Recent Developments
The decline in exposed targets transiting through the Gulf of Aden and wider Indian Ocean continues to impact on pirate successes. After a month of failings, pirates captured an Iranian fishing vessel, and possibly a second ship. Pirates briefly detained the Savina al-Salaam, a livestock vessel, earlier this month, however the gang released the ship days later, without making any ransom demand. The incident this week marks the first successful hijack this year, however pirates are yet to capture a – significantly more valuable - commercial vessel.
Pirates looking elsewhere to bolster their illicit incomes were dealt a blow with the successful US military raid on the gang holding Jessica Buchanan and Poul Thisted, two DDG workers abducted from Galkayo in October. The move demonstrated the US willingness to take major risks to rescue its citizens, however such operations will remain a rarity. Jessica Buchanan was judged to be in a life-threatening position; her health, long complicated by kidney problems, was assessed to be deteriorating rapidly.
Concern remains over the status of American journalist, Michael Scott Moore, who was kidnapped by pirates on Saturday while en route to Galkayo Airport. He was taken by a pirate gang headed by Ali Duulaaye, from the Sa’ad clan (a subclan of Hawiye), and is currently being held in Hilanbi, 30 km from Ceel-Huur where he was originally held.
Successful Hijackings
On January 24, pirates successfully commandeered the al-Khalil, an Iranian fishing boat, off the coast of Calula Village, in the Bari region of Puntland. The vessel was engaged in legal fishing activity, and had a security team onboard, however the guards were asleep when the pirates attacked. They were subsequently released in Calula, however the vessel and the remaining crew are still in the hands of the pirates. The vessel is now off the coast of Garacad, where it is already being used as a mothership.
According to various Somalia Report sources, an Italian owned and Panamanian-flagged ship was hijacked on January 20, and was anchored off Hafun days later. It has been reported that the crew is comprised of Italian and Indian nationals. Somalia Report contacted Abdi-Kuran, governor of Karkar region, who stated that the ship arrived in Hafun late on Saturday night. The incident is yet to be confirmed by NATO, EUNAVFOR or the Italian embassy in Nairobi, however.
Pirate Tactics
The week has seen a number of unsuccessful attacks on the part of pirate gangs, an indication that regardless of the increased use in armed security teams, pirates remain willing to try their luck. Approximately 35-42% percent of vessels transiting the high-risk pirate area are currently carrying armed guards. The estimate is based on the rough number of armed transits (1,500/month or 18,000 per year) versus the total number of transits (43,000). This leaves a number of exposed vessels in the vicinity of pirate action groups. As reported last week, numerous pirates from Harardhere have left the coast in a renewed surge in effort to gain control of a commercial vessel.
On January 24, a fleet of seven pirate skiffs were sighted in the Red Sea, offering confirmation of the new tactic. Shortly after the skiffs were spotted, two of them, holding five pirates in each, approached a bulk carrier. The pirates aborted their attack upon sighting two armed security guards
Financially Desperate Gangs Grow Increasingly Violent
On 20 January, Somalia Report received disturbing reports that pirates had amputated the hand of Chao-I Wu, the captain of the FV Shiuh Fu No. 1, following the continued failings of the owners of the ship to pay a ransom.
Pirates hijacked the FV Shiuh Fu No.1 on December 25, 2010, some 138 miles off the northeastern tip of Madagascar. Her multinational crew is comprised of fourteen Chinese, fourteen Vietnamese, and the Taiwanese captain. Pirates have used the FV Shiuh Fu No. 1 as a mothership in the past, however the vessel is now anchored off the coast as a result of mechanical problems.
As successful hijacks become fewer and farther between, Somali pirates are going to ever more desperate measures to encourage owners to deliver their long-awaited ransoms.
Pirates Find New Base in Hafun
)
A clampdown on pirate activity in Haradhere, El-dhanane and Garacad has resulted in a number of pirates shifting their base of operations to Hafun. Pirate sources have told Somalia Report that more than a hundred pirates have arrived in Hafun over the last five months, a claim supported by Abdi Kuran, the governor of Karkar region, who said he had heard a hijacked ship had arrived in Hafun.
The majority of the pirates hail from the Majeerteen clan (a sub-clan of Darood), and sources have identified Isse Yulux’s group as one of the gangs operating out of the town.
The chairman of Hafun district, Mohamoud Yusuf Garow has denied claims that the region is a new pirate hub, and stated that despite reports, there were no pirates in the district.
Despite being home to a massively anti-pirate population (a large number of the inhabitants are fishermen) pirates have long viewed the area as an attractive base. The low-lying peninsula, connected to the mainland by a 20km sand spit, offers an easy defence against any land based military assaults.
Kidnappings Continue On Land
Pirate gangs who have shifted their attention to foreigners onshore were dealt a harsh blow by the US military raid and rescue of Jessica Buchanan and her colleague Poul Thisted. The operation was the first of its kind in Somalia; the US has launched military raids on vessels captured by pirates out at sea, however the assault just north of Cadado is an indication of US willingness to intervene onshore when an American national is judged to be in a life-threatening situation.
In an attempt to bolster the decline in income that has accompanied the drop in successful hijackings, pirate gangs have broadened their scope of activity to include the kidnapping of foreigners in Somalia, most recently evidenced by the kidnap of American writer, Michael Scott Moore. A pirate gang headed by Ali-Duulaaye took Moore from his car when en route to Galkayo airport on January 20. The road has proved particularly dangerous; it was there that the two DDG workers were kidnapped back in October last year.
He was originally taken to Ceel-Huur, but has now been moved to Hilanbi, near Camara Village in the Himan and Heeb Administration. Galmudug authorities have accelerated their efforts to release Michael Scott Moore, and have made appeals in Somali media for pirates to release him.
That the US raid was as smooth and successful as it was is an endorsement to the capabilities of the US military, however some concern remains over the ramifications of the rescue operation on Michael Scott Moore. The pirate gang holding him are part of the Hawiye clan, the same clan as those pirates who were killed in the rescue operation, which could fuel some desire to launch a revenge attack for the loss of eight of their clansmen. Further to this, the pirates holding Moore are fearful of a similar style raid on their base, an event that would impede the delivery of any sort of ransom, and so remove the prospective financial gain for the attack.
Updates
MSF Workers Moved Back On Land
Somali pirates holding the two Spanish MSF workers on the MV Albedo moved them back on land on Tuesday, following a conflict between the pirate commander holding the vessel, Guushaaye and his investors. They were concerned that the US would launch a similar raid to free the hostages held on the ship.
Mohamed Abdi Hassan, or Afweyne, and 15 armed pirates moved the hostages back on land, according to one pirate source. The hostages were taken to Dabagalo, a rural area 60 km from Harardhere.
Pirates Holding Four South Koreans Accidentally Shoot Two Gang Members
Somali pirates holding the four South Korean crewmembers of the MT Gemini accidentally shot and killed two of their friends last night. The man was returning to the town preparing to join his friends when they mistook him for an enemy, opened fire and killed him.
The group of pirates are from the Sa’ad clan ( a sub-clan of Hawiye ), and they have promised to support his family financially.
Weekly Statistics
)
Hijacks: 2 (1 Confirmed, 1 Unconfirmed)
See above
Unsuccessful Attacks: 4
1. At 10.45 on 20 January, twelve pirates in a grey skiff approached a tanker underway in position 24:53.4N - 057:27.4E, around 95nm NW of Muscat. When the crew spotted ladders on the skiff, they raised the alarm and the non-essential crew mustered in the citadel as the Master made evasive manoeuvres. As the skiff manoeuvred towards the vessel the onboard security team fired warning shots resulting in the pirates aborting the attempted attack
2. On 22 January two ocean-going vessels suspiciously approached the Netherlands owned and flagged general cargo ship MV HAPPY RANGER while she was underway in position 1218 north-04359 east. Security team aboard the dwt 12950 general cargo ship fired warning shots forcing the two suspicious ocean-going vessels to change course and sail away.
3. On 23 January armed pirates on two skiffs attempted to attack a Greek owned Bahamas flagged chemical/ oil product tanker MT PAPILLON while she was underway in position 0641 south-03920 east within Tanzanian territorial waters at around 1130hrs. Security team aboard the dwt 47302 chemical/oil product tanker fired flares on air to scare the pirates.
4. On 24 January, the security team onboard a bulk carrier in position 13:12.4N - 043:01.85E (Red Sea) reported two skiffs were approaching the vessel. There were a total of seven skiffs in the vicinity. The 1st. skiff had six pirates armed with AK47. No weapons were seen in the second skiff which was carrying four pirates. The vessel enforced anti piracy measures, made evasive manoeuvres and two armed guards were placed on the stbd & port bridge wings. Upon sighting the armed guards the skiffs aborted the attack and moved away.
Released For Ransom: 0
Naval Interventions: 1
On January 20, EUNAVFOR warship FGS Luebeck, successfully rescued an Indian dhow being used as a mothership, and the 15 crew onboard. On January 17, the warship had identified the dhow as the pirate mothership that had targeted the MV Flintstone earlier that day (see last week’s piracy report), and requested over radio that the pirates comply with its directions. Failure to do so led the FGS Luebeck to fire shots onto the bow, and deploy its helicopter to neutralise the skiffs secured on the mothership. Pirates gave up their fight and the 15 mariners onboard were freed.
Number of Hostages Held by Pirates
On Vessel: 222
On Land: 26
Total: 248
)
)
Ransoms to Date 2012: $11 million
)
Somalia Report will soon be offering these piracy reports as part of a subscription service. Please contact va@somaliareport.com for details.