Gulf of Aden

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Dutch Forces Free 20 Pirate Hostages, Let Pirates Go

Somali pirates forced Yemeni captives to turn fishing boat into pirate mother ship

(Newser) - Dutch commandos freed 20 hostages in a raid on a pirate "mother ship" today, Reuters reports. The captives, Yemeni fisherman, had been forced to sail their vessel after it was hijacked by pirates for use in support of attacks in the Gulf of Aden. Seven pirates were briefly...

Somalia Seeks Funds to Fight Pirates on Land

Somali PM urges West to help his government stop pirates reaching the sea

(Newser) - Somalia's transitional government says it's ready to take on the pirates that prey on shipping off its shores, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Somalis say they can tackle the pirates on land more effectively than foreign navies can manage at sea—but they are currently outgunned and will need...

Somali Pirates Seize 3 More Ships

High-profile hostage rescues fail to prevent fresh hijackings

(Newser) - Somali pirates have seized another three ships in the Gulf of Aden, the AP reports. Two Egyptian fishing boats were hijacked yesterday and a Greek-owned freighter with at least 20 crew on board was seized before dawn today by pirates evidently undeterred by the recent standoff with the US Navy....

US Military May Strike Pirates on Land

In Jefferson's time, US hit land bases

(Newser) - One way for the US to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden is to cut it off at the source, targeting Somali pirate land bases. Coupled with economic and food aid for Somalia’s citizens, this plan is the only “silver-bullet solution,” an analyst tells Bloomberg. Such...

Piracy Jacks Up Insurance, Fuel Costs

Entering high-risk areas or navigating around South Africa both add millions

(Newser) - Piracy in the Gulf of Aden is driving up shipping costs as companies are forced to choose between paying higher insurance or taking longer routes, the AP reports. Premiums have reportedly risen at least tenfold for travel near the Somali coast, and avoiding the Gulf of Aden by navigating around...

Ship Docks Safely; Navy Foils Pirates Seeking US Captain

FBI joins standoff rescue

(Newser) - The Maersk Alabama and its 19 American crewmembers safely reached a Kenyan port today, but their captain remains in the clutches of Somali pirates, the AP reports. Bandits controlling a German cargo ship and other hijacked vessels ship have been trying to locate the lifeboat holding Capt. Richard Phillips to...

Somali Pirates Strike Again, Seize Tugboat
Somali Pirates Strike Again, Seize Tugboat
UPDATED
Apr 11, 2009 10:11 AM CDT

Somali Pirates Strike Again, Seize Tugboat

(Newser) - A little international publicity won't deter Somali pirates. Hijackers seized a tugboat in the Gulf of Aden today, the AP reports. The vessel is Italian-owned—initial reports said American—and at least 10 of its 16 crew members are Italian. The tugboat had been towing two barges off Somalia's...

Pirate Hostage Dies as French Rescue 4

Operation successfully rescues four others

(Newser) - French forces rescued four hostages from a yacht held by pirates off the coast of Somalia, but one hostage was killed during today's operation, the BBC reports. Two couples and a child were on a yacht captured by pirates last week in the Gulf of Aden. The child was among...

Somali Pirates on Hijacking Spree, Capture 5 Ships

Somali pirates moving further afield to dodge naval patrols

(Newser) - Somali pirates operating in the Indian ocean are on a hijacking binge, reports the BBC, capturing 5 vessels since Saturday, including a British cargo ship this morning in the Gulf of Aden. AFP reports. The pirates are venturing further afield to avoid the increased international naval presence in the Gulf...

Pirates Target Brit Cruise Ship

US Navy comes to rescue after suspicious craft approach liner in dangerous waters

(Newser) - Frightened British cruise ship passengers were herded below decks in a chilling encounter with Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, the Sun reports. The crew sent up flares and fashioned fake guns out of wood to appear to be armed when they spotted two suspicious small craft speeding toward...

US Navy Arrests 7 Suspected Pirates

(Newser) - The US Navy today let pirates around the Horn of Africa know that there's a new sheriff in town. A Navy vessel arrested seven suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden after they attempted to board a commercial tanker, CNN reports. The arrests are the first by a US-led international...

Tanker Owner Recounts Pirate Drama
Tanker Owner Recounts Pirate Drama
Jan 31, 2009 5:08 AM CST

Tanker Owner Recounts Pirate Drama

Seizure of ship by Somali pirates started 56 days of negotiations

(Newser) - It took 56 days of tense negotiations to free the MV Biscaglia and its 28 crew members from the clutches of Somali pirates, shipping exec George Christodolou tells the Wall Street Journal. After the vessel was seized in the Gulf of Aden, Christodolou had to scramble to gain the pirates'...

Somali Pirates Hijack Another Tanker, Crew of 13

Dozen crew members include Filipinos and an Indonesian

(Newser) - Somali pirates have hijacked a tanker and its crew of 12 Filipinos and one Indonesian. The cargo the Longchamp is carrying is unknown. Though the Gulf of Aden is now patrolled by more than a dozen warships from countries including Britain, France, Germany, Iran, and the US, they were not...

Rivals Wary of China's New Sea Power

(Newser) - China's decision to flex its burgeoning naval muscles by sending two warships to patrol Somalia's pirate-infested waters has been met with equal parts thanks and worry from the international community, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The mission is China’s first outside of its own waters, and many are wondering...

Chinese Set Sail to Join Fight Against Piracy

First time warships have left home waters in centuries

(Newser) - Chinese warships are leaving home waters today for the first time in centuries, heading to the Gulf of Aden on an anti-piracy mission, CNN reports. Two destroyers and a supply ship are setting out to protect Chinese vessels in response to soaring pirate attacks off Somalia. The warships will join...

Pirate Hostages Brace for Christmas at Sea

More than 260 remain off Somalia's coast in 14 hijacked vessels

(Newser) - More than 260 hostages will spend Christmas with pirates off Somalia’s coast, CNN reports. At least 14 vessels remain in pirate custody as a tumultuous year—with nearly 100 attacks on cargo ships, oil tankers, and yachts—nears its end. The EU, China, and Iran have stationed naval vessels...

Indian Navy Seizes 23 Pirates, Arms, and Ammo

Pirates off Somali coast have grown brazen, upped attacks

(Newser) - The Indian navy has arrested 23 Somali and Yemeni pirates who tried to capture an Ethiopian merchant vessel off the Somali coast, CNN reports. Officials, whose helicopter sent the pirates scurrying for cover today, also recovered seven AK-47 automatic rifles, rockets, grenade launchers, and a GPS receiver. Pirates have attacked...

Cruise-Ship Outfit Flies Passengers Around Pirates

Liner picks them up in Oman to continue month-long journey

(Newser) - Passengers will evacuate a German cruise liner and fly over the troubled waters off Somalia’s pirate-infested coast to avoid being the next victims of a maritime attack, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Hapag-Lloyd ship, slated to reach Yemen today, will travel empty through the Gulf of Aden and...

Danish Navy Rescues Drifting Probable Pirates

Somalis had weapons on board; men handed to Yemeni coast guard

(Newser) - Danish sailors sent to the Gulf of Aden to combat piracy found themselves instead rescuing a group of hungry Somali men in a broken speedboat filled with grenades and AK-47s. The navy ship, which had been patrolling the area as part of an international anti-piracy effort, confiscated the weapons and...

Pirates Made Big Noise, Few Waves: Cruise Passengers

Passengers say they felt little in danger as ship outran attackers off Somalia

(Newser) - Sunday’s pirate attack lasted only about 5 minutes, but left an impression on passengers of the M/S Nautica. “We didn’t think they would be cheeky enough to attack a cruise ship,” one New Zealander traveling aboard the luxury liner tells the AP today. “I couldn’...

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