Somali pirates seize another ship, other ships escape capture

With the end of the monsoon season in October, Somali pirates are stepping up their attacks on shipping. They succeeded in seizing one ship today, Wednesday, while two days earlier pirates made their longest range attack off the Somali coast ever.

A press release from the European Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), Somalia, says the Greek owned, but Marshall Island flagged, cargo vessel MV Filitsa was hijacked by Somali pirates this morning , November 11, in the south Somali Basin about 400 nautical miles (741 km) north east of the Seychelles. The bulk carrier has a crew of 22 — 3 Greek and 19 Philipino. The vessel had been heading to Durban, South Africa, but has been turned around and is now heading north. Just two days earlier the BW Lion, a Hong Kong flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) took robust defensive action to avoid siezure by Somali pirates. The VLCC was approached by two fast attack skiffs in the Indian Ocean about 1000 nautical miles (1852 km) east of the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu. According to EU NAVFOR, "This was the longest range of a pirate attack off the Somali coast ever." The attack, involving automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades, lasted nearly two hours. Through a combination of evasive manoeuvring while maintaining full sea speed and the effective use anti boarding measures, including use of water hoses, the master and crew prevented the pirates from succeeding. EU NAVFOR, "commended the crew of the BW Lion for their calm, professional seamanship under the considerable pressure during this dangerous attack." A day later, not far from where the BW Lion fended off an attack, the MV Nele Maersk, a Danish flagged container ship, was attacked but outran the pirates. In another, unrelated attack, the MV Felicitas Richmers, a Marshal Islands flagged container ship, was attacked by two small skiffs. The MV Felicitas Rickmers was also able to evade seizure. Pirate attack have increased since the end of the monsoon season in October. Somali pirates now are holding at least 12 ships and more than 200 hostages. Pirates demand multimillion-dollar ransoms for the release of the seized vessels.