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Tag Archives: pirates
Update ; Hijacked SV Quest Split from Group; Now Trailed by US Navy
We are learning more about the hijacked SV Quest, seized by pirates off Oman last Friday. The sailing yacht, reportedly with Americans Scott and Jean Adam, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle aboard, had been sailing with the Oz-Med section of … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Blue Water Rally, hijacked, Indian Ocean, pirates, S/V Quest
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Pirates Capture Four Americans on Yacht in Indian Ocean
Four Americans on the S/V Quest were seized by pirates this afternoon 240 nautical miles off the coast of Oman in the Indian Ocean. Jean and Scott Adam, owners of the S/V Quest, have been sailing around the world … Continue reading
Losing the War on Piracy – A Lack of Political Will
Last week the Danish warship Esbern Snare captured a hijacked fishing vessel and freed two Yemeni hostages. In addition to 16 pirates aboard the ship, the Danes found rocket launchers, assault rifles, ammunition, large quantities of fuel and two skiffs. … Continue reading
Pirates Hijack Two Tankers in Two Days – MV Savina Caylyn & MV Irene SL
Yesterday, the Italian-owned Aframax tanker MV Savina Caylyn was hijacked by pirates approximately 670 nautical miles East of Socotra Island in the Indian Ocean. Today, the Greek-owned VLCC MV Irene SL was hijacked approximately 350 nautical miles South East of … Continue reading
The Strange Case of the Dutch Ship Leopard – Missing Crew, Arms Cargo Intact
This story is a few days old, but remains strange and disturbing. The Dutch coaster Leopard, carrying a cargo of weapons, was reported to have been hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Oman last week, but when a Turkish naval … Continue reading
MV Lugela Hijacked then Freed off Somalia after Crew Retreats to Engine Room
Well planned passive resistance proved to be an effective tactic for the crew of the MV Lugela this weekend. Earlier this month we posted about the hijacking and subsequent recapture of the M/V Magellan Star from Somali pirates by US Marine commandos, after … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged cargo ship, MV Lugela, pirates, somolia, Ukranian crew
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Update on the M/V Magellan Star – “The Crew is on Holiday.”
More details on the capture of the M/V Magellan Star. The crew and the ship management company kept their heads and their sense of humor when the ship was boarded by Somali pirates on Wednesday. When the pirates boarded the ship, … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged M/V Magellan Star, pirates, somalia
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US Marines Recapture M/V Magellan Star from Somali Pirates
Twenty-four U.S. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force stormed the German-owned containership M/V Magellan Star today, capturing the pirates that had seized control of the ship in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. No … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Gulf of Aden, M/V Magellan Star, M/V Miltiades, Olib G, pirates, somalia
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MV Moscow University – Why Anti-Piracy Efforts off Somalia Are Doomed to Fail
Two news stories, days apart demonstrate, at least to me, why the current efforts to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia are doomed to fail. We posted previously how the tanker MV Moscow University was recaptured from pirates by … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged MV Moscow University, pirates, Russian Special Forces, Russian tanker, somalia
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NATO Destroyer Sinks Pirate Mother Ship off Somalia but Lets Pirates Go
In the ongoing somewhat surreal operation against piracy off Somalia, the HDMS Absalon, a Danish destroyer, sank a pirate “mother ship” but allowed the pirates to return to shore. The official goal appears to be to “disrupt” rather than stop pirate activities. … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Ships
Tagged Danish destroyer, NATO Destroyer, pirate mother ship, pirates, somalia
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UK Government says “Don’t Pay Ransom and Don’t Arm your Ships”
Last week we posted about the International Chamber of Shipping’s concern that governments are not doing enough to combat piracy. Now the British government, after long opposing the payment of ransoms to free hijacked ships is also trying to discourage the … Continue reading
Talking Like a Somali and Update on the MV Faina
An update on the MV Faina – still being held hostage by Somali pirates. Somali pirates hold whip hand in standoff And a comment by my 12 year old son, Ted. He suggested that he would like to learn some … Continue reading
Old Salt in The Huffington Post
I was recently published in The Huffington Post. An excerpt: “The Golden Age of Piracy” or Long John Silver in a Tank This morning I was struck by the odd juxtaposition of an announcement for a festival and a … Continue reading
Pirate Stand-off in the Indian Ocean
The real life pirate saga, which began Thursday night when Somali pirates seized the Faina, a Ukrainian ship loaded with a cargo of ammunition, grenade launchers and 33 refurbished Russian T-72 battle tanks, has turned into a stand-off between the pirates holding the crew hostage … Continue reading
Thank You for Not Talking Like A Pirate
If by good fortune you missed the “International Talk Like a Pirate Day”, just as well. If you managed to pass the day without a single “Aargh” or “Shiver Me Timbers” congratulations. I have a rather good sense of humor … Continue reading
