Somali piracy

Iranian fisher released by Somali pirates

According to Iranian officials and the nonprofit Hostage Support Network, Somali pirates released an Iranian fisher after more than four years in captivity. The seafarer went to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he will receive much needed medical care before departing to Iran.

Mohammad Sharif Panahandeh, a resident of Baluchista and who is now having health issues, was arrested in 2015 from a fishing ship. According to John Steed, an HSN negotiator, he was released as the Somali pirates were unsure...

https://safety4sea.com/iranian-fisher-released-by-somali-pirates/

Establishment of contact group in Somalia against piracy is vital

BIMCO’s Head of Maritime Security, Jakob P. Larsen, highlighted that there’s no reason to ‘turn a blind eye to piracy’ in the Gulf of Guinea. He supports the establishment of a contact group to fight piracy in the Gulf and protect the shipping industry.

Specifically, Mr Larsen focused on five working groups that could tackle piracy in Somalia:

  1. Naval Cooperation;
  2. Legal Issues;
  3. Ship self-defence measures;
  4. Public diplomacy;
  5. Coordinated international efforts.

He continued that in the possibility...

https://safety4sea.com/establishment-of-contact-group-in-somalia-against-piracy-is-vital/

Report presents the human cost of piracy

One Earth Future and Stable Seas launched the 2018 State of Maritime Piracy, focusing on the human cost of maritime piracy. The report has expanded its attention from just piracy in Somalia, to the Gulf of Guinea, Southeast Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Specifically, the report aims to explain and quantify the magnitude of these crimes and the profound impact they have not only in the shipping industry, but most importantly in the victims.

The key findings of the report are:

  1. In 2018,

https://safety4sea.com/report-presents-the-human-cost-of-piracy/

How EU NAVFOR handled 2019’s first piracy attack off Somalia

On 21 April, suspected pirates seized a fishing dhow off the coast of Somalia, holding 23 people hostage. In a few hours, the European Union’s counter-piracy force EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta had responded to the attack. Two days later, the incident had ended, with Operation Atalanta detaining five suspects and releasing the 23 hostages.

The incident started as five suspected pirates captured a fishing dhow off Somalia. The suspects navigated the dhow along the coast, and visited a...

https://safety4sea.com/how-eu-navfor-handled-2019s-first-piracy-attack-off-somalia/

ECSA visits EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta

The ECSA delegation met with the EU NAVFOR’s team to discuss the current state of piracy off the coast of Somalia, also visiting the naval assets participating in Operation Atalanta. EU NAVFOR is committed to deter, prevent, and suppress piracy and also highlight that the Maritime Industry must continue to adhere to BMP measures in order to maximize the safety of the ships and crews whilst transiting the high-risk area.

In addition, EU NAVFOR has, in the past, protected vessels of the World Food...

https://safety4sea.com/ecsa-visits-eu-navfor-somalia-operation-atalanta/

Pirates attack fishing vessels off Somalia

On 21 April, fishing vessels FV Adria and FV Txori Argi were attacked by suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean, 280 NM off the coast of Somalia, EUNAVFOR reported. The piracy attacks were thwarted, and the crew and vessels remained safe, due to the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP) protection measures by the Masters, the crews and the private security teams on both fishing vessels.

EUNAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta confirmed these attacks, saying that they were likely...

https://safety4sea.com/pirates-attack-fishing-vessels-off-somalia/

Piracy Attack Off Coast Of Somalia; Crew And Vessels Safe

PIRACY ATTACK OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA

On 21 April, fishing vessels FV Adria and FV Txori Argi were attacked by suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean, 280 NM off the coast of Somalia. The piracy attacks were thwarted, and the crew and vessels remained safe, thanks to the application of Best Management Practices (BMP) protection measures by the Masters, the crews and the private security teams embarked on both fishing vessels.

Image Credit: eunavfor.eu

EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta confirms these attacks. It is likely that the...

https://www.marineinsight.com/marine/piracy-attack-off-coast-of-somalia-crew-and-vessels-safe/

EU anti-piracy mission relocates to Spain ahead Brexit

A ceremony took place today in Rota Naval Base, Cadiz, Spain, to mark the relocation of the operation Headquarters of EU NAVFOR Atalanta Operation. The relocation comes in view of Britain’s planned departure from the EU.

The relocation of the Headquarters of the Operation has no precedent in the history of the EU and it includes the transfer to Brest of the Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa, as part of the Operational Headquarters.

On this occasion, the command has also been...

https://safety4sea.com/eu-anti-piracy-mission-relocates-to-spain-ahead-brexit/

Time has come for more effort on African maritime security

With the proliferation of instruments and institutions over the last decade, the time has come to focus on deconflicting and coordinating the various portions of the maritime security architecture around Africa, said Dr. Ian Ralby, the Africa Center’s faculty lead for maritime law and security.

The remarks were made in an article by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, discussing the significance of emerging maritime security trends in Africa and key developments in adapting to evolving...

https://safety4sea.com/time-has-come-for-more-effort-on-african-maritime-security/

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