Organizers of the Volvo Ocean Race say the piracy threat in the Indian Ocean has forced them to reroute two parts of the round-the-world contest. Race chief Knut Frostad says organizers made their decision after consulting with naval and commercial intelligence experts about the security risks. In a statement released Thursday, Frostad says the experts’ […]
Piracy Threat Forces Volvo Ocean Race to be Rerouted
US Files New Charges Against Alleged Somali Pirate Negotiator
A man accused of negotiating a ransom on behalf of Somali pirates is facing new charges from U.S. federal prosecutors. Mohammed Saaili Shibin was indicted this week in U.S. District Court on charges of piracy and conspiracy to commit hostage taking. The indictment, made public Thursday, says Shibin extracted a ransom from the owners of […]
Indian Navy Intercepts Hijacked Ship off Western Coast
The Indian navy says it has intercepted a hijacked cargo ship off the coast of Mumbai. The navy said the Iranian-flagged vessel was spotted last week and kept under continuous surveillance until Sunday, when helicopter-borne marine commandos stopped the ship and took nine people into custody. Indian officials said Monday the navy had received intelligence […]
Somali Pirates Release Ship With 21 Crew
Somali pirates have released a merchant vessel with 21 crew members, six months after it was hijacked. Officials in India say the MV Sinin, a bulk carrier, is headed to Sri Lanka after its release Saturday. The Maltese-flagged ship is believed to have a crew of nine Indians and 12 Iranians. Indian newspaper reports say […]
Five Somalia Pirates Sentenced in the Netherlands
A Dutch court has sentenced five Somali men to up to seven years in prison on piracy charges. A judge in the Netherlands imposed the sentences on Friday. The suspects are all in their twenties. Two of them hijacked the South African yacht Choizil off the coast of Tanzania in November. Authorities say two people […]
Ship Insurers Designate Benin As High-Risk Area
The shipping insurance industry has added Benin to a list of areas deemed “high risk” because of increasing piracy. Pirates recently hijacked several vessels in the Gulf of Guinea off Benin, including at least two oil tankers. The so-called Joint War Committee, which represents Lloyd’s of London underwriters and other insurers, has given the waters […]
Italian Tanker Hijacked Off West Africa
Pirates in the Gulf of Guinea have hijacked an Italian fuel tanker with 23 crew members on board. The Italian news agency ANSA reports that three pirates seized control of the RBD Anema e Core on Sunday. It says the ship was carrying a cargo of diesel fuel and that the ship’s crew consists of […]
Anti-Piracy Effort Takes Aim at Pirate Bigshots
An multinational effort against Somali pirates has resulted in a task force aimed at taking down the organizers, financiers, and negotiators behind the piracy business. A U.S. State Department official told VOA Thursday The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia believes there are only a handful of individuals in charge of the […]
Greek Oil Tanker Hijacked Off Nigeria
Greek maritime officials say pirates have seized a Greek-run oil tanker off the coast of Nigeria. Officials said Monday that the Aegean Star and its 20-member crew were hijacked on Saturday. They say the ship was carrying oil from Ghana to Benin when it was seized 55 kilometers off the Nigerian coast, in the Gulf […]
Somali Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker
The European Union’s anti-piracy force says suspected Somali pirates have hijacked an oil tanker in the northern Indian Ocean. The task force said in a statement Monday the MV JUBBA XX was seized Saturday and has been spotted traveling towards the northern Somali coast. The task force said nine pirates have been reported on board. […]