Piracy & Ship Attacks--March 18, 2010
Latest reports on pirates and ship seizures.
• Pirates Attempt Attack on Warship
Somali pirates attempted an attack on a Dutch vessel, but fled after they realized the vessel they were targeting was a warship with armed troops aboard.
Pirates in two skiffs were making their way toward the warship HNLMS Tromp, when troops fired warning shots at the intruders. The skiffs quickly turned around and fled but EU Naval Force personnel tracked down the skiffs and a third suspected mothership with grenades and other ammunition on board.
The two skiffs were destroyed and upon seizing all the ammunition, the pirates were set free on the mothership. EU Naval Force disrupted over 10 pirate attacks off the coast of East Africa over the last two weeks.
• Charcoal Ship Hijacked by Pirates
A boat carrying charcoal from the rebel-held south of the Horn of Africa nation to Dubai was reportedly hijacked by Somali pirates Wednesday.
The boat had taken food to Kismayu before loading up with charcoal at Kudha port. Local reports from the Kismayu port suggest the boat had been chartered by Somali traders and was seized in waters off Kismayu. Pirates hijacked the boat shortly after it was seen off by armed al Shabaab from Kudha port.
Government officials say that illegal charcoal exports to Gulf states yield high revenue for rebel groups such as the al Shabaab that control areas of Somalia.