EU applauded China's intention to lead international counter-piracy activities

29.01.2010
Participation of Chinese Navy in international naval operation on securing navigation off Somalia will improve piracy situation near Horn of Africa, said Thursday Capt Paul Chivers, EU NAVFOR Chief of Staff.

Late 2009 official China declared its readiness to lead international anti-piracy efforts off Somalia where sail dozens of Chinese ships.

According to Mr. Chivers, China's decision has become extremely good news as Chinese ships would expand patrol zone in piracy hazardous regions off Somalia.

Yet it is uncertain when exactly China will plant itself as a co-director of international anti-piracy activities, added Mr. Chivers.

According to him, piracy level at the Gulf of Aden has been decreased, although it geometrically progresses at southwest part of the Arabian Sea. The square of this huge zone of Indian Ocean is comparable to the U.S. East Coast. Even naval aviation takes part in patrolling of southwest Arabian Sea, said Mr. Chivers.

EU NAVFOR officer declined to bring statistics of latest pirate attacks. However, he pointed out that despite growth in assaults the number of captures was decreasing.

Last year Somali pirates carried out 217 attacks; 47 vessels were hijacked and 867 crewmembers were taken hostage. Mostly, pirates assaulted dry cargo ships; 10 crewmen were wounded, 4 killed, 1 lost. As of late 2009, Somali pirates hold captive 12 large ships with 263 crewmembers aboard.

Piracy emerged off Somalia as a consequence of civil war, poverty and impossibility to find legal job in this country. Since late 2008 dozens warships from over 15 countries has been deployed for anti-piracy missions at the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

Since Dec 2008 till Dec 2009 counter-piracy fleet EU NAVFOR conducted naval operation Atalanta at the region; up to 12 warships and naval aviation of member countries are deployed there at the same time. Presently, the ships of Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Spain, and Luxembourg participate in the operation. They authorized to search, arrest and extradite pirates to judicial authorities of EU countries or Kenya.

Below is given Reuters' list of ships held captive by Somali pirates as of Jan 19.

Win Far 161. Thai tunaboat. Hijacked on Apr 6, 2009.

Al Khaliq. Panama-flagged ro-ro ship with 26 crewmembers (24 are Indians) was captured 180 marine miles west Seychelles on Oct 22, 2009. Shipowner and operator is SNP Shipping (Mumbai). Ship's deadweight is 38,305 tonnes.

Thai Union 3. Tunaboat with 27 crewmembers (23 are Russians) was captured 200 marine miles north Seychelles on Oct 29, 2009.

Filitsa. Cargo ship flying flag of Marshall Islands with Greeks and Filipinos on board was hijacked 500 marine miles northeast Seychelles on Nov 10, 2009 while sailing from Kuwait to Republic of South Africa. Ship's deadweight is 23,709 tonnes.

Theresa VIII. Chemical carrier with 28 Chinese crewmen was captured at southern part of Arabian Sea northwest Seychelles on Nov 16, 2009. As explained by one of pirates, the shipmaster died of injuries during seizure. Ship's deadweight is 22,294 tonnes.

Neseya. Indian dhow with 13-men Indian crew was hijacked on Dec 18, 2009 off the port of Kismayu, south Somalia.

Socotra 1. Yemeni vessel with 6 Yemenites was captured at the Gulf of Aden on Dec 25, 2009.

Al Mahmoud 2. On Dec 28 it was reported that Yemeni ship with 15 Yemenites sailed off port of Aden on Dec 18 was hijacked by pirates.

St James Park. UK-flagged chemical carrier was captured at the Gulf of Aden while sailing from Spain to Thailand on Dec 28, 2009. There are 3 Russians, 2 Ukrainians, 6 Indians, 5 Bulgarians, 3 Turks, 3 Filipinos, 2 Romanians, 1 Georgian, and 1 Pole on board. Ship's deadweight is 13,924 tonnes.

Navios Apollon. Panama-flagged ship with 19 crewmen and cargo of fertilizers was hijacked 800 marine miles north Seychelles on Dec 28, 2009 while sailing from the U.S. to India. Ship's deadweight is 52,000 tonnes.

Asian Glory. UK-flagged automobile carrier was captured 900 marine miles north Seychelles on Jan 1, 2010 while sailing from Singapore to Saudi Arabia. There are 10 Ukrainians, 8 Bulgarians, 5 Indians, 2 Romanians and 2,405 Hyundai and KIA cars on board.

MV Pramoni. Chemical carrier flying flag of Singapore was hijacked at the Gulf of Aden on Jan 1, 2010 while sailing from Italy to India. Complement is 17 Indonesians, 5 Chinese, 1 Nigerian, and 1 Vietnamese. Ship's deadweight is 20,000 tonnes.

Layla-S. Cambodian cargo ship with Pakistani, Indians, Ceylonese, Syrians and Somalis crewmen on board was captured on Jan 27, 2010 off port of Berbera north Somalia.

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: flag of EU NAVFOR (upload.wikimedia.org)