Significant Increase of Pirate Activity off the Somali coast

Two European-owned tankers have been sea-jacked off the Somali coast within a few hours time and have triggered an alert by the European Union's anti-piracy naval mission to other vessels in the area since a significant increase of pirate activity can be observed.
The crews of both hijacked vessels are believed to be unharmed.

Panama-flagged MV NIPAYIA was seized on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, off the Indian Ocean coast of Somalia with its crew of 19 of which 18 are Filipinos and a Russian captain. The Maritime Security Center run by the E.U. naval force confirmed the sea-jacking of the 9,000 ton Greek-owned vessel today and local sources reported the freighter would be on the way to Harardheere or Hobyo. The ship is managed by Athens-based Lotus Shipping.

This incident was followed early Thursday, March 26, 2009, with the abduction of the 23,000 ton Norwegian-owned and Bahamas-registered MV BOW-ASIR, a chemicals and oil tanker, off the Somali port of Kismayo at the southern coast of Somalia with with 23 people on board (Russian captain, five Polish nationals and 17 other sailor from different countries). The vessel was hijacked by 16 to 18 pirates, the Norwegian Shipowners' Association said.

The owner of the Bow Asir, Salhus Shipping AS, said it received a security alert message from the vessel at 0729GMT saying the ship was being chased by two small boats with suspected pirates on board. At 0745GMT, the captain reported that the pirates had boarded the vessel, the company said.

Three hours later, Salhus Shipping received an e-mail from the ship confirming that 16 to 18 pirates carrying machine guns had gained control of the vessel, managing director Per H. Hansen said in a statement. "We have no reports of any injuries," he said. "We are doing our utmost to ensure the safety of the crew, and have established communication lines with naval forces, insurance companies, flag state and charterer." The vessel was headed for Mombasa with a cargo of caustic soda but is now commandeered towards the Somali central coast.

Source : ECOTERRA Intl.

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