Pirates in the Indian Ocean have threatened international shipping since the mid-2000s. This list documents vessels attacked in 2010: for other years, see List of ships attacked by Somali pirates.
Pirates in the Indian Ocean have threatened international shipping since the mid-2000s. This list documents vessels attacked in 2010: for other years, see List of ships attacked by Somali pirates.
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 Singapore (  Indonesia ) | Pramoni (Chemical tanker) | 24 (5 Chinese, 17 Indonesian, 1 Nigerian, 1 Vietnamese) (Not known) | Released | January 1, 2010 | unknown | |
| February 26, 2010 [1] | Not known | |||||
| Pramoni was attacked by Somali pirates and captured while on its way to Kandla, India. [2] [3] The ship was owned by the Indonesian company Berlian Laju Tanker until 2008, when it was bought by the Norwegian company Platou. [4] The Pramoni was hijacked by Somali pirates on 1 January 2010 in the Gulf of Aden in the International Recommended Transit Corridor and, after payment of a ransom, released along with its crew of 24 on 26 February 2010, during which time it was held at Eyl in Somalia. [5] [6] [7] [8] The pirates were returning from a trip to Yemen, where they had taken illegal migrants. [9] | ||||||
 South Korea (  United Kingdom ) | MV Asian Glory (Cargo ship) | 26 (Cars) | Released | January 2, 2010 | unknown | |
| June 11, 2010 | Not known | |||||
| Asian Glory was attacked by Somali pirates and captured some 620 miles (1,000 km) off the coast of Somalia. [10] Vessel released 11 June 2010. [11] | ||||||
 Cambodia | MV Layla S (Cargo ship) | (Unknown) | Legal Dispute | January 27, 2010 | unknown | |
| None | ||||||
| Layla S vessel was held due to a legal dispute off the Somaliland port of Berbera. | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 North Korea (  Libya ) | Rim (Cargo ship) | 17 (Clay) | Re-captured by crew | February 2, 2010 | unknown | |
| June 2, 2010 | None | |||||
| Rim was attacked by Somali pirates and captured on 2 February 2010. Crew re-captured ship 2 June 2010. [12] [13] | ||||||
 Antigua and Barbuda (  Slovenia ) | Ariella (Cargo ship) | 25 (Steel) | Released | February 5, 2010 | unknown | |
| February 5, 2010 | None | |||||
| Ariella was attacked by Somali pirates and captured on 5 February 2010. After sending a distress call a helicopter from Royal Danish Navy HDMS Absalon was dispatched. Danish Frogman Corps special forces from Absalon later boarded finding the crew unharmed and the pirates had apparently escaped. [14] [15] | ||||||
 Tanzania | MV Barakaale 1 (Cargo ship) | Unknown (Unknown) | Capture failed | February 23, 2010 | unknown | |
| February 23, 2010 | None | |||||
| Barakaale 1 was attacked by pirates in a skiff. A distress call was made and a helicopter from USS Farragut was despatched. The pirates were arrested by a boarding team dispatched from USS Farragut. [16] [17] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 Saudi Arabia | MV Al Nisr al Saudi (Oil tanker) | 14 (13 Sri Lankans, 1 Greek) (Crude oil) | Released | March 3, 2010 | unknown | |
| December 7, 2010 | Paid (amount unknown) | |||||
| On March 3, 2010, the MV Al Nisr al Saudi, a Saudi-owned tanker was hijacked on its way from Japan to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The tanker has a dry weight of 5,136 tonnes. The ship and its crew were released on December 7, 2010, after an undisclosed amount of ransom was paid to the hijackers. [18] [19] | ||||||
 Marshall Islands (  Norway ) | MV UBT Ocean (Oil tanker) | Unknown (Crude oil) | Released | March 5, 2010 | unknown | |
| July 20, 2010 | Unknown | |||||
 Wikinews has related news: | ||||||
 |  Netherlands | HNLMS Tromp (De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate) | Unknown (None) | 13 pirates captured and released to mother skiff after cleared of weapons | March 17, 2010 | unknown |
| None | ||||||
| When Tromp was spotted by the pirates, they began to approach the ship in two skiffs at high speed. As they closed to a distance of 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) two bursts of heavy machine gun warning shots were fired by HNLMS TROMP. The two attack skiffs stopped their approach, attempted to flee and threw several undefined objects into the water. Afterwards, the Tromp boarding team found 13 suspected pirates, All 13 members were arrested and were returned to the mother skiff with sufficient fuel, water and food so they could reach the Seychelles, according to EU directives. The Seychellen Coastguard was informed of the upcoming skiff. The two attack skiffs were destroyed by HNLMS Tromp and piracy attributes are seized. | ||||||
 Panama (  United Arab Emirates ) | MV Almezaan (Cargo vessel) | Unknown (Unknown) | Capture failed, 1 pirate killed, 6 pirates arrested. | March 23, 2010 | unknown | |
| None | ||||||
| Almezaan was attacked on 23 March 2010 by Somali pirates in a skiff. An armed private vessel protection team was on board and engaged the pirates in a gunfight. One pirate was killed. A second attack on Almezaan was also repelled. The Spanish frigate Navarra responded to a distress signal, despatching a helicopter which stopped both skiffs after firing warning shots. Six pirates were arrested, and the body of a seventh was recovered. In reaction to the incident, the International Maritime Bureau expressed concern that the incident would lead to an increase in violence from Somali pirates when capturing ships. [22] [23] | ||||||
| Panama ( United Arab Emirates ) | MV Iceberg 1 (Roll-on roll-off) | 24 (9 Yemenis, 6 Indians, 4 Ghanaians, 2 Sudanese, 2 Pakistani, 1 Filipino) (Mechanical instruments) | Rescued by Puntland Maritime Police Force. 22 crew rescued. 1 crew missing (presumed dead), 1 crew committed suicide, 3 pirates killed. | March 29, 2010 | unknown | |
| December 22, 2012 | $8 million (initially) [24] $14 million (later) | |||||
| On March 29, 2010, the Iceberg 1, a 3,960 dry weight tonnes vessel was hijacked 10 nautical miles from the port of Aden, Gulf of Aden while heading to Jebel Ali Port, United Arab Emirates and was held at Kulub at the North-Eastern Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia. [24] [25] The ship is considered the longest ship to had been held in captivity and was rescued after 2 years and nine months. The crew were tortured and the ransom was increased to $14 million. On December 23, Puntland Maritime Police Force was able to board the ship and rescue the 22 surviving crew members after a two week siege which killed 3 of the pirates. [26] | ||||||
 Taiwan | FV Jih-Chun Tsai 68 (Fishing vessel) | 13 (10 Indonesians, 2 Chinese, 1 Taiwanese) (Fish) | Sunk | March 30, 2010 | unknown | |
| May 20, 2011 | Yes | |||||
| On March 30, 2010, the FV Jih-Chun Tsai 68, a Taiwanese-owned and flagged fishing vessel was attacked together with sister ship, Jui Man Fa, which managed to escape. The vessels were conducting fishing operations near Somali waters and the Seychelles. [25] The 10 Indonesians were released in March 2011. [27] On May 20, 2011, the USS Stephen W. Groves exchanged fire with the FV Jih-Chun Tsai 68 and the Taiwanese captain and three pirates were killed. [28] The two Chinese crewmen were rescued but the ship was sunk. [28] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 |  United States | USS Nicholas (Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate) | Unknown (N/A) | Attack failed, five pirates captured, tried, convicted, sentenced to life in prison | April 1, 2010 | unknown |
| None | ||||||
| USS Nicholas (FFG-47) was attacked by pirates in international waters west of the Seychelles. The United States Navy frigate returned fire sinking a pirate skiff and eventually confiscating a suspected pirate mother ship. Five pirates were captured. [29] [30] | ||||||
| South Korea ( Singapore ) | MV Samho Dream (Supertanker) | 24 (Crude oil) | Released | April 4, 2010 | unknown | |
| November 6, 2010 | $9.5 million | |||||
| Samho Dream was captured on April 4 by Somali pirates. [31] Reported released in November 2010 after payment of $9 million ransom. [32] | ||||||
 Germany | MV Taipan (Container ship) | 13 (Unknown) | Capture failed, 10 pirates captured | April 5, 2010 | unknown | |
| April 5, 2010 | None | |||||
| The MV Taipan was boarded by pirates approximately 500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi) east off the Somali coast. The crew were able to retreat to a safe room onboard and to disable the engine. Their call for help was responded to by the Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp whose crew entered the vessel and fought down the pirates when initial negotiations failed. Ten pirates were taken into custody while the Taipan's crew was released unharmed. [33] | ||||||
 | United States | USS Ashland (Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship) | Unknown (N/A) | Attack failed, six pirates captured | April 10, 2010 | unknown |
| None | ||||||
| Pirates fired shots at the USS Ashland 330 nmi (610 km; 380 mi) off the coast of Djibouti. The United States Navy ship returned fire, setting the pirates' skiff ablaze. Six pirates abandoned the skiff and were rescued by personnel from the Ashland. [34] [35] | ||||||
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (  Seychelles ) | MV Rak Afrikana (Cargo ship) | 11 Indians, 6 Pakistanis, 8 Tanzanians (Unknown) | Released | April 11, 2010 | unknown | |
| March 9, 2011 | Unknown as of 29 July 2023 | |||||
| The MV Rak Afrikana cargo ship was seized approximately 280 nmi (520 km; 320 mi) west of the Seychelles. [36] [37] [38] [39] | ||||||
 Thailand | MV Prantalay 11, 12, and 14 (Fishing vessels) | 77 (Unknown) | 11 recaptured by Indian Navy, 12 unknown, 14 sunk | April 18, 2010 | unknown | |
| Unknown as of 29 July 2023 | ||||||
| The fishing boats MV Prantalay 11, 12, and 14 were captured approximately 1,900 km (1,200 mi) east of Somalia, near the Indian coast, the farthest yet Somali pirates have struck. [40] [41] All three ships were captured by, and used as supply ships for, the pirates. Prantalay 14 was later sunk by the Indian Navy on January 28, 2011, while 11 was recaptured. [42] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 Liberia (  Russia ) | MV Moscow University (Tanker) | 19 Filipinos, 2 Greeks, 1, Romanian, 1 Ukrainians (Crude oil) | Rescued by a Russian warship; hijackers arrested | May 5, 2010 | unknown | |
| May 6, 2010 | None | |||||
| See: MV Moscow University hijacking The Liberian flagged Moscow University was attacked by Somali pirates in two speedboats when some 500 nautical miles (930 km) off the coast of Somalia. The Udaloy-class destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov was reported to be en route to the aid of the crew of Moscow University. The crew was reported to have locked themselves in the ship's radar room. [43] [44] On 6 May, Russian Naval Infantry from the Marshal Shaposhnikov landed on the hijacked vessel and rescued it, killing one pirate and detaining ten. The entire crew escaped unharmed. [45] [46] | ||||||
 |  Malta (  Japan ) | SS Oceanic (Cruise ship) | Unknown (Unknown) | Avoided capture; hijackers arrested | May 2010, exact date unknown | unknown |
| Attack repelled | None | |||||
| According to reports in Japanese and Croatian newspapers, the Japanese-owned but Maltese-flagged educational cruise ship Oceanic came under attack off the coast of Yemen sometime during the week between 3 and 9 May 2010. The ship was attacked with grenades, but managed to avoid capture by adopting zig-zag manoeuvres and blasting the pirates with high-pressure water hoses. Reportedly the pirates were subsequently apprehended by NATO forces. [47] | ||||||
| Taiwan | FV Tai Yuan 227 (Fishing boat) | 9 Chinese, 7 Kenyans, 3 Vietnamese, 3 Filipinos, 2 Mozambicans () | Released | May 6, 2010 | unknown | |
| January 28, 2011 | ||||||
| The FV Tai Yuan 227, a Taiwan-flagged fishing vessel was hijacked on May 6, 2010. The fishing vessel is approximately 50 m (164 ft 1 in) long. The Taipei Rescue Command Center confirmed that the vessel had been seized in an incident report. [25] [48] | ||||||
| United States ( Germany ) | MT Marida Marguerite (Chemical tanker) | 19 Indians, 2 Bangladeshi, 1 Ukrainian (Chemicals) | Released | May 8, 2010 | unknown | |
| December 28, 2010 | $5,500,000 | |||||
| On May 8, 2010, the MT Marida Marguerite, a 13,273 DWT chemical tanker, was hijacked by Somali pirates 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) south of the Omani port of Salalah. [25] The ship was reported to have been released on 28 December after a ransom of $5,500,000 (£3,600,000) had been paid. [49] | ||||||
| Liberia (  Greece ) | MV Eleni P (Bulk carrier) | 23 () | Released | May 12, 2010 | unknown | |
| December 11, 2010 | ||||||
| The MV Eleni P, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier ship, was hijacked on May 12, 2010, about 250 nmi (460 km; 290 mi) off the coast of Oman. On December 11, 2011, after seven months, the ship and its crew were released. [50] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
| Panama ( United Arab Emirates ) | MV QSM Dubai (Cargo ship) | 24 (Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Ghana) (Unknown) | Ship and 23 crew rescued by Puntland Security Forces. Captain killed by pirates. | June 2, 2010 | unknown | |
| June 3, 2010 | unknown | |||||
| The Panamanian-flagged MV QSM Dubai was captured by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. [13] Somali government security forces retook the ship and arrested seven pirates. The Pakistani captain was killed by the pirates, while the remaining crew were freed by the Puntland Security Forces. [51] [52] | ||||||
| Singapore (  China ) | MV Golden Blessing (Chemical tanker) | 19 (Ethylene glycol) | Released | June 28, 2010 | unknown | |
| November 6, 2010 | $2.8 million | |||||
| The Singaporean-flagged Chinese-chartered chemical tanker MV Golden Blessing was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden and its Chinese crew of 19 was taken hostage. The ship was carrying a cargo of ethylene glycol, a chemical used for antifreeze. [53] Reported released in November 2010 on payment of $2.8 million. [32] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
| Marshall Islands ( Greece ) | MT Motivator (Chemical tanker) | 18 (Lubricating oil) | Released | July 4, 2010 | unknown | |
| January 16, 2011 | Unknown | |||||
| The Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker MT Motivator reported coming under small arms fire in the northern Bab-el-Mandeb area of the Red Sea before losing contact on July 4. The following day, it was confirmed that the ship had been boarded and hijacked. The ship had a crew of 18 Filipinos and was carrying a cargo of lubricating oil. [54] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
| Panama (  Egypt ) | MV Suez (Merchant vessel) | 11 Egyptians, 6 Indians, 4 Pakistanis, 2 Sri Lankans (Cement bags) | Released | August 2, 2010 | unknown | |
| June 13, 2011 | 2.1 million dollars | |||||
| Operation Umeed-e-Nuh On August 2, 2010, the MV Suez, a merchant vessel was attacked and hijacked by small arms fire from Somali pirates. After the attack, navies in the area attempted to make contact with the MV Suez, but were unable to do so. The MV Suez has a deadweight tonnage of 17,300 tonnes. [25] A ransom of $2.1 million was paid by Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney for the release of the vessel and its crew; and escort to Pakistan by two Pakistani warships - PNS Babur and PNS Zulfiqar. | ||||||
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (  Syria ) | MV Syrian Star (Freighter) | 24 (Sugar) | Released | August 6, 2010 | unknown | |
| August 7, 2010 | 6.45 crore rupees | |||||
| The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged freighter MV Syrian Star was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden and its Syrian and Egyptian crew of 24 (22 Syrian, 2 Egyptian) was taken hostage. [55] The pirates abandoned the ship a day later, leaving on a lifeboat, leaving behind their own skiff. Two crew members were injured in the hijacking. [56] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 | Antigua and Barbuda ( Germany ) | MV Magellan Star (Container ship) | 11 (Unknown) | Surrendered, 9 pirates captured | September 8, 2010 | unknown |
| September 9, 2010 | None | |||||
| Nine Somali pirates seized the German-owned MV Magellan Star on 8 September 2010. The crew locked themselves in a safe room. On 9 September the vessel was boarded by U.S. forces who took control after the pirates surrendered without incident. [57] [58] | ||||||
| Malta ( Greece ) | MT Olib G (Chemical tanker) | 15 Georgians, 3 Turkish (Chemicals) | Released after ransom paid | September 9, 2010 | unknown | |
| January 8, 2012 | $15 million ($3 million eventually paid) | |||||
| On September 8, 2010, the MT Olib G was hijacked in the eastern part of the protected Gulf of Aden corridor. The tanker has a tonnage of 6,375 tonnes. The pirates demanded a ransom of $15 million, but eventually settled for $3 million. The tanker was held 38 nmi (70 km; 44 mi) off of Eyl, at the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean coast of Somalia. [25] | ||||||
| Panama ( United Arab Emirates ) | MT Asphalt Venture (Asphalt tanker) | 15 Indians (Asphalt) | Released | September 28, 2010 | unknown | |
| April 15, 2011 | $3.5 million (unknown payment made) | |||||
| On September 28, 2010, the MT Asphalt Venture, an asphalt tanker was hijacked by Somali pirates while on its way from Mombasa to Durban. The vessel was held at Kulub, the northeastern Indian Ocean coast of Somalia. [25] [59] [60] In April 2011 the vessel with 8 of her crew was released while the remaining 7 crew members were detained ashore. [61] Following negotiations, the release of the remaining 7 men in October 2014 was arranged after a modest payment was made to cover the logistical and transport costs of the group holding the men. [62] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 Kenya ( South Korea ) | FV Golden Wave (Fishing ship) | 2 Koreans, 2 Chinese, 39 Kenyans (Crab) | Released | October 9, 2010 | unknown | |
| February 9, 2011 [63] | N/A | |||||
| The 43 sailor crew aboard the 241-ton FV Golden Wave, formerly known as the Keummi 305, a crab-fishing vessel, was captured off the coast of Kenya's Lamu Island. The hijacked location was more than 400 km (250 mi) away from the pirates' base. [64] [65] [66] [67] [68] The Finnish warship Pohjanmaa, in its first mission as part of ENAVFOR, provided medical aid and basic necessities. South Korean government requested assistance be given. | ||||||
| Panama ( Japan ) | MV Izumi (Cargo ship) | 20 Filipinos (Steel) | Released | October 10, 2010 | unknown | |
| February 26, 2011 [69] | None | |||||
| The 14,000 tonne NYK-Hinode Line Ltd ship was captured 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) off the coast of Mombasa, Kenya [70] [71] and subsequently was reported as being anchored near Haradheere, a pirate stronghold. [72] [73] Kenyan police detained 2 British and 1 Kenyan suspect from released MV Izumi. Live and spent ammunition found on board following police investigation. | ||||||
| Singapore ( Germany ) | MV York (Tanker) | 17 (Liquefied gas) | Crew released | October 23, 2010 | unknown | |
| March 10, 2011 [74] | N/A | |||||
| MV York was traveling from Mombasa to Mahe in the Seychelles when captured 105 mi (169 km) off the coast of Kenya. [75] It is now being used as a large pirate support ship. | ||||||
| Antigua and Barbuda ( Germany ) | MV Beluga Fortune (Cargo ship) | 16 () | Released | October 24, 2010 | unknown | |
| October 25, 2010 | None | |||||
| Beluga Fortune was captured 1,200 mi (1,900 km) east of Mombasa while en route from United Arab Emirates to South Africa. The ship was freed a day after being taken captured. The crew, when attacked, had stopped the engine, blocked the fuel lines, switched off all systems on the bridge and hid in a strongroom which had communications and food supplies. Pirates had already left by the time British frigate HMS Montrose arrived 15 hours later. [76] | ||||||
 South Africa | SY Choizil (Yacht) | 2 () | Released | October 26, 2010 | unknown | |
| June 21, 2012 | None | |||||
| SY Choizil was captured by Somali pirates and taken to the port of Barawe, Somalia. The skipper was rescued by the French frigate Floréal but his two crew were captured and taken to Somalia. [77] They were released after 20 months of captivity. [78] | ||||||
| Panama ( Liberia ) | MV Polar (Product tanker) | 16 Filipinos, 3 Greeks, 3 Montenegrins, 1 Romanian, 1 Serbian (Unknown) | Released [79] | October 30, 2010 | unknown | |
| August 26, 2011 | None | |||||
| On October 30, 2010, MV Polar was hijacked 684 mi (1,101 km) east of the Indian Ocean island of Socotra. The vessel weighs 72,825 tonnes. According to the Seafarers Network of Greece, on November 22, 2010, one Filipino seafarer was reported to have suffered and succumbed to a heart attack. [25] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
| Panama | MV Hannibal II (Chemical tanker) | 23 Tunisians, 4 Filipinos, 1 Croatian, 1 Georgian, 1 Russian, 1 Moroccan (Vegetable oil) | Released | 12 November 2010 | unknown | |
| 17 March 2011 | ||||||
| Hannibal II was captured 860 nmi (1,590 km; 990 mi) east of the Horn of Africa. [80] The vessel was released on 17 March 2011; it wasn't known whether a ransom had been paid or not. [81] [82] | ||||||
| Panama ( China ) | MV Yuan Xiang (Cargo ship) | 29 Chinese (unknown) | Released | November 14, 2010 | unknown | |
| June 8, 2011 | unknown | |||||
| Yuan Xiang was captured in the Arabian Sea. [83] [84] | ||||||
 Malaysia | MV Albedo (Cargo ship) | 23 (7 Pakistanis, 7 Bangladeshis, 6 Sri Lankans, 2 Indians, 1 Iranian) (unknown) | Ship sunk, [85] crew released | November 26, 2010 | unknown | |
| August 1, 2012 (date of release of 7 Pakistani crew members) [86] | $ 2.85 million ($ 1.1 million paid for the release of 7 Pakistani crew members) | |||||
| During the early morning hours of November 26, 2010, the MV Albedo was captured by Somali pirates 900 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. The crew consisted of 23 people from Bangladesh, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. [87] One Indian crew member has since died of cholera and his dead body is still on board the ship. [88] A private initiative of several Pakistani families and groups was established in order to raise money for the release of the entire crew. By August 2012 US$ 1.1 million had been raised. That fell short of the US$ 2.85 million demanded by the pirates, but they agreed to release the Pakistani members of the crew for the raised amount. On August 1, 2012 the 7 Pakistani crew members were released after almost two years in captivity. [89] As of 2015, all surviving crew members were returned safely home. [90] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 Bangladesh | MV Jahan Moni (Cargo ship) | 25 (Nickel ore) | Released [91] | December 5, 2010 | unknown | |
| March 14, 2011 [92] | US$4 million [91] | |||||
| Jahan Moni was captured 300 nmi (560 km; 350 mi) off the coast of Kochi, India [93] | ||||||
| Liberia ( United States ) | MV Panama (Cargo ship) | 23 () | Released | December 10, 2010 | unknown | |
| September 13, 2011 [94] | $7 million | |||||
| During the afternoon of December 10, 2010, the MV Panama was captured by two armed skiffs operated by five pirates, approximately 80 mi (130 km) east of the Tanzanian-Mozambique border. The pirates were armed with rocket-propelled grenades. The crew of 23 were all from Myanmar. [87] [95] | ||||||
| Panama ( Liberia ) | MV Renuar (Cargo ship) | 24 () | Released | December 11, 2010 | unknown | |
| April 23, 2011 | ||||||
| On December 10, 2010, the MV Renuar was captured by two armed skiffs supported by a mother ship, approximately 1,000 mi (1,600 km) east of Somalia. The pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and small arms at the ship. [96] | ||||||
| Panama ( United Arab Emirates ) | MV Orna (Cargo ship) | 19 (18 Syrians and 1 Sri Lankan) (Coal) | Ship and 18 crew released, 1 crew member executed. | December 20, 2010 | unknown | |
| October 20, 2012 | unknown ($600,000 paid) | |||||
| On December 20, 2010, the MV Orna, a cargo ship transporting coal from South Africa to India, was captured by Somali pirates 400 mi (640 km) northeast of the Seychelles, after firing rocket-propelled grenades and small arms at the ship. At least four pirates boarded the MV Orna. The MV Orna has a deadweight tonnage of 27,915 tonnes. [98] [99] [100] The ship was initially used as a pirate mother-ship. The ship and 13 of its crew were released after a payment of $600,000 was made. [101] 6 crew members were taken as hostages onshore. 1 Syrian hostage was previously executed by the pirates for delayed payment. [102] The rest of the crew were released 3 months later without ransom. [101] | ||||||
| Thailand | MV Thor Nexus (Cargo ship) | 27 (Unknown) | Released | December 26, 2010 | unknown | |
| April 12, 2011 | ||||||
| While on its way from Jebel Ali, UAE to Bangladesh, MV Thor Nexus was captured in the Arabian Sea on December 26, 2010. [103] [104] | ||||||
| Antigua and Barbuda ( Germany ) | MV Ems River (Cargo ship) | (Unknown) | Released | December 26, 2010 | unknown | |
| March 2, 2011 [105] | ||||||
| Ems River was captured on December 26, 2010 at a position 175 nautical miles (324 km; 201 mi) north east of Salalah, Oman. [106] | ||||||
 Mozambique (  Spain ) | FV Vega 5 (Fishing vessel) | 24 () | Rescued by Indian Navy; 9 crewmembers missing | Before December 28, 2010 (confirmed December 31, 2010) | unknown | |
| March 15, 2011 | ||||||
| According to the EU Navfor, the FV Vega 5, a fishing vessel, was captured about 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi) southwest of the Comoros Islands. On December 31, 2010, the EU Navfor observed the vessel towing what appeared to be a pirate skiff, heading north. The EU naval spokesman stated that the Somali pirates have previously not entered waters as far south as Mozambique. [107] [108] | ||||||
Victoria (F82) is the second of the six Spanish-built Santa Maria-class frigates of the Spanish Navy, based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry class design. Constructed in 1983, the vessel was launched on 23 July 1986 and commissioned on 11 November 1987. The frigate has been assigned to Operation Atalanta, fighting piracy of the Somalian coast.
The MV Golden Nori is a Japanese chemical tanker that was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia on 28 October 2007. In news reports, she has at times been mistakenly referred to as the Golden Nory and Golden Mori. At the time of the hijacking the 23 person crew was composed of citizens of South Korea, the Philippines, and Myanmar. One of the South Korean crew members successfully escaped soon after being taken hostage.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia occurs in the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel, and Somali Seain Somali territorial waters and other surrounding places and has a long and troubled history with different perspectives from different communities. It was initially a threat to international fishing vessels during the early 2000s, only to rapidly escalate and expand to international shipping during the War in Somalia (2006–2009).
There were 49 ships reported pirate attacks in the first three months of 2008, up from 41 in that period of 2007. According to the ICC International Maritime Bureau, in those attacks: "Seven crew members were taken hostage, six kidnapped, three killed and one missing – presumed dead." Up until mid-November 2008, more than 90 vessels had been attacked by pirates in the year. At the same time, with a more than 75 per cent increase since the previous year, pirates were holding 13 ships captive in the Somali ports of Eyl and Hobyo.
MV Manifa is an oil tanker formally owned and operated by Vela International Marine. With a length overall of 330 m (1,080 ft) and a capacity of 2.2 million barrels (350,000 m3) of crude oil, she is classified as a very large crude carrier or VLCC. Vela is based in the United Arab Emirates and is a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian state oil company Saudi Aramco. Sirius Star is one of Vela's 24 tankers, of which 19 are VLCCs. Since her launch, the ship has been registered in Monrovia under the Liberian flag of convenience. She has since been reflagged to Saudi Arabia
The MV Stolt Strength is a Philippines-flagged ship, managed by a Panamanian company. It was hijacked by Somali pirates off the Gulf of Aden on November 10, 2008. The chemical tanker, carrying phosphoric acid and 21 Filipino crewmembers aboard, was attacked by men carrying automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. The ship's owner, Sagana Shipping, of Manila, was awaiting word from the pirates regarding ransom.
Operation Atalanta, formally European Union Naval ForceSomalia, is an ongoing counter-piracy military operation at sea off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean, that is the first naval operation conducted by the European Union (EU). The operational headquarters is currently located at the Spanish Operation Headquarters (ESOHQ) at Naval Station Rota in Spain, having moved from London as a result of the British withdrawal from the EU.
MV Hansa Stavanger was a German container ship. The owner of the ship was Schiffahrts-Gesellschaft MS "HANSA STAVANGER" Co. KG. The Hansa Stavanger was built in 1997 at Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. Her loading capacity is 20,526 GT & she could transport 1,550 containers on board. She was captured by Somali pirates on 4 April 2009. Around 1 May 2009, USS Boxer and a screen of German Navy warships assisted approximately 200 members of the German special police unit GSG-9 in approaching the hijacked ship. During the last phase of the operation, James L. Jones, the U.S. President's National Security Advisor, withheld final approval for the operation out of concern for the safety of the 25 sailors aboard the vessel. This led the German Federal Ministry of Defence to abort the planned attack on the freighter and the GSG-9 unit returned to their base of operations at the airport of Mombasa, Kenya.
The MV Almezaan is a general cargo vessel active off the Horn of Africa. Originally built as the Tarcau, she was renamed in November 2001. The name can be translated from Arabic as "the balance" or "the scales" as well as justice and equity.
Yasin C is a Turkish bulk carrier, captured by Somali pirates on 7 April 2010 while on its way to Mombasa. The crew locked themselves in the engine room, and the ship was released without ransom on 10 April 2010.
On 5 May 2010, Somali pirates hijacked MV Moscow University, a Liberian-flagged Russian tanker, in the Gulf of Aden. Her crew was freed by the Russian Navy destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov the following day.
The MV Izumi is a multi-purpose, RoLo merchant vessel. After its capture by Somali pirates it was used as the first captured merchant vessel in a novel mothership role for pirate operations that expands the pirates' operational capabilities.
Savina Caylyn is an oil tanker of the Italian shipping line Fratelli D'Amato. On 8 February 2011, she was hijacked by Somali pirates some 500 miles (800 km) off the Indian Coast and some 880 miles (1,420 km) off the Somali Coast. The 17 Indian and 5 Italian crew members of the Italy-registered vessel are reported to be unharmed, but taken hostage.
The following lists events that happened in 2009 in Somalia.
Operation Dawn 8: Gulf of Aden was a naval operation carried out by the Royal Malaysian Navy against pirates in the Indian Ocean on 20 January 2011. In response to the hijacking of MV Bunga Laurel, the Malaysian Shipborne Protection Team deployed an attack helicopter and 14 members of the naval counter-terrorism group PASKAL in two rigid-hulled inflatable boats to retake the vessel and rescue the crew. After one night of trailing the tanker, the Malaysian forces successfully retook the ship by force on 20 January 2011, resulting in the wounding of three and the capture of four out of 18 pirates, and all 23 vessel crewmembers rescued.
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