 crew suffer minor injuries when cargo vessel hijacked in Malaysian port but reporting takes time to surface. 28 crew of Naham3 said to be under threat of death if ransom is not paid. Waters off East Africa are safer says Task Group Commander as EU figures show 65 percent drop in attacks. Nigeria's government orders the Navy to fish out and bring to book crude oil thieves. Italian court reaches first-ever judgement on piracy, setting a precedent. South African couple facing their captors in Netherlands trial. Definite set of rules for the use of force for PMSC faces delay due to complexities surrounding use of lethal force. Busy round for India this week - assumes rotating presidency of the UN Security Council with aims for anti-piracy strategy; looks to energising ties with African littoral states; plan to discuss renaming the 15-year-old IOR-ARC; providing greater support to Yemen, and proposes piracy-mapping of the Indian Ocean based on actual incidents that may aid in reducing the insurance premiums. A senior US official reiterates that piracy operations expand to India's west coast. Kenya continues to strengthen its navy and South Korean announces plan to resume expansion of its blue water fleet. 8-nation exercise to advance East African maritime relationships and mutual security. Kept in the dark on unique indemnity policies for hijack and/or kidnap - K&R. Iranian naval fleet successfully carried out their anti-piracy and anti-terrorism missions, Iran's Navy commander said. Back to India; supreme court asks for immediate amendment of Merchant Shipping Act to ensure life of seafarers is made more secure and their families paid compensation in the event of loss of life. Efforts to gain the release of seven Indian crew remaining in captivity from Asphalt Venture. Somali Diaspora in Ohio, USA, are ferried to polling stations with Somali/Arabic translators ready. One Earth Foundation launches initiative to foster job creation and economic growth in Somalia and Somaliland - 'Shuraako'. Ex- EUNAVFOR Chief of Staff gives up piracy for the wilds of Fisheries and a Conservation on UK's Norfolk coastline. Incident report stating a merchant vessel was fired upon is considered not piracy-related, but what was it? See Situational Map (no answer as yet). Contents: Regional Activity; Released by Pirates; Pirates in Court; Private Security; International Response; Piracy Cost; Seafarers' Plight; And Finally...; Piracy Incidents; Situational Map

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East Africa SOMALI pirates on Tuesday threatened they will kill crew at hijacked Taiwanese fishing vessel if ransom was not paid - Somalia Witness . 28 crew members are on board the abducted the vessel “NAHAM3”. A pirate told Somalia Witness that crew members are from Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Cambodia and Philippines. The pirates demanded $ 30 mn as ransom to be paid soon or said they will slay all the crew they have as hostages. Top pirates leader said that the fishing vessel was captured about 90 miles away from Somalia coastlines on March 26, 2012. During the hijacking the vessel, the pirates fought a warship with it, the leader added. “The vessel is carrying some 500,000 ton of fish and sharks they collected from Somalia coasts” he noted during an interview with Somalia Witness.

ON 24 October 2012, 120 nautical miles southwest of Socotra, the EU Naval Force ship ESPS Castilla took custody of six suspected Somali pirates, who allegedly attempted to seize the Spanish tuna fishing vessel FV Izurdia - EUNAVFOR. Their transfer to Spain was ordered by Central Court of Prosecution no3, Madrid. The suspect pirates were transported to ESPS Castilla by the helicopters of the Dutch Ship HNLMS Rotterdam, flagship of NATO Operation Ocean Shield. HNLMS Rotterdam captured the suspected pirates the day after the unsuccessful attack on the FV Izurdia. On 31 October, arrangements for transit of the suspected pirates have concluded and they are en-route to Spanish Court.

AN innovative initiative was launched today [Nov 1] in Colorado, USA, to foster job creation and economic growth in Somalia and Somaliland - OCEANUSLive. The program, called Shuraako (Somali for ‘partnerships’), seeks to create jobs in Somalia through supporting business development and social entrepreneurship in one of the most challenging regions of the world. Shuraako was launched against a backdrop of positive momentum currently taking hold in Somalia. For the first time in over 20 years, in September 2012, the Somali people elected their President. Combined with improving stability in the region, many believe that Somalia currently faces a crucial turning point in its development and future. Somaliland, which declared itself independent from Somalia in 1991, continues to grow economically. Image - Courtesy of Shuraako

ON the day before Eid, a delegation from the United Arab Emirates and security contractor Bancroft Global completed their third meeting on the future of the land-based anti-piracy force called the Puntland Marine Police Force, comments Somalia Report. Although any visit by the UAE would normally be considered a VIP event in Puntland, attendees describe the meeting as tense. The son of President Mohamad Farole even went as far as to show his position by refusing to meet the delegation at the airport.

The Private War Against Pirates

The main topic of the meeting was cash. Under the approval of Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the UAE initially funded the program using a zakat or islamic charity fund that hid the actual monetary donations into the fund. The goal of the maritime trading nation was altruistic and simple Help Puntland develop a security force to defeat piracy and bring stability to its shores.

Despite the deep pockets of the Nahyan family, problems with the flow of money began about half way through the project and peaked five months ago. The "secret" project was once again in the media and was also featured in the latest UN SEMG report as a private army set up to fight pirates and accountable to no one. Although the PMPF did not deploy until spring of 2012, the unnamed authors of the SEMG report editorialized on the goals of the PMPF and Puntland as being negative.

THE East African coast is now safer than two years back, following international cooperation and strategies being put in place by navy forces in the region to control piracy - IPP Media. Security is expected to improve further after more interventions currently implemented by the United Nations to restore peace and security in Somalia, including the construction of judicial systems.

The observations were made by the Standing NATO Maritime Group1 Commander, Commodore Ben Bekkering in Dar es Salaam yesterday, when briefing journalists on the piracy situation in the East African Coast and planned joint military exercises in the region.

He said in a bid to stop piracy which has hindered safe maritime trade international cooperation was crucial in drawing up strategies to fight piracy and other illegal activities in the Indian Ocean.

Image - NATO Maritime Group1 Commander, Commodore Ben Bekkering

West Africa

THE federal government has ordered the Nigerian Navy to fish out and bring to book crude oil thieves who have converted the country's waterways to a safe haven for their criminal activities - AllAfrica. The order may not be unconnected to the scam in the oil sector. The newly appointed Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba who made this disclosure in Lagos while on a tour of naval formations in the west revealed that the federal government is not happy that crude oil robbers and pirates are depriving it of getting all the revenue accrued to it from its exclusive maritime domain. The federal government has ordered the Nigerian Navy to fish out and bring to book crude oil thieves who have converted the country's waterways to a safe haven for their criminal activities. The order may not be unconnected to the scam in the oil sector. The newly appointed Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba who made this disclosure in Lagos while on a tour of naval formations in the west revealed that the federal government is not happy that crude oil robbers and pirates are depriving it of getting all the revenue accrued to it from its exclusive maritime domain.

AS increasing sea banditry threatens vital maritime economic activity and national security, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), backed by its Joint Task Force (JTF) kick-off a powerful, all-out offensive to check these dangers. LOUIS ACHI reports, Leadership Nigeria

Maritime vessels hijacking, oil cargo theft and a laundry list of sheer criminality constitute the modus operandi of the sea pirates currently operating in Africa’s Gulf of Guinea off the West Coast. But it appears the days of their curious honeymoon of impunity is sharply numbered as NIMASA’s Joint Task Force has signaled that there couldn’t be two ‘governments’ operating simultaneously in a turf as sensitive as the nation’s strategic maritime sector

Within a month, NIMASA’s Joint Task Force has not only made a haul of arrests, it has unraveled the mystery surrounding the operations of the dare devil pirates and hijackers involved in the audacious hijack of oil vessels recently. Comprising a combined team of the Navy, Army personnel, officials of NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL), a privately owned firm, the recent arrests by the task force followed the attack and seizure last August 28, on MT Energy Centurion, a Greek-operated oil tanker, 17 miles off the shoreline of the Togolese Capital, Lome, where it had anchored.

FORGET Pirates of the Caribbean, the gulf of Guinea is fast becoming the new pirates’ playground - Ghana Business News. Maritime piracy in West Africa is not a new phenomenon, however recent attacks and the sophistication used illustrates a new development which is worrying for the industry.

The motivations are obvious – the Gulf of Guinea has the largest source of energy located within Africa which brings oil and shipping companies into the region. From Cameroon to Gambia new oil and gas discoveries continue to be recorded and the increased maritime activity in this region is well documented.

Pirates attack anchored tankers carrying refined oils, steal the cargo and sell on the fast growing black market. The gangs are well resourced, most of them with honed military skills acquired from the days of fighting in the Niger Delta Region. They have suddenly discovered new territories off the coast of Togo, Benin, Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana, territories which evidently are not prepared for the pirates and still at sea on how to combat the growing menace.

Image - Ghana Business news

South East Asia

A MALAYSIAN cargo vessel hijacked from the Labuan anchorage two weeks ago by a group of armed men, believed to be pirates, was recovered last Friday - New Straits Times.

The Mt Arowana United, owned by Vast Alliance Sdn Bhd, was recovered with its eight crew members near Pulau Natuna, Indonesia, minus its cargo of 650,000 litres of marine fuel, worth RM1.2 million.

The crew were also robbed of their belongings and sustained light injuries. The vessel's navigation system was badly vandalised by the hijackers in their attempt to stop it from sailing and authorities from locating it.

Vast Alliance Port Captain Ezekial K. Jr said the vessel had docked on Oct 14 at the Labuan inner anchorage, as it was supposed to bunker another vessel on Oct 19.

Ezekial said the vessel had earlier been summoned by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency for not possessing valid documents to bunker.

Image - Pirates changed the Mt Arowana United’s name to Arow

BOURBON confirms that the seven crew members, 6 Russians and 1 Estonian, abducted during the boarding of the Bourbon Liberty 249 off the coast of Nigeria, on October 15, 2012, were released today [1 Nov] - OCEANUSLive. Despite difficult conditions while in captivity, they all appear to be in good health. They are currently being looked after by the members of the BOURBON Emergency Unit in Nigeria where they are undergoing careful medical and psychological check-ups. The seven employees will be returning to their own countries within the next few days to be reunited with their families and friends. This news comes as an immense relief to all BOURBON employees who share the joy of the families. Image - Bourbon Liberty 249 via gCaptain

FOR some years piracy has once again become a global problem. Concentrated in Somali waters, pirates are a serious threat to international trade - OCEANUSLive. This is of strategic importance for the judgment on October 6 by the Attorney General in Rome, condemning four Somalis minors to seven years in prison for the crimes of piracy, carrying weapons and attempted kidnapping for the purpose extortion against the Livorno ship "Montecristo".

This is the first Italian judgment concerning piracy, which represents an important precedent as fixed and settled by the Italian court for all cases of seizures of Italian ships, although occurring in a foreign country.

BRUNO Pelizzari and Debbie Calitz were inseparable during their 20 hellish months of being held hostage by pirates - now they seldom get to see each other - Times Live.

But the two will be in The Hague today, where five Somali men are standing trial in the International Criminal Court for allegedly kidnapping them off the Tanzanian coast two years ago.

It will be the first time that the couple will have been in each other's company since Pelizzari returned to Dar-es-Salaam more than two weeks ago.

"I think we are in a long-distance relationship. It has to be this way because we have to fulfil our different goals," Calitz said. Pelizzari has returned to work as a trouble-shooter and trainer for a lift company in Dar-es- Salaam and Calitz has teamed up with a ghost-writer to tell the story of the ordeal, which began on October 26 2010 when Somali pirates boarded the Choizil, a yacht owned by Peter Eldridge.

Image by: ALON SKUY/THE TIMES

PIRATE hostage survivors Bruno Pelizzari and Debbie Calitz have called on more countries, especially in Europe, to do more to ensure seafarers can travel in safety - East Coast Radio. They have reserved praise though for the French, Italian and Dutch governments for efforts to bring pirates to book.

The Durban couple is due to fly back from the Netherlands tomorrow after giving testimony against some of the pirates who hijacked the yacht they were crewing in October 2010.

Debbie Calitz has told Newswatch they were flown to Rotterdam by the Dutch government last Friday.

On Tuesday, she and Pelizzari gave testimony in a closed hearing in a Rotterdam court in the pirates' appeal case.

A group of 20 pirates was captured by the Dutch navy shortly after the couple was taken hostage but by the time the pirates were caught, Pelizzari and Calitz had already been moved to a hostage camp in mainland Somalia.

A definitive set of seven rules for the use of force (RUF) is currently being drafted by industry stakeholders, including shipping organisations, flag states, maritime insurers and the private maritime security industry - Shiptalk.

The rules aim to provide some clarity and certainty as to when and what force can be used by armed guards when pirates attack. There have long been concerns, uncertainty and serious questions of liability over the most problematic issues of arming vessels.

The “100 Series Rules” have been drawn up, but it appears there are no delays owing to the sheer complexities surrounding the use of lethal force.

It has been consistently stressed that no maritime security action is justified in exceeding the use of minimum force – but the concept was not fully formed or codified. Most PMSCs indeed have their own set of RUF, and have rather predictably jealously guarded them.

THE number of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has fallen by more than 65 per cent over the last 12 months, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt has said - Defence Management.

Burt's announcement in Parliament was supported by the latest data from the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), which operates alongside NATO's Operation Ocean Shield and the US-led Combined Maritime Forces in patrolling the Gulf of Aden and nearby shipping lanes.

The EUNAVFOR statistics, released today, show that the number of attacks was down from 176 in 2011 to just 35 so far in 2012.

The figures also show that there are currently five ships and 143 individuals held hostage by Somali pirates, while just 75 pirates have been prosecuted.

"The government continues to provide support to the multi-national naval operations off the coast of Somalia, for example the Operational Commander and Headquarters for the EU's counter- piracy operation; and an asset to the Combined Maritime Forces throughout 2012, for counter- piracy tasking as part of the force's wider operation," Burt told Parliament.

"These measures are having an impact. Piracy attacks are down by 65 per cent over the last 12 months and whereas there were 47 hijackings in 2010, there have only been five so far this year.

INDIA, which assumed the rotating Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday, hopes to reach out to other nations in garnering support for expansion of the world body’s top decision-making arm besides seeking a comprehensive anti-piracy strategy to tackle the maritime menace - Firstpost. India will have a “very full agenda” as President of the powerful 15-nation UN Security Council this month, with every troubled spot in world, including Yemen, Libya, Syria, Sudan, the Palestinian question and terrorism expected to be discussed at the UNSC in November, India’s Permanent Representative Hardeep Singh Puri told PTI. India had last held the Council presidency in August 2011. Its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council would end this year.

THE Indian Ocean, and Gulfs of Aden and Oman have long been an ample hunting ground for the pirates who wish to ply their illegitimate trade against innocent mariners - CMF. And that scourge has not gone away. Although in the last month we have only seen 1 pirate attack and 4 disruptions the international diplomatic, military and shipping communities remain focused on the issue, and for good reason. Piracy remains a persistent and credible threat.

Piracy is not a victimless crime. The excellent news about the release of 21 Filipino hostages from the MV Free Goddess can be countered by the more recent statement that the MV Orna has reportedly been freed after being held captive for nearly two years, sadly without six of its crew members who are still incarcerated by the pirates ashore. These events should serve to remind us about the plight of those that are affected by piracy, who might be from large or small vessels.

Around two hundred crew members from six merchant vessels and seven fishing vessels* are currently still held hostage. Only in May of this year was the MV SMYRNI seized; she and her crew still remain under pirate control.

Organisations like Combined Maritime Forces use a variety of intelligence feeds from many sources to place our ships and aircraft in areas which are deemed to be a high risk to mariners. That said, even the combined navies of the international community cannot be everywhere at all times.

RUSSIA has asked France to allow the deployment of two Ilyushin Il-38 naval reconnaissance planes at a French base in Djibouti to facilitate its anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Wednesday - RIA Novosti. “We have asked France to host two reconnaissance planes at its air base in Djibouti in addition to three French planes deployed there,” Serdyukov said after a meeting of the Russian-French Security Council in Paris.

Image - Courtesy of RIA Novosti

THE Iranian naval fleets deployed in international waters have successfully carried out their anti- piracy and anti-terrorism missions, Iran's Navy commander said - FARS News Agency. Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari pointed to the constant threat of pirate attacks in the regional waters, and added, "At present, all the ships that have sailed or sail across the region are escorted by Iran's Navy and all these vessels have passed through the region in safety." Sayyari noted that anti-piracy operations are just a peripheral activity of Iran's Navy and pointed out that the Islamic Republic's naval presence leads to the collective security of regional countries. He went on to say that another mission of Iran's Navy is to counter marine terrorism and if any such form of terrorist operation has been carried out, it has been in the waters where the Iranian naval forces have not deployed.

Image - FARS News Agency

INDIA Thursday energised its ties with African littoral states of the Indian Ocean and focused on expanding developmental and maritime cooperation with Kenya, Madagascar and Seychelles. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid held back-to-back bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Kenya (Prof Samson Ongeri), Seychelles (Jean-Paul Adam) and Madagascar (Pierrot Jocelyn Rajaonarivelo).

In all these meetings, the common focus was the utilisation of lines of credit extended by India to each of these African states, and possibilities of enhancing scholarships in Indian educational institutions, said official sources.

"There were also detailed discussions on the threat that piracy poses to all the Indian Ocean Rim States and the prospects of greater cooperation including through international organisations in taking anti-piracy measures," said the sources.

INDIA'S action against Italian marines, who shot dead two Kerala fishermen approaching their ship in February, has come back to haunt its own force - Times of India. Around 250 commandoes from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will be leaving for maritime anti-piracy training with the Navy in a month from now, say home ministry sources. The personnel, however, are worried of the fate they will meet on high seas once they are deputed on merchant vessels to guard them.

YEMEN will take priority in the support program of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation IOR-ARC, Chairperson of IOR-ARC committee of senior officials Sudhir Vyas said Tuesday - Saba News. In a press conference, Vyas said that the Association's support to Yemen would be concentrated on the fight against sea piracy, due to the importance of the territorial waters of Yemen to the international shipping. Vyas - who is also an economic relations secretary at the Indian External Affairs Ministry - described the Yemeni-Indian relations as important, indicating to promising opportunities to improve the mutual economic, commercial and investment relations.

Image - via Saba News

SOMALI pirates now have expanded their operations to the West Coast of India, a senior US official has said, adding, the issue of piracy has become a regular part of America's diplomatic engagements with countries around the world - Times of India.

On any given day up to 30 vessels from as many as 22 nations are engaged in counter-piracy operations in the region.

"International naval forces have thwarted pirate attacks in progress, engaged pirate skiffs, and successfully taken back hijacked ships during opposed boardings," said the Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Andrew Shapiro, in his remarks on "Turning the Tide on Somali Piracy" last week at the Atlantic Council of the United States.

"We have worked together to create safer shipping lanes through the Gulf of Aden for commercial shipping vessels by establishing the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor.

"The transit corridor is heavily patrolled by naval forces and has helped reduce the number of attacks within the Gulf of Aden," he said, but quickly added that pirates have adapted to these efforts.

IN the scrambled alphabet of global geopolitics bristling with new power clubs such as BRICS and IBSA, the IOR-ARC, a 19-member grouping of Indian Ocean littoral states, will be brainstorming to find a new acronym that captures more pithily and imaginatively the growing importance of this strategic resource-rich region - News Track India.

Re-naming the 15-year-old IOR-ARC (Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation) is aimed at re-invigorating the grouping that has acquired a greater salience in view of the Indian Ocean emerging as a new playground for maritime rivalries.

It will be among key issues that ministers and senior officials of 19 countries will be discussing at the five-day meeting that starts in Gurgaon, a booming corporate hub bordering New Delhi, Monday.

K.V. Bhagirath, secretary-general of the IOR-ARC, headquartered in Mauritian capital Port Louis, told IANS that changing the name of the association would be among the important issues discussed at the council of ministers' meeting Nov 2.

THE 12th round of meetings for the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) began in Gurgaon in India, with delegates from the 19-member states attending, including Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah - Times of Oman.

The regional organisation's meetings will focus on a variety of topics, including academic ties, trade and investment, fisheries cooperation, tourism links, and regional security.

Talking to journalists, Arvind Gupta, the director general of India's Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) said there is a lot of potential for the member nations, such as India, to collaborate in the area of security, especially regarding maritime security and the problems related with piracy.

KENYA has of late been strengthening its navy, particularly in light of increased Somali pirate activity off its coast and its fight against Somalia-based al Shabaab militia - DefenceWeb. In August last year the Kenyan navy officially took delivery of its KNS Nyayo and KNS Umoja patrol ships, which returned from a two and a half year refurbishment by Fincantieri in Italy. The Nyayo class vessels are fast attack craft built in Britain by Vosper Thornycroft and delivered in 1988. They are 56.7 metres long, with a displacement of approximately 450 tonnes each and can reach a maximum speed of almost 40 knots and accommodate a crew of approximately 45.

In June last year the Kenyan Navy received the patrol boat La Rieuse (renamed KNS Harambee III), which was donated by France for anti-piracy and other security duties.

DAYS after taking over as foreign minister, Salman Khurshid is poised for two days of intense diplomacy with virtually back-to-back meetings with the foreign ministers of Iran, Sri Lanka, Oman, Kenya, Madagascar and the Seychelles NVO News. The meetings with the foreign ministers of African littoral states like Kenya, Madagascar and Seychelles Thursday will focus on bolstering anti-piracy cooperation and maritime security, informed sources said.

These meetings will also review the developmental cooperation in a range of projects both bilaterally as well as within the framework of the India-Africa Forum Summit process.

On Friday, Khurshid will hold bilateral talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi that will focus on issues like payments for Iranian oil imports, boosting Indian exports to address trade imbalance and closer cooperation between the two countries in Afghanistan.

During talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Gamini Peiris, Khurshid is expected to push for fast- tracking political solution to the decades-old ethnic dispute in the island nation, a source of much concern in India. Peiris is expected to update India on steps the taken by the Sri Lankan government for rehabilitating Tamils displaced by the war with the LTTE that ended over three years ago.

Issues of maritime security and expanding economic ties will be common themes that will cut across all these meetings.

SAILORS and civilian maritime professionals from eight nations officially kicked-off exercise Cutlass Express 2012-2 (CE12-2) during pre-sail conferences in Djibouti, Djibouti; Port Louis, Mauritius; and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Nov 1 - OCEANUSLive. This year’s week-long exercise, being conducted for the second time since its inception last year, is part of the larger Express Series exercises and is designed to advance East African maritime relationships and address mutual security issues. “Exercise Cutlass Express is aimed at enhancing capacity to fight piracy in our area,” said Maj. General Farrah Mohammed, Chief of Operations and Training, Defence Forces Headquarters, Tanzanian People’s Defence Force, during the opening remarks in Dar Es Salaam. “This work is commendable and is an important endeavor towards combating piracy, illicit trafficking and illegal fishing.”

Image - Courtesy of USNavy/AFRICOM

THE REPUBLIC of Korea (ROK) Navy welcomes visitors to its website with the headline, “To the Sea, To the World.” - CFR.org Over the past two decades, South Korea has been building an ocean-going, blue water navy that is capable of extended operations in waters beyond the peninsula. After the sinking of the Cheonan, the Navy scaled back plans to build a blue water navy to focus attention on more immediate defense needs around the peninsula. Last week, the ROK Navy announced a plan to resume the expansion of its blue water fleet with a new line of submarines, more Aegis-class destroyers, and twenty frigates.

One of South Korea’s successful uses of its blue water capability has been its participation in counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. In spring 2009, Seoul sent the Cheonghaeunit consisting of one DDH-II destroyer, a Lynx helicopter, and a team of 30 Navy SEALS to join Counter Task Force (CTF)-151, a group of 25 countries that patrols the waters in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. For over three years, the Cheonghae unit has been escorting ROK commercial vessels and those of other countries and when necessary, conducting operations to foil pirate attacks and rescue seized vessels. The most high profile of these efforts was freeing the South Korean ship Samho Jewelry in January 2011.

Image - South Korea Navy's Lynx helicopter leaves from the destroyer Choi Young during a military drill in the West Sea of South Korea. (Pool/Courtesy Reuters)

IN TODAY'S often dicey global marketplace, a boss probably wouldn't dream of sending you to Mexico, the Middle East or other world hot spots without kidnap and ransom insurance -- K&R, for short - Fox Business. Haven't heard of this specialty business insurance? That's by design. While these unique indemnity policies are primarily tailored to reimburse companies for million- dollar ransom payments should a worker be kidnapped, hijacked or fall victim to a terrorist attack, the employees themselves are often intentionally kept in the dark about the coverage. What can the kidnap victim expect? Depending on the plan, K&R may cover: medical, cosmetic, dental, rehabilitation and psychiatric care; loss of income; personal financial loss; child care; and, in the worst cases, funeral expenses.

WITH Somalian pirates pinching in the Indian maritime commerce, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Friday has proposed piracy-mapping of the Indian Ocean based on actual incidents that may aid in reducing the insurance premium on Indian shipping companies in the long run - Deccan Herald. “There is a need to be more precise in defining high-risk areas in Indian Ocean based on the actual incidents of piracy as this impacts adversely on insurance premiums and adds to the cost of shipping in our region,” Khurshid said at a meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation.

High insurance premium for cargo ships coming to India and neighbouring countries was a matter of economic concerns for the government since 2008 when Lloyds London – the world's largest underwriters for merchant shipping – designated Indian Ocean piracy region as “war-risk zone” increasing insurance premium for ships that transit.

EFFORTS are on to get the release of seven Indian crew members, including three from Kerala, of an Indian freighter held hostage by Somali pirates, who hijacked the Vessel in 2010 - Zee News.

Taronish M Khajotia, CEO of ONCI Shipmanagement Private Ltd, the representatives of the ship MT Asphalt Venture on Wednesday met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here and held a discussion with State Minister for Non-Resident Keralities Affairs KC Joseph to find a way for the release of the hostages.

The state government had already taken up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and was also pursuing the issue vigorously, Joseph told reporters here. Process of finding a solution to the 'ticklish' issue was progressing, he said.

Khajotia said though both the Central and state governments had shown interest in getting the release of the hostages 'As of now we do not know what is happening on the government side.

'But, there is lot of interest on the government side to see that nothing should happen to the hostages held by the pirates', he said.

TAKING note of the increasing incidents of piracy and attack on vessels, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to immediately amend the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and Rules 2005 to ensure that the life of seafarers is made more secure and their families are paid adequate compensation in the event of loss of life - The Hindu. A Bench of Justices A.K. Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar gave this direction while confirming payment of $40,000 to the family of each seafarer and $25,000 to the family of each non-seafarer who went missing on board the vessel Jupiter-6 in 2005. On August 21, 2005, Jupiter-6, with its crew of 10 Indians and three Ukrainians, left Walvis Bay in Namibia and was towing a dead ship Satsung, on its way to Alang in Gujarat. On September 5, Jupiter-6 went missing in the high seas. The kith and kin of the Indians moved the Supreme Court for an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the seafarers. (For the Ukrainians and an Indian widow (non-officer), the ship owner paid compensation.)

On court directions, James Mckintosh Company Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, on behalf of the owners of Jupiter-6, offered to pay compensation at $40,000 for the death of each of the officers and at $25,000 for the death of each of the non-officers. Accordingly, on November 15, 2010 the court directed that a sum of Rs.1,29,29,386 ($2,85,000) for the remaining nine Indian seafarers (four officers and five non-officers) be deposited with it for payment to the family members without prejudice to their claims for higher compensation.

WHEN thousands of moviegoers flock to theaters to see one of next years highly anticipated movies, among them will be Castleton graduate Mariah Phillips who will be far too familiar with the story - Castleton Spartan. Mariah and her family will be watching one of their most disastrous life events unfold on the big screen in the upcoming movie “Captain Phillips” based in the extraordinary true-life story of her father, Capt. Richard Phillips.

The movie, set to be released in early 2013, is based on Phillips’s 2010 memoir ‘A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs and Dangerous Days at Sea’ about his 2009 run-in with Somali pirates.

Image - Castleton grad Mariah Phillips and father pose with Tom Hanks. Courtesy of Mariah Phillips

FINALLY, the billy club-toting New Black Panther Party may have some backup in ensuring that Barack Obama wins a second term - American Thinker. Why? Because it looks like a few Somali pirates may have managed to sneak past Janet Napolitano and are now in Ohio to assist the Democrats in moving America "Forward."

Allegedly, volunteer poll workers in the Buckeye state reported seeing "van loads of Ohio residents born in Somalia" being ferried in to vote early. Once at the polls, in lieu of Republican translators and UN poll watchers, the Democrats themselves were providing Somali/Arabic translation. Seems the Obama campaign is getting out the vote by teaching Somali immigrants the ins and outs of the voting process.

Witnesses at the Columbus, Ohio Morse Road polling center reported Somalis arriving in buses, being handed a slate card, and being told by helpful Democrats to vote "brown," for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), all the way down the card.

THE grey skies of King’s Lynn’s Fisher Fleet are a far cry from the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, but for one former Royal Navy captain there is no place like home - Norfolk Eastern Daily Press. From the front line of counter-piracy operations around Somalia to an office on a North Lynn industrial estate may not seem an obvious career plan, but Phil Haslam is more than happy to retain his maritime links while being able to go home every night.

After more than 20 years in the navy, he is now the chief executive of the Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (EIFCA) which looks after the coast from north of Skegness to Felixstowe.

Hijacks:  SE Asia - LATE Report | Malaysian cargo vessel, Arowana United, hijacked from Labuan anchorage; Malaysia 19 Oct. Armed pirates/robbers hijacked the vessel. Crew belongings were also stolen and minor injuries were sustained. The vessel's name was changed but vessel was recovered 26 Oct with its eight crew members near Pulau Natuna, Indonesia, minus its cargo of 650,000 litres of marine fuel, worth RM1.2 million.

Unsuccessful Attacks/Robberies (All regions):

 Gulf of Guinea - Cyprus-flagged tug, Lamnalco Falcon, reported coming under attack by a fast-boat with unknown number of individuals at 2100 UTC in position 03:50N - 005:30E, approximately 50nm Southwest of Brass, Nigeria. The vessel took evasive manoeuvres and repelled the attack. The crew and vessel are safe, and transited to Onne port. Reported 24 Oct.  SE Asia - Three robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored Liberia-flagged container ship, MSC London, via the anchor chain at 0030 LT in position 03:56N – 098:47E, Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia. The robbers took hostage the duty crew and tied him up at the forecastle deck. Another duty crew reported the incident to the bridge and the D/O raised the alarm and contacted the port authorities but was unsuccessful. Three rocket flares were fired at the forecastle which led to the robbers escaping in their small fishing boat. Except for the duty crew’s mobile phone, nothing else was stolen from the ship. Reported (via IMB) 27 Oct.  SE Asia - About 3-4 robbers boarded an anchored Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier, Glovis Mermaid, at 0118 LT in position 03:53.9N – 098:46.4E, Belawan Outer Anchorage, Indonesia. The robbers took hostage the duty A/B and stole his personal belongings. The A/B managed to escape and raised the alarm. On hearing the alarm, the robbers escaped. Crew mustered and made a search and found that nothing else was stolen from the ship. Reported (via IMB) 27 Oct.  SE Asia - Three robbers boarded an anchored Panama-flagged bulk carrier, Medi Imabari, in ballast awaiting cargo operations at 2330 LT: Posn: 03:41.5S - 114:27.9E, Taboneo Anchorage, Banjarmasin, Indonesia. Duty crew on rounds noticed a robber on the forecastle deck and he informed the D/O who raised the alarm. Upon hearing the alarm and seeing the crew alertness, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped with ship stores in two waiting boats. Reported (via IMB) 27 Oct.

VESSEL and hostage numbers - IMB - Vessels: 9; Hostages: 154 (as at 27 Oct); NATO & EUNAVFOR state Vessels: 5 and Hostages: 143; UKMTO - 11 vessels (including dhows & FVs), 168 hostages.

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