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Following this weekends hijacking of the Saudi VLCC loaded with crude, gCaptain has been flooded with numerous emails and phone calls from different news organizations trying to lock down information on the surge of world wide pirate attacks.

Want the lowdown? Well here it is. The following is a review of last weeks international Pirate attacks posted by the ICC Commercial Crime Service

Weekly Piracy Report

11 – 17 November 2008

Suspicious crafts

None reported

Recently reported incidents

• 16.11.2008: 0430 UTC: Posn: 04:08N – 006:50E, Bonny outer road anchorage, Nigeria.

Six robbers armed with automatic weapons opened fire at a refrigerated cargo ship at anchor. Robbers in a speedboat circled 4 times around the ship and left. No injury to crew.

• 13.11.2008: 1000 UTC: Mamonal ‘A’ anchorage, Cartagena, Colombia.

Robbers armed with gun and knives boarded a cement carrier at anchor. They tied up one crewmember and stole ship’s stores. Coast guard boarded vessel for investigation.

• 31.10.2008: 0000 LT: Bakasi Peninsula, Kole oil terminal, Cameroon.

Heavily armed pirates boarded an off shore supply vessel and kidnapped some crewmembers. Further report awaited.

• 15.11.2008: 0915 UTC: Posn: 12:50.69N – 046:42.86E, Gulf of Aden.

Armed pirates attacked and hijacked a chemical tanker underway. Further details are awaited.

• 15.11.2008: 0723 UTC: Posn: 04:41S – 048:43E, 450 nm south east Mogadishu.

Armed pirates attacked and hijacked a tanker underway. Further details are awaited.

• 14.11.2008: 2134 UTC: Posn: 04:25.6S – 048:58.5E, off southern Somalia.

Pirates heavily armed with automatic weapons and RPG in two speedboats chased and fired upon a container ship underway. Master increased speed, took evasive manoeuvres and crew activated fire hoses. Pirates aborted the attempted attack at 2256 UTC. Ship sustained damages due to gunshots and RPG fire. No injuries to crew.

• 14.11.2008: 0635 UTC: Posn: 13:21.3N – 047:18.86E, Gulf of Aden.

Pirates armed with automatic weapons in three small speedboats approached a chemical tanker underway. Master contacted coalition warship and took evasive manoeuvres. The speedboats spread out and approached the vessel at high speed. The pirates failed in their attempt to board the vessel.

• 13.11.2008: 0630 LT: Posn: 13:28.0N – 049:21.5E, Gulf of Aden.

Six pirates in a fast speedboat approached a bulk carrier underway. Master raised alarm, took evasive manoeuvres and crew activated fire hoses. The pirates ordered the ship to stop but master continued with the evasive manoeuvres. The pirates fired upon the ship with two rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons. Master called coalition warship and asked for immediate assistance. A coalition warship responded and came to the location in 15 minutes and chased away the pirate boat. No injuries to the crew or damages to the ship.

• 13.11.2008: 1245 UTC: Posn: 04:51.4S – 044:54.1E, Somalia.

Pirates armed with automatic weapons and RPG chased and fired upon a container ship underway. Because of the firing, fire broke out in the third officers’ cabin. The vessel increased speed and made evasive manoeuvres. The pirate boat came alongside on port side. Pirates tried to embark on board but were unsuccessful. Later they aborted. Vessel continued to her destination port.

• 12.11.2008: 1210 UTC: Posn: 12:33.6n – 045:10.6e, Gulf of Aden.

Armed pirates in two speedboats chased a tanker underway. Tanker took evasive manoeuvres and escaped from the pirates.

• 12.11.2008: 1405 UTC: Posn: 13:07N – 046:48E, Gulf of Aden.

Armed pirates attacked and hijacked a chemical tanker underway. Further details are awaited.

• 11.11.2008: 0415 UTC: Posn: 12:45N – 045:04E: Gulf of Aden.

Two speedboats with 3-4 armed pirates in each boat chased a bulk carrier underway. Evasive manoeuvres made and warship contacted. A naval helicopter arrived at the location and interrupted the speedboats. Speedboats aborted the attack. Later, a warship was sighted and established contact.

• 10.11.2008: 0030 LT: Posn: 01:11.09N – 103:52.10E, Singapore Straits.

Five pirates armed with long knives boarded a tug towing a barge underway. Pirates stole personal belongings and escaped. No injury to crew. Master informed port authority.

• 10.11.2008: 1005 UTC: Posn: 01:12.5N – 050:41.1; 250 nm east of Mogadishu, Somalia.

Two speedboats approached a refrigerated cargo ship underway. One boat approached from the stbd quarter and the other from astern. The pirates armed with guns and RPG’s started to open fire on the ship. Ship made evasive manoeuvres. The speedboats could not get closer due to the waves created by the evasive manoeuvres. Later the speedboats aborted the attempt. Ship sustained damages from gunfire. Crew safe.

• 10.11.2008: 1400 UTC: Posn: 13:27.6N – 048:26.8E: Gulf of Aden.

Pirates armed with RPG and guns boarded a chemical tanker underway and hijacked it. They are holding 23 crewmembers as hostage onboard and sailing the tanker to an undisclosed location in Somalia. Further details awaited

Related Articles:

1. Google Earth – Pirate Attacks World Wide
2. Incident Photo of The Week – Pirate ‘Mother Ship’ Mistaken Identity