Pirates strike again Oct 23, 2009
In the Gulf of Aden there were 100 attacks compared to 51. Since last year a flotilla of foreign warships has been patrolling the piracy-plagued Gulf of Aden, one of the busiest maritime trade routes on the globe. (iAfrica.com)
Somali pirates take Panamanian carrier, 26 crew Oct 23, 2009
" onclick="Next();" src="/images/butt_next. " The Italian carrier Jolly Rosso managed to shake off its attackers in a dramatic incident off the Kenyan coast, which along with the hijacking hundreds of miles away, highlighted the difficulty for international naval forces scrambling to contain a huge upsurge in attacks this year. Pirates aboard two small skiffs unleashed "automatic fire and also fired three rocket-propelled grenades" at the 22,000-tonne ship, 400 nautical miles east of Mombasa,... (Channelnewsasia.com)
Hijacked bulk carrier off coast of Somalia Oct 23, 2009
Piracy has been rampant off the Somali coast in recent years, prompting a dozen countries, including China, to send naval fleets to the Gulf of Aden region on escort missions. BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China will make every effort to rescue the crew and the hijacked bulk carrier, the De Xin Hai, from pirates in the Indian Ocean, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Tuesday. (Xinhuanet, China)
Somali pirates seize ship off East African coast Oct 23, 2009
The violence brought the number of attacks off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden to 178 this year, with 36 ships hijacked ... Pirate attacks worldwide in the first nine months of 2009 exceeded the whole of last year's total because of more frequent raids in the Gulf of Aden and off the east coast of Somalia, according to the piracy reporting center ... The higher number of attacks was due mainly to increased Somali pirate activity off the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest sea... (MSNBC -- International)
US drones join Africa piracy fight Oct 22, 2009
Pirates have moved further into the Indian Ocean since international warships began patrolling the Gulf of Aden last year ... In recent years the Gulf of Aden has become the most dangerous shipping lane in the world, prompting several countries to send warships to protect their cargo vessels. (BBC News -- Americas)
China vows to save crew held by Somali pirates. But how? Oct 21, 2009
Three Chinese military vessels are part of the international anti-piracy taskforce, but they are currently patrolling the Gulf of Aden, almost 1,000 miles from the spot where pirates seized the coal-carrying De Xin Hai and her 25 Chinese crew members ... He theorized that the Chinese ships in the Gulf of Aden will try to intercept the hijacked cargo ship before it reaches the Somali coast and the pirate enclave around the town of Eyl. (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
US Navy seizes 4 tons of hashish in Gulf of Aden Oct 20, 2009
The Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain said on Tuesday that guided missile cruiser USS Anzio stopped the skiff after a brief chase in the Gulf of Aden. Waters in the area are used by ships headed for the Suez Canal and are also infested by Somali pirates and smugglers. (CBS News -- World)
Somali pirates seize Chinese ship Oct 20, 2009
China has a force of three ships patrolling the Gulf of Aden. Somali pirates have hijacked a Chinese cargo ship with 25 crew on board, the EU's anti-piracy naval mission says. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Chinese ship seized as Somali pirates change line of attack Oct 20, 2009
Since last year a flotilla of foreign warships has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the busiest maritime trade routes on the globe, prompting pirates to operate far out in the Indian Ocean. Experts had warned in recent days that subsiding winds near the Seychelles had attracted pirates, who generally launch attacks from so-called "mother ships" with tiny skiffs. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Chinese bulk carrier hijacked in Indian Ocean Oct 20, 2009
Piracy has been rampant off the Somali coast in recent years, prompting a dozen countries including China to send naval fleets to the Gulf of Aden region on escort missions. Editor: Anne Tang. (Xinhuanet, China)
Superyacht super weapons Oct 19, 2009
Pirate attacks on oil tankers and other boats in dangerous waters like the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia -- a maritime link between Europe and Asia --have fueled the growing worry that superyachts may be the next target. Because law regarding the use of deadly force on ships is ambiguous in some countries and the transport of guns is illegal in most international waters -- yacht crews favor the use of non-lethal weapons for security. (CNN -- International)
Somalia: A British Warship Saves Yemeni Fishing Boat From Somali Pirates Oct 18, 2009
The warship which is one of the NATO maritime navels continuing the military operations against the Somali piracy in Gulf of Aden and Somali coast have forcibly freed the Yemeni fishing boat Mahrom from Somali pirates ... Reports sat they the British troops took over the weapons of the Somali pirates and the step comes as there attacks of the Somali pirates increasing day after as there are more European warships patrolling in the coast of Somalia and Gulf of Aden. (allAfrica.com)
Somalia: Somalia - Puntland Sentences 10 to Jail Terms Oct 18, 2009
The other five pirates were apprehended by Puntland security forces near the coast of Qaw, located 40km east of the Gulf of Aden port of Bossaso, Puntland's commercial hub. They were sentenced to serve three-year jail terms each. (allAfrica.com)
Somali pirates hijack Singapore-flagged ship Oct 18, 2009
Somalia has been ravaged by violence and anarchy since 1991 and piracy has flourished off its coast, making the Gulf of Aden one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. . (Muscatine Journal, IO)
Somali pirates seize Singapore container ship in Indian Ocean Oct 16, 2009
" onclick="Next();" src="/images/butt_next (Channelnewsasia.com)
Somalia: Aid Agency Turns to Facebook for Funds Oct 9, 2009
Each year, tens of thousands risk their lives by crossing the Gulf of Aden on smugglers' boats to reach Yemen. UNHCR is asking donors to help displaced Somalis by contributing through its Gimme Shelter Cause on Facebook. (allAfrica.com)
Warships, crews ward off Somali pirates Oct 9, 2009
Blount and Sanders were interviewed by telephone from the USS Anzio, the task force's flagship in the Gulf of Aden. Merchant ships have been moving fast, placing concertina wire around the ship or using water hoses to ward off pirates. (USA Today)
Navys largest landing craft on fire(Update) Oct 8, 2009
KD Sri Inderapura was also among several other navy vessels that had escorted Malaysian trading ships from pirate attacks across the Gulf of Aden in Somalia last year. Bernama quoted Manjung OCPD ACP Mohd Jamil Osman saying that according to a preliminary report, the fire involved the office and storage areas and no injuries were reported. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Pirates Mistake Military Ship for Commercial Boat Oct 8, 2009
France is a key member of the European Union's naval mission, Operation Atalanta, fighting Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. It has aggressively tracked and caught suspected pirates and handed over at least 22 to Kenya. (Fox News)
Somali pirates attack French military vessel Oct 8, 2009
France is a key member the European Union's naval mission, codenamed Operation Atalanta, fighting Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. (WSVN-TV Miami, FL)
French navy seizes mistaken Somali pirates Oct 8, 2009
France joined the European Union's anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden this year, along side navies of China, the United States and other countries. Editor: Yan. (Xinhuanet, China)
Pirates pick on wrong ship, end up in brig Oct 8, 2009
France is a key member of the EU's naval mission, Operation Atalanta, fighting Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. It has aggressively tracked and caught suspected pirates and handed over at least 22 to Kenya. (Florida Today)
Pirates free Turkish ship after ransom Oct 6, 2009
Pirate raids have continued in the Indian Ocean and strategic Gulf of Aden despite foreign naval patrols off the lawless Horn of Africa state. Monsoon rains curbed attacks in recent months, but now they have started to pick up again. (MSNBC -- International)
Soldiers at Gulf of Aden celebrate Mid-Autumn Day Oct 4, 2009
Soldiers on escort mission at Gulf of Aden celebrate Mid-Autumn Day _English_Xinhua. Soldiers on escort mission at Gulf of Aden celebrate Mid-Autumn Day ... Chinese naval officers and soldiers attend an evening party celebrating the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival on the Zhoushan missile frigate in the Gulf of Aden, Oct. 3, 2009. (Xinhuanet, China)
Pirates take Spanish fishing boat Oct 3, 2009
International navies have been deployed to protect ships in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Armed presence. (BBC News -- Africa)
Ask AP: Capt. 'Sully's' jetliner, Somali pirates Oct 2, 2009
AP Photo - FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2009 file photo released by the Turkish military, seven pirates aboard a skiff, hold up their hands a Turkish commandos approach their boat in the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia ... Piracy experts attribute the failure of those assaults to better vigilance aboard commercial ships as well as increased patrols and fast response times by international navies in the Gulf of Aden. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Crucial Korea conflict Sep 30, 2009
Hulking gray naval frigates fanned out across the Gulf of Aden have combined with monsoon storms to sharply reduce pirate attacks in the world's busiest shipping lanes in recent weeks. But the commanding officer of the European Union armada warned Tuesday that it is too early to declare victory over heavily armed Somali pirates in tiny, fast-moving skiffs. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Somalia: UN Agency Sounds Alarm Over Worsening Crisis for Somalis Fleeing Violence Sep 26, 2009
"Using unscrupulous smugglers, thousands risk their lives and take the perilous journey across the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea to reach Yemen or the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe," he added. So far this year over 900 boats carrying around 47,000 people have attempted to get to Yemen from the Horn of Africa, with 322 people drowned or presumed dead, and just last week16 people died and 49 others are thought to have drowned in the Gulf of Aden. (allAfrica.com)
KENYA'S CAMPS Sep 26, 2009
Using unscrupulous smugglers, thousands risk their lives and take the perilous journey across the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea to reach Yemen or the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe ... Last week, 16 people died and 49 others went missing, presumed drowned in the Gulf of Aden. (AlertNet)
Swiss vote against piracy force Sep 25, 2009
The government had proposed sending 30 troops to the Gulf of Aden, but opponents said the bill compromised Switzerland's long-held neutrality. "It's about being involved in combat operations, and this clearly contradicts neutrality," said Martin Baltisser, of the nationalist Swiss People's party, AP reported. (BBC News -- Europe)
Syrian captain killed by pirates Sep 25, 2009
International navies have been deployed to protect ships in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The AU peacekeepers are helping to protect the UN-backed government, which only controls parts of Mogadishu. (BBC News -- Africa)
Parliament torpedoes anti-pirate proposal Sep 25, 2009
The mandate of the Swiss soldiers and experts would have been limited to protecting vessels of the United Nations World Food Programme and Swiss cargo ships crossing the Gulf of Aden, according to the foreign ministry ... The pirates are known to receive tip-offs from contacts at ports in the Gulf of Aden. (SwissInfo.org, Switzerland)
Australians thwart pirate attack Sep 24, 2009
The frigate HMAS Toowoomba was on an anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday when it picked up a call for help from the BBC Portugal, which was being pursued by an armed gang in a fast launch ... This was the frigate's first anti-piracy operation since arriving in the Gulf of Aden two weeks ago. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Australian Navy Thwarts Suspected Pirate Attack on Merchant Ship Off Yemen Sep 23, 2009
Sept. 23 (Bloomberg) -- An Australian naval ship has thwarted an attack on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen, by suspected Somali pirates armed with a rocket propelled grenade launcher ... Pirate attacks early in the year focused on the Gulf of Aden, a choke point for the Suez Canal thats used by 33,000 ships a year. (Bloomberg -- Australia & New Zealand)
3) TheAustralian.com: Maradona pays tax debt with diamonds Sep 23, 2009
4:07pm AUSTRALIAN sailors from HMAS Toowoomba have thwarted a pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden, boarding a suspect vessel and seizing weapons. Janet Albrechtsen TOO many women are their own worst enemies, especially the old-fashioned gender warriors. (Guardian Unlimited -- Football)
Thorpe moves to scuttle doping claims Sep 23, 2009
September 23, 2009 07:59pm AEST. IAN Thorpe has provided the country's drug testing agency with medical evidence in an attempt to clear his name of doping. (Yahoo News -- Swimming)
• Video: Somali crowds vow allegiance to bin Laden Sep 22, 2009
Piracy has flourished off the Somali coast, making the Gulf of Aden one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. On Sunday, insurgents attacked a town near the border with Ethiopia, killing at least 10 people, witnesses and officials said. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
China News 2009.09.19 Sep 21, 2009
Stories: 1 CPC to Expand Intra-Party Democracy 2 Hu to back Greater UN Role 3 Highway Collision Kills 16 4 Crackdown on Fake A/H1N1 Drugs 5 A/H1N1 in Hong Kong and Macao 6 Ship Capsizes, Kills Two 7 Mainland Tourism Rebounds 8 HK Attracts Record Investment 9 Power Station Fire 10 Gulf of Aden-China, Russia hold joint naval exercise 11 Pakistan, China to Develop Satellite 12 Ex-banker Gets 7 Years 13 Liu Xiang to Return 14 Teng Haibin Wins All-round 15 Cold Front to Sweep N China 16 Beijing Air... (Xinhuanet, China)
India's China Panic: Seeing a 'Red Peril' on Land and Sea Sep 20, 2009
Reports of a tense standoff earlier this year between Indian and Chinese warships on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden though dismissed by both governments did little to subdue the sense of distrust brewing between policymakers on both sides. In response to China's gains, India's navy aims to modernize its own fleet. (Time.com)
Death toll rises to 21 in Somalia suicide attack Sep 18, 2009
Piracy has flourished off the Somali coast, making the Gulf of Aden one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. . (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
* Scores killed in Yemeni air raid Sep 18, 2009
Yemen also overlooks one of the worlds most important sea routes, the Gulf of Aden X and just across the way lies Somalia, an even more chaotic country where al-Qaeda is active. Despite US pressure, Yemen says its determined to stamp out the rebellion, claiming it seeks to overthrow the government and establish rule by a Shiite Imamate. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
Yemen Suffers Turmoil On Multiple Fronts Sep 17, 2009
PIRATES: Yemen is feels the impact of piracy from Somalia, across the Gulf of Aden. Its navy has clashed with Somali pirates and foiled several attacks on Yemeni vessels. (CBS News -- World)
Women rising in ranks on merchant ships Sep 17, 2009
Akbay, a third officer, was on the MV Horizon-1 cargo vessel when it was hijacked July 9 in the Gulf of Aden, near Somalia, and has said by satellite telephone from captivity that the two-dozen crew members had not been harmed. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Business)
North Korea ship fights off pirates Sep 16, 2009
So far this year, 156 ships, including the North Korean vessel, have been attacked off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Thirty-two have been hijacked, and five remain in pirate hands along with 102 crew members, Choong said. (MSNBC -- International)
Migrants 'drown' off Somali coast Sep 16, 2009
It says some 860 boats carrying 43,586 people have tried to cross the Gulf of Aden so far this year. Some 273 people have drowned or are presumed dead, it says. (BBC News -- Africa)
UN chides Italy over migrants’ rights Sep 16, 2009
Tens of thousands of migrants cross the Mediterranean, the Gulf of Aden, the Straits of Florida, and other stretches of water in barely seaworthy boats each year, fleeing persecution at home or searching for better economic prospects abroad. In many cases, authorities reject these migrants and leave them to face hardship and peril, if not death, as though they were turning away ships laden with dangerous waste, UN rights chief Navi Pillay said to the UN Human Rights Council. (Boston Globe)
NBC: U.S. forces kill al-Qaida leader in Somalia Sep 15, 2009
Somalia's lawlessness also has allowed piracy to flourish off its coast, making the Gulf of Aden one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. . (MSNBC -- International)
Somali pirates release Greek ship Sep 15, 2009
Somalia has been without a functioning central government since 1991, allowing the pirates to operate in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The pirate who confirmed to Reuters that the MV Irene had been released on Monday was speaking from the coastal pirate stronghold of Eyl and gave his name as Hussein. (BBC News -- Europe)
Somalia: Puntland Police Seize Control of Human Trafficking Hotspots Sep 14, 2009
The two locations, Marero and Shimbirale, have been notorious hotspots where human traffickers have conducted their illegal business of transporting migrants across the Gulf of Aden to the shores of Yemen ... In recent weeks, Puntland's commercial port city of Bossaso, which is located along the Gulf of Aden, has been teeming with Somali and foreign migrants, mostly from neighboring Ethiopia ... It is suspected that most of these people are preparing to voluntarily pay to take the dangerous... (allAfrica.com)
Shelling In Somalia Kills 15, Mostly Ex-soldiers Sep 14, 2009
Somalia's lawlessness also has allowed piracy to flourish off its coast, making the vital Gulf of Aden one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. (CBS News -- World)
Chinese soldiers hold anti-pirates drill in Gulf of Aden Sep 13, 2009
Chinese naval soldiers prepare to get into the helicopter on the board of Zhoushan missile frigate in the Gulf of Aden, Sept. 12, 2009. The Chinese escort flotilla on the escort mission to fend off Somali pirates at the Gulf of Aden held an exercise of anti-pirates on Saturday. (Xinhuanet, China)
Can Somalia be saved? Sep 10, 2009
Its potential to serve as a haven for international terrorists and as a launching pad for piracy in the Gulf of Aden are but two reasons a stable Somalia remains a strategic national security interest to the US and the international community. Renewed US focus on the region could not come at a more pressing time. (Christian Science Monitor)
Anti-piracy equipment dazzles defence fair Sep 9, 2009
Amid stepped up international efforts to halt piracy, in particular in the Gulf of Aden, British defence firm BAE Systems unveiled a new non-lethal system for commercial vessels to help them spot and fend off attackers. It comprises a radar that enables the detection of ships up to 25 kilometres (15 miles) away -- current commercial systems have a range of up to about seven kilometres -- as well as 360-degree camera systems and early warning mechanisms. (Yahoo! Asia News)
U.S. Marine Captain Meadows killed in Afghanistan mission Sep 9, 2009
In August of 2008, Meadows was the lead Marine Corps Huey helicopter pilot seeing action in the Gulf of Aden in an operation that prevented a pirate attack on the Gem of Kilakarai, a Singapore cargo ship. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, were deployed aboard the USS Peleliu provided aerial support and explosive ordnance disposal during the mission. (Elgin Courier, TX)
Somalia trains 500 in effort to thwart pirates Sep 9, 2009
Japan, America, Germany, China, Canada, and other nations have sent warships to the Gulf of Aden but there are not enough of them to cover the danger zone. The pirates have expanded their operations hundreds of miles offshore in the Indian Ocean. (Boston Globe)
Arrests in 'pirate-hostage swap' Sep 8, 2009
Although the international naval forces have stepped up patrols in the Gulf of Aden this year, relatively few of the pirates detained have faced trial because of the legal complexities involved. Bookmark with. (BBC News -- Africa)
Chinese missile frigate says hello to Russian's Warfare Ship on Gulf of Aden Sep 4, 2009
Chinese Navy soldiers aboard Zhoushan missile frigate convey messages via light signals to a Russian naval vessel on the Gulf of Aden, on Sept. 2, 2009. The Chinese missile frigate on the escort mission to fend off Somali pirates on the Gulf of Aden, encountered here with Russian Navy's Antisubmarine Warfare Ship "Admiral Tributs", which was escorting merchant vessels, at local time 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday and said hello to each other via light signals and flag signals. (Xinhuanet, China)
French, Indian ships rescue 14-member Indian crew Sep 1, 2009
NEW DELHI: A 14-member Indian crew on board a country-made vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden have been rescued in a joint operation by Indian and French warships, the Navy said on Thursday ... The Indian crew on board a country-made vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in Gulf of Aden have been rescued in a joint operation by Indian and French warships. (India Times, India)
Stupidity Tax May Keep Dunces Out of Trouble: Celestine Bohlen Sep 1, 2009
So why shouldnt thrill-seeking travelers pick up the tab for such obvious recklessness as sailing into the pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden. That kind of stupidity is what propelled the French into action. (Bloomberg -- Columnists)
Captured Ukrainian crew plead for help Aug 31, 2009
Pirates attacked more than 130 merchant ships last year in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, a rise of more than 200 percent over 2007, according to the International Maritime Bureau. More than 30,000 vessels a year transit the Gulf of Aden, heading to and from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Warmongers in China, India miss the mark Aug 29, 2009
China's sustained investment in military modernization and recent attempts to expand its area of operation into distant waters, such as the Gulf of Aden, unfortunately add weight to such apprehensions. China's military modernization is clearly no longer targeted solely at Taiwan; but aimed at playing a larger role in the Asia-Pacific region. (Asia Times Online)
Pirates Shoot at U.S. Navy Helicopter Aug 28, 2009
Since seizing the ship and its 30-member crew in the Gulf of Aden in April, the pirates have used the vessel as a base for attacking other commercial ships, including the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama. The Navy says four other merchant ships and 105 crewmembers are currently being held by pirates near the Win Far. (CBS News)
French agent kills captors, escapes in Somalia Aug 26, 2009
Somalia's lawlessness also has allowed piracy to flourish off its coast, making the Gulf of Aden one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. Many fear the power vacuum in Somalia will provide a haven for terrorists, as the military and police force are weak and in disarray. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
Somalia: Naval Patrol Seizes Weapons From Pirate Suspects Aug 25, 2009
Naval patrols fired warning shots to stop suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden at the weekend, later seizing ladders, rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. The European Union Naval Force for Somalia said in a news release that a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft spotted a skiff on Saturday which was carrying seven people, a ladder and large amounts of fuel. (allAfrica.com)
Battle rages in Yemen after rebels reject offer Aug 25, 2009
The fighting near the border with Saudi Arabia was another spasm across an increasingly unstable Yemen, a poor yet strategic country off the Gulf of Aden. U.S. officials are concerned that the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh is engulfed in conflicts that also include a separatist insurgency in the south and growing numbers of al Qaeda fighters using the nation as a base to launch attacks across the Middle East. (San Francisco Chronicle)
