VP: Five Somalis found guilty of piracy charges in Norfolk

In a historic decision Wednesday, a jury in federal court convicted five Somali nationals as pirates in the April 1 attack on the Norfolk-based frigate Nicholas.

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Somali Pirates Attack Greek Ship....maybe?

Somali pirates have attacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier late last week in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen.

However, a Greek spokesman says the ship’s managers did not confirm the incident.


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BBC: Somali pirates free Spanish boat

Somali pirates have released a Spanish trawler and its 36 crew members after holding it for six weeks, Spain's prime minister has confirmed.

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Press Release: EU Atalanta anti-piracy escorts: ships should register for protection

EU anti-piracy escorts off Somalia have sunk ships, destroyed weapons, intercepted vessels and thwarted direct attacks. No escorted ship has been successfully attacked by pirates, but vessels should register before crossing the Gulf of Aden, EU Naval Force Commander Rear Admiral Peter D. Hudson told MEPs on Monday. MEPs called for more effective protection for European fishing vessels.

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CNN: Pirates hijack tanker off Somali Coast

Pirates off Somalia's coast have hijacked a chemical tanker with a North Korean crew, European naval forces reported.

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AP: French navy captures 12 pirates off Somalia

The French navy has seized three boats off Somalia's coast and detained 12 suspected pirates.

The French Defense Ministry said in a statement Friday that the Floreal surveillance boat, backed by a Luxembourg maritime surveillance plane, intercepted a pirate ship and two skiffs 650 nautical miles (about 750 statute miles) east of Hobyo, Somalia.

The French sailors also seized assault rifles, rocket launchers and other weaponry during Thursday's operation which was part of the EU anti-piracy mission in the region. The Defense Ministry says the Luxembourg plane alerted the French to the suspicious boats Wednesday and the French ship was given orders to pursue them.

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BBC: Somali pirates charged in Kenya

Seven Somalis, captured at sea by German naval forces last month, have appeared in court in the Kenyan port of Mombasa accused of piracy.

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Bloomberg: China Seeks Lead Role in Sea Piracy Fight, Morning Post Reports

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AP: Somali pirates demand $3M for ship with 18 crew

Pirates have hijacked a Panamanian-flagged ship with 18 crew off the east coast of Africa, the latest in an increasing number of attacks, a Somali businessman said Tuesday.

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AP" Somali pirates hit oil tanker in long-range attack

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Manila Bulletin: IMO to assist Somalia in anti-piracy program

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Christian Science Monitor: Are Somalia's pirates linked to Al Qaeda?

Reports that pirates may want to swap a British couple they captured last week for fellow pirates detained by foreign navies have fueled speculation that the pirates are linking up with Islamist militants.

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AP: Somali pirates detained after firing on vessel

Somali pirates exchanged fire with a French fishing vessel on Wednesday and after speeding away were later stopped and detained by Spanish and German naval units, said the European Union anti-piracy force.

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AFP: Somali pirates holding British couple

Somali pirates confirmed Wednesday they had hijacked a yacht carrying a British couple thought to be Paul Chandler, 58, and his wife Rachel, 55, adding that the two hostages were in good health.

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Times of India: Negotiator to engage Somali pirates

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Counter Piracy Commanders meet in Gulf of Aden

The Commanding Officers of the three largest Counter Piracy Task Forces in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean met on board the EU NAVFOR flagship HNLMS Evertsen on October 26 in the International Recognized Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

(and they had time for a little photo op)

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U.S. Capt. Richard Phillips' rescue from Somali pirates moves closer to silver screen

It's more 'entertainment' than 'news' but I thought this was interesting. Hijacking, hostage situations, and piracy in general have been (sadly) a common occurence in maritime transport. However, when an all-American crew is on board and a hostage is taken, let's make a movie and milk it for all it's worth.

Let's be real, people will probably see it for the drama, the Navy SEALs, and taking down a bad guy. But when people leave the theater, I hope they realize that the pirates taken down in this encounter are part of a much larger pirate population. And that, even though this crew is safe and no ransom paid, it is not always the case.

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From the Blogs: Somali Pirates Are Still At It: Hijacking Ships For Ransom

Ran across this blog post concerning piracy, which included the following snippet (full article link below):

"But seriously, it is an embarrassment that pirates can so easily hijack cargo ships with whole crews surrendering at the first sight of the ‘mighty’ inflatable dinghies appearing on the horizon." -Thomas Mathew

Thoughts?

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AFP: Back local Somali structures to curb piracy: report

Attempts to curb Somali piracy by deploying warships or resuscitating the central government are doomed, and efforts should focus on buttressing local players in pirate hubs, according to a new report.

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My weekend reading - "Piracy in the Greater Gulf of Aden: Myths, Misconception and Remedies" by NBIR

AFP: Somali pirates hijack Panamanian carrier: NATO

Pirates on Thursday hijacked a Panamanian-flagged carrier in waters off Somalia, taking 26 crew hostage, almost all of them Indian, a NATO spokeswoman said.

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