The Turkish ambassador to the UN has sent a letter suggesting that the UN oversee trials of accused Somali pirates. To date, the issue of arguments and questions over venue has been the most significant factor in preventing the trial of many accused Somali pirates. In many cases, some naval authorities have simply released captured Somali pirates. (Source: Lloyd’s List)
Pressure is mounting from a variety of sources--navies, governments, unions, seafarers, various analysts, and even some shipping company representatives--for industry to do more to protect itself against piracy.
The Maersk shipping company has acknowledged hiring a Tanzanian warship to escort one of its vessels through pirate waters. Several private firms are offering similar services. The practice dates back for millennia. (Source: Lloyd’s List)
Japan has indicated that it will send warships to the Gulf of Aden for the protection of commercial shipping. The suppression of piracy, however, does not seem to be a principal mission of naval forces in the region. Primary emphasis is on protecting shipping, as it should be. But anti-piracy operations should also include aggressive operations intended at suppressing piracy. (Source: BBC, author's)
A senior Chinese naval officer has suggested that China should establish a naval base in or around the Gulf of Aden in order to assist in anti-piracy operations, although one cannot help but think this is mere pretense for expanding Chinese naval presence. Even so, a number of Chinese vessels have been attacked, lending legitimacy to the idea. (Source: BBC, author's)
Benerson Little
"The trident of Neptune is the scepter of the world."*
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* By Antoine Marin Lemierre, from his poem "Commerce."
“They are always as vagabonds, and in continual exile, without any rest; agitated by the Winds, Rain, Hail, Snow, at the mercy of Pyrats and Rovers, Rocks and Tempests, in continual hazard of being intomb’d in the bellies of fishes...” —Jeremias Heraclitus Christianus, writing of the merchant seaman in The Man of Sorrow, 1677.
“Some the Sea swallowes, but that which most grieves, Some turne Sea-monsters, Pirates, roaving theeves...” —John Taylor, An Apologie for Sea-men, 1615. Archives
(Tags are listed at the foot of the page in this column.)
Boarding party from the USS McFaul aboard pirate mothership Faize Osamani, a captured Indian dhow, on April 5, 2010. (US Department of Defense photograph)
USS Farragut sinking a captured Somali pirate "mother ship" in April, 2010. (US Navy photograph)
Dutch marines from the HNMLSTromp fastrope onto the MV Taipan and capture it from pirates on April 5, 2010. (Dutch Navy photograph)
French pirate hunting frigate Nivose, a "frégate de surveillance." (French navy photograph)
Pirates captured by the French naval vessel Somme in October 2009. (EU NAVFOR Somalia photo)
Boarding team from the frigate HMS Portland captures suspected Somali pirates in June 2009. (Royal Navy photograph)
Dutch commandos capture seven pirates and free twenty fishermen who had been forced to work the mother ship. Unfortunately, the pirates were soon themselves freed due to constraints of Dutch law and of NATO. (Royal Navy photograph)
Small pirate "mother ship" (bateau mère) intercepted by French frigate Nivôse in April 2009. The vessel was loaded with fuel. (French Ministry of Defense photograph)
7.62 mm exit holes in the stern of the Maersk Alabama lifeboat. The holes were plugged with silicone. (Author's photo, taken at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, Ft. Pierce, Florida.)
Captain Richard Phillips (on right) aboard the USS Bainbridge after being rescued from pirates by the US Navy. His captors were shot dead by Navy SEAL snipers. (US Navy photograph)
French commandos aboard the yacht Tanit. (AFP)
Liberation of the yacht Tanit by the French Navy, including members of the Commando Hubert. (French Ministry of Defense photograph)
Captured Somali pirates. (US Navy photograph)
MV Sirius Star ransomed by air drop. (US Navy photograph)
A few of the pirates who captured the arms ship MV Faina. (US Navy photograph)
Thai fishing trawler destroyed by Indian frigate INS Tabar. The trawler was under attack by pirates. The frigate, which came under fire from pirates aboard the trawler, believed the vessel was a pirate "mother ship." (India Defense Ministry photograph)
French commandos capture several of the pirates who held the luxury yacht Le Ponant for ransom. (French Ministry of Defense photograph)
Pirate skiff destroyed by the USS Porter in 2007. (US Navy photograph)
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