Pirates dock Maltese-flagged ship
A Maltese-flagged ship taken over by pirates last week has docked at Eelay district in the Eastern region of Somalia, the Somali press has reported.
The pirates have started negotiating a ransom.
The Olib G (6,375 tons) was hijacked in the internationally recommended transit corridor. It had 15 Georgians and three Turks on board.
At least 23 foreign vessels with more than 411 crew members are still held by pirates, an organisation monitoring piracy, Ecoterra International, said in its latest report on August 31.
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Michael Zareno
Sep 12th 2010, 18:48
Isn't a ship the responsibility of the sovereign nation under whose flag it flies? The risk of loss is mitigated by choosing to register a vessel under a "flag of convenience", be it The Bahamas, Malta, and others, with their less stringent regulations, lower costs and other advantages. Of course countries like Malta do not have the resources to offer protection outside of territorial waters. So the ship's owners take a risk.
By the way, a ship was rescued by US Marines just two days ago. The same organization that took over the role of the Knights of Malta 200 years ago to fight Barbary pirates!
Martin Cassar
Sep 12th 2010, 17:45
The piracy Quiz!
Well, here we are talking about a war against piracy. The battle field of this war is the OPEN WATER and not a cave on top of a mountain where a Taliban’s member could hide.
Vessels seized by pirates is not an object that can be concealed in a Pirate’s home garage, we are talking about huge, actually very huge vessels.
The ironic think however is that Hi-Tech and NATO elite soldiers that could hit a moving target (a Taliban’s member with average weight and height) in Afghanistan yet they are not capable to free a massive vessel (6,375 tons and tens of meters long) in open water, or even detect it’s location. Sound funny isn’t it? I don’t buy this claptrap, do you?
Where and to whom the seized goods are being sold?
If we ever get to know the destination for the sized goods we may solve the quiz.
v mercieca
Sep 12th 2010, 17:02
I am sure many remember the Israeli raid on Entebbe and the few loss of life they suffered in men and hostages held by the forces of Iddi Amin.
Can’t the secret services of the US / EU make a similar raid and release these crew members and the ships hijacked.
Unlike the Israelis at that time, when they had to attack and refuel during the long journey, the US and other EU nations have warships close to Somalia which can support such raid and the destruction of enemy (pirates) equipment