Weekly Roundup: Piracy Headlines From Around The World

Updated: January 3, 2009 (Originally published December 18, 2008)

Piracy in the Golf of Aden continue to grab headlines around the world. Here is a look at some of the top headlines from this weeks.

BBC

• Chinese ships will fight pirates : China has announced it is to send naval ships to fight rampant piracy in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.
• Somali pirates launch new attacks :Four more vessels have been attacked by armed bandits off Somalia, as the UN Security Council said foreign forces could pursue the pirates on land.
• Video: Somali pirate boat ‘captured
  

CNN Videos

• China vs. pirates: Reports are emerging that China may send warships to the Horn of Africa. CNN’s John Vause reports.
• Fighting piracy: U.S. wants ability to chase pirates into Somalia. The military isn’t sure it’s a good idea. CNN’s Barbara Starr reports.
• Suspected pirates on trial: Suspected Somali pirates were supposed to have their day in court, but didn’t. CNN’s David McKenzie reports.

The New York Times

• China Confirms Naval Role in Gulf of Aden : HONG KONG — The Chinese government confirmed Thursday that it would send naval ships to the Gulf of Aden to help in the fight against piracy there. The mission, which is expected to begin in about two weeks, would be first modern deployment of Chinese warships outside the Pacific.

• U.N. Council Shows Support for U.S. Plan Against Piracy : After overcoming serious misgivings among Security Council members about taking the fight against Somali pirates ashore, the United States won a unanimous 15-to-0 endorsement on Tuesday for such aggressive measures.

• Pirates Outmaneuver Warships Off Somalia : Rear Adm. Giovanni Gumiero is going on a pirate hunt.

• The Laws on Piracy : To the Editor:I agree with Douglas R. Burgess Jr. that we should treat pirates as “a species of terrorist” (“Piracy Is Terrorism,” Op-Ed, Dec. 5)

Maritime Publications

• Chinese ship escapes pirates in Gulf of Aden: discusses the pirate attack of the heavy lift vessel Zhen Hua 4 (Lloyds List Follow-up HERE)
• Suez sum down – Asks is Somali piracy to blame for a 10% month-to-month slide in revenues at Suez Canal?
• Gulf’s Second Crew-Only Cruise: Assesses the impact piracy has placed on the cruise ship industry.

Maritime Blogoshere

• Indian Navy Ship Mysore Prevents Somali Piracy Attack: Indian Navy Ship Mysore during piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden has successfully prevented piracy attack on MV Gibe.
• UN supports more robust anti-piracy measures for Somalia: The Security Council today passed a resolution authorizing the use of land-based measures to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa. Unanimously adopted after a three and a half hour meeting in New

• US says piracy resolution allows for air strikes in Somalia: The US government said Wednesday that it believes a new UN Security Council resolution on Somalia authorizes air strikes against pirates in Somali territory.

• Shipping container surcharge caused by pirate risk: FRENCH container carrier CMA CGM is to impose a $23 per teu* surcharge on all containers it transports through the pirate-frequented Gulf of Aden from January 1.

• M/V Biscaglia and A Look At Armed vs Non-Lethal Maritime Security In Pirate Waters: In a well researched article titled Mercenary Guards Jump Ship as Somali Pirates Remain Undeterred Bloomberg exposes private security efforts to protect ships in the region. What is not well researched however, is the title incident aboard the M/V Biscaglia.

UPDATE:

You can find the latest Maritime Executive article on piracy, written by our founder John Konrad, in today’s edition of their weekly newsletter (free subscription to all gCaptain readers via THIS LINK).

• A New Solution To a Pressing Problem: During the course of events, we have seen solutions with varying degrees of success. On one end of the spectrum is Blackwater, the private security firm best known for their work in Iraq, on the other end is non-lethal security providers like APMSS, the security firm that failed to protect the M/V Biscaglia. gCaptain answers the question “Is there a third soultion?”

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