Somali pirates have threatened international shipping with piracy since the beginning of the Somali Civil War in the early 1990s. [1] This list documents those ships attacked in 2011: for other years, see List of ships attacked by Somali pirates.
Somali pirates have threatened international shipping with piracy since the beginning of the Somali Civil War in the early 1990s. [1] This list documents those ships attacked in 2011: 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 | |||||
 Algeria | MV Blida (Cargo ship) | 17 (Cement) | Released [2] | 2011-01-01 | unknown | |
| 2011-11-03 | yes | |||||
| Blida was captured in the Arabian Sea 3:30 pm local time off the coast of Oman. [3] | ||||||
 Denmark | MV Leopard (Cargo ship) | 6 (Arms & Ammo) | Released | 2011-01-12 | unknown | |
| 2013-04-30 | Yes | |||||
| Leopard was attacked evening 12 Jan in Arabian Sea off Oman and found abandoned 13 Jan EUNAVFOR believes Somali pirates transferred all 6 crew to Taiwanese F/V Shiuh Fu No. 1, itself captured by pirates 25 December 2010. [4] | ||||||
 Malaysia (  Japan ) | MV Bunga Laurel (Cargo ship) | 23 (Lubricating oil & Ethylene dichloride) | Rescued by Malaysian Navy | 2011-01-20 | unknown | |
| 2011-01-20 | not known | |||||
| When Malaysian Navy PASKALs stormed the Japanese-owned cargo ship, seven pirates were captured and none of the hostages were harmed. [5] The seven Somali pirates are brought to Malaysia and faced sentences of four to seven years in prison. [6] | ||||||
 Malta (  South Korea ) | Samho Jewelry (Tanker) | 21 [7] (Chemicals [7] ) | Rescued by Korean Navy | 2011-01-15 | unknown | |
| 2011-01-21 | not known | |||||
| When South Korean commandos stormed (ROKN UDT/SEALS) the South Korean Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries ship, eight pirates were killed and none of the captured crew died. [8] | ||||||
 Mongolia (  Vietnam ) | MV Hoang Son Sun (Cargo ship) | 24 (Cattle feed) | Released | 2011-01-21 | unknown | |
| 2011-09-15 [9] | US$4.5 million | |||||
| Attacked approximately 520 nautical miles south east of the port of Omani capital Muscat. [9] | ||||||
 Antigua and Barbuda (  Germany ) | MV Beluga Nomination (Cargo ship) | 12 () | Captured | 2011-01-22 | unknown | |
| 2011-04-13 [10] | $5million | |||||
| Safety room opened after 2 days; attacked approximately 800 nautical miles north of the Seychelles Islands. [10] On 27 January 2011 a Danish naval vessel and a patrol boat from the Seychelles reached the Beluga Nomination. A firefight erupted, leading to fatalities. Two seamen escaped during the confusion and were rescued, but the Beluga Nomination remained in pirate control. [11] | ||||||
 Liberia ( Germany ) | MV New York Star (Tanker) | unknown (Naphtha) | attacked twice, rescued | 2011-01-28 | unknown | |
| 2011-01-29 [12] | no | |||||
| Attacked about 523nm NW of Kavaratti island; pirates boarded, but were unable to break into the citadel to seize control of the ship, and had fled by the time naval forces arrived. [12] | ||||||
 |  Bahamas | CMA CGM Verdi (Container) | unknown (unknown) | Attempted attack prevented by the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard | 2011-01-29 | unknown |
| 2011-01-29 | no | |||||
| An Indian Coast Guard aircraft while responding to a distress call from the CMA CGM Verdi, located two skiffs attempting a piracy attack near Lakshadweep. Seeing the aircraft, the skiffs immediately aborted their piracy attempt and dashed towards the mother vessel, MV Prantalay – a hijacked Thai trawler, which hurriedly hoisted the two skiffs onboard and moved westward. The Indian Navy deployed the INS Cankarso which located and engaged the mothership 100 nautical miles north of the Minicoy island. 10 pirates were killed while 15 were apprehended and 20 Thai and Myanmar fishermen being held aboard the ship as hostages were rescued. INS Cankarso was subsequently joined by the INS Kalpeni of the Indian Navy and CGS Sankalp of the Indian Coast Guard. The rescued fishermen were sent to Kochi while the 15 pirates, mostly Somali, have been taken to Mumbai. Mumbai Police have confirmed that they have registered a case against the pirates for attempt to murder and various other provisions under the Indian Penal Code and Foreigners Act for entering the Indian waters without permission. [13] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 Italy | MV Savina Caylyn (Oil Tanker) | 22 (oil) | Released | 2011-02-08 | unknown | |
| 2011-12-21 | not known | |||||
| Savina Caylyn was captured in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Yemen and released in December 2011 after a ransom was paid. [14] | ||||||
 Greece | MV Irene SL (oil tanker) | 25 (oil) | Released | 2011-02-09 | unknown | |
| 2011-04-08 | 13.5 Million $ | |||||
| Irene SL was captured in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman. [15] | ||||||
| Malta | MV Sinin (Bulk Carrier) | 23 (n/a) | Released | 2011-02-12 | unknown | |
| 2011-08-14 | not known | |||||
| Sinin was captured in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman. [16] | ||||||
 United States | S/V Quest (Private yacht) | 4 (n/a) | All crewmembers killed, vessel boarded by U.S. forces, pirates killed/detained | 2011-02-18 | unknown | |
| 2011-02-22 | no | |||||
| The private yacht Quest was captured in the Indian Ocean en route from India to Oman. [17] After hearing gunfire early on the morning of 22 February, U.S. forces boarded the vessel and discovered that the crew of four had been killed. Pirates engaged the U.S. forces; two pirates were killed and 13 were detained; the bodies of two additional pirates were found. [18] | ||||||
| Denmark | S/V ING (Private yacht) | 2 (+ 5 passengers: 2 adults, 3 children) (n/a) | released | 2011-02-24 | unknown | |
| not known | ||||||
| A Danish yacht with four adults and three children aged 12 to 16 on board was captured on 24 February. [19] They were released after six months in captivity. [20] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 | Bahamas ( Japan ) | MV Guanabara (Oil tanker) | 24 (oil) | Secured | 2011-03-04 | unknown |
| 2011-03-05 | n/a | |||||
| Guanabara [21] was captured in the Indian Ocean 328 nautical miles (607 km; 377 mi) southeast of Oman. The ship was boarded by a team from the USS Bulkeley who detained four pirates. The pirates were tried in Japan. [22] | ||||||
 India | INS Kalpeni, INS Khukri (P49) (Car Nicobar class fast attack craft, Khukri class corvette) | (n/a) | Attack failed; 13 crewmembers of FV Vega 5 rescued | 2011-03-12 | unknown | |
| n/a | n/a | |||||
| While intercepting the captured Spanish-owned vessel, FV Vega 5, two Indian Navy corvettes, INS Kalpeni and INS Khukri were attacked by two pirate skiffs with firearms. During the exchange of fire, crewmembers went overboard while their vessel was being used as an attack base. They found 61 pirates on the captured vessel. Only 13 crewmembers from the FV Vega 5 were rescued.[ citation needed ] | ||||||
 Indonesia | MV Sinar Kudus (Cargo ship) | 20 (ferronickel) | Released by Indonesian Navy and Indonesian Special force (Secured) | 2011-03-16 | unknown | |
| 2011-05-01 | US$9 million | |||||
| The MV Sinar Kudus vessel, now released after being held at Eil Beach, Somalia, was carrying 8,300 tons of ferronickel from Aneka Tambang company worth about US$225 million at the current price. The Somali pirates on 9 April 2011 demanded a new US$9 million ransom, substantially higher than the previous demand of US$3.5 million, because they had been ignored. [23] Both parties agreed on a US$4.5 million ransom after the ship had been held for 46 days. [24] The Indonesian government had sent three ships, one aircraft and one helicopter with 800 soldiers deployed including 300 special forces. Although the government chose not to take a military option as it would have put the safety of the hostages in danger, 4 pirates were killed when the last batch of pirates were leaving the ship. [25] [26] [27] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
| Liberia (  United Arab Emirates ) | MV Arrilah-I (bulk carrier) | 24 (Including 3 Safety Advisors) (Aluminium) | Repelled | 2011-04-01 | unknown | |
| 2011-04-02 | n/a | |||||
| On the morning of 1 April 2011 a mother ship attempted to intercept the bulk carrier Arrilah-I in the Arabian Sea around 400nm west of Mumbai, India. There was a thick fog and the mother ship was only visible on radar. When the mother ship broke through the fog and sighted the Arrilah-I, they launched two attack skiffs. The pirates overcame two levels of defences and boarded. A 30-hour struggle for control followed. The pirates used AK-47's, RPG-7's, threw hand grenades into the citadel, and used explosives to break in and set the ship on fire to drive the crew out. Warships from the U.S. 5th fleet responded to the call for help and sent two fighter jets to scare the pirates, but it had little effect. Later the first day a helicopter came to help the crew to navigate towards the UAE. The first warship arrived on the scene the next day and assembled a boarding party who captured 10 pirates. By sunset on the second day the crew were freed. A task force of 30 UAE special forces soldiers sailed with the ship to her owners in Abu Dhabi where the pirates were disembarked and jailed. Reportedly the mother ship was identified as Jelbut 28. Lukas Rautenbach was the Unarmed Security Team Leader. [28] [29] [30] | ||||||
| Italy | MV Rosalia D'Amato (bulk carrier) | 21 (6 Italians, 15 Filipinos) (soya beans) | Released | 2011-04-21 | unknown | |
| 2011-11-25 | n/a | |||||
| In the early morning of 21 April 2011, the 74,500-ton MV Rosalia D' Amato was captured 350NM southeast of Salalah, Oman while on its way from Paranagua, Brazil to Bandar Imam Khomeini, Iran. On 25 November 2011, all crew members were released and are reportedly safe and in healthy condition. [31] [32] [33] [34] | ||||||
 Singapore | MT Gemini (Oil tanker) | 25 (4 Korean, 13 Indonesians, 3 Myanmar, 5 Chinese) (crude palm oil) | Captured | 2011-04-30 | unknown | |
| 2011-12-03 | $10 million | |||||
| The 20,989 tonne, Singapore flagged and owned vessel was on its way to Mombasa (Kenya) from Kuala Tanjung (Malaysia) when it was attacked and hijacked. On 2 December 2011, the pirates released 21 crewmembers (along with the ship), while keeping 4 Korean crewmembers captive until the South Korean government pays them a ransom of US$4 million. The 21 crewmembers and vessel were released after a ransom of US$6 million was paid. [35] [36] [37] [38] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 Panama (  China ) | MV Full City (Bulk carrier) | unknown (unknown) | Secured | 2011-05-05 | unknown | |
| 2011-05-05 | n/a | |||||
| The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization received a distress call from Full City [39] and passed the information to U.S. Fifth Fleet. An Indian Navy Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft located the Full City, and while the Turkish frigate Giresun boarded the bulk carrier, the U.S. guided-missile cruiser Bunker Hill intercepted a dhow believed to be the 'mothership' for the pirate attack. Bunker Hill's VBSS boarding party seized weapons and other equipment commonly used in piracy, and the boarding party also sank a small skiff being towed by the dhow. Giresun's boarding party found the Full City's crew safe and in control of their ship. [40] [41] | ||||||
 | Denmark | HDMS Esbern Snare (L17) (Absalon class flexible support ship) | 16 (unknown) | 4 pirates killed, 24 pirates arrested (including 10 wounded) and 16 hostages rescued | 2011-05-12 | unknown |
| 2011-05-12 | n/a | |||||
| During a patrol along the Somali coast on the morning of Thursday 12 May, the Esbern Snare was approached by a pirate mother ship. When the Esbern Snare tried to stop the boat using loudspeaker, it opened fire which was immediately returned. Shortly after the exchange of fire, several weapons were thrown overboard and there were signs of surrender. 4 pirates were killed and buried while 10 others were wounded. None of the 16 hostages and no crew members of the Esbern Snare were wounded. The 24 pirates aboard the warship are awaiting trial and the navy has taken control of the mother ship. [42] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 Marshall Islands ( India ) | MT Fairchem Bogey (Oil Tanker) | 21 Indian (Oil) | Released | 2011-08-20 | unknown | |
| 2011-01-12 | $8 Million | |||||
| Fairchem Bogey was in anchorage at the port limit of 5 nautical miles from Salalah, Oman, waiting for berthing instructions when hijacked in the early morning hours of 20 August 2011. This was the first time that a ship was hijacked within the port limits and taken away while the port authorities could do nothing but watch. [43] [44] [45] | ||||||
 Saudi Arabia | MT Al Balad (Oil Tanker) | (Oil) | Capture failed | 2011-08-21 | unknown | |
| Al Balad evaded capture attempt 85 nautical miles southwest of Salalah, Oman on 21 August 2011. | ||||||
| Liberia ( Greece ) | MSC Namibia II (Container ship) | () | Capture failed | 2011-08-23 | unknown | |
| Namibia II evaded capture attempt 100 nautical miles south of Mukalla, Oman on 23 August 2011. | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 France | S/V Tribal Cat (Private yacht) | 2 sailors (none) | 1 fatality, 1 sailor rescued, 7 pirates arrested | 2011-09-10 | unknown | |
| n/a | ||||||
| Responding to a Mayday call, the German frigate Bayern found the catamaran without crew on 10 September. The Spanish ship Galicia later stopped and sank a skiff that was holding one of the sailors; the other one had been killed. Seven alleged pirates were arrested. [46] [47] | ||||||
| Image | Flag (owner) | Name (class) | Crew (cargo) | Status | Date of attack | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Ransom demanded | |||||
 Taiwan | MV Chin Yi Wen (Fishing vessel) | 28 sailors () | Ship recovered by crew: 3 sailors injured, pirates thrown overboard | about 2011-11-02 | unknown | |
| n/a | ||||||
| The vessel was captured by pirates off the east coast of Africa. The crew, which included several Vietnamese war veterans, was kept hostage but fought back, throwing the pirates into the ocean and recovering the vessel. [48] | ||||||
Piracy off the coast of Somalia occurs in the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel, and Somali Sea, in Somali territorial waters and other surrounding places and has a long 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).
The MV Biscaglia was a chemical tanker managed by Ishima Pte. Ltd. of Singapore and held by Industrial Shipping Enterprises Management Company LLC of Stamford, Connecticut, USA.
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), in support of United Nations resolutions 1814, 1816, 1838, and 1846 adopted in 2008 by the United Nations Security Council. Since 29 March 2019, the operational headquarters is located at Naval Station Rota in Spain, having moved from London as a result of the British withdrawal from the EU.
MV Tygra is a container ship currently operated by the Waterman Steamship Corporation and owned by Element Shipmanagement SA of Piraeus, Greece. She was previously owned by the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group and operated by Maersk Line and Maersk Line Limited.
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.
MV Samho Jewelry is a Norwegian-owned and South Korean-operated chemical tanker. She was hijacked by Somali pirates on January 15, 2011 and rescued six days later by South Korean Navy commandos.
Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden was a naval operation by the Republic of Korea Navy against Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. The operation was spurred by the pirates' seizure of the South Korean chemical tanker Samho Jewelry. In response, the South Korean government sent a destroyer and 30 naval commandos to retake the ship and rescue its crew. After trailing the tanker for several days and fighting a preliminary engagement that neutralized four of the pirates, the South Korean forces retook the ship by force on January 21, 2011, in a successful boarding action that resulted in the deaths of eight and the capture of five out of thirteen pirates.
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 MV Iceberg 1 is a Panama-flagged roll-on/roll-off cargo ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates on March 29, 2010. It was the longest-held hijacked ship until the Puntland Maritime forces released it and 22 crew members on 23 December 2012.
Operation Ocean Shield was NATO's contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA), an anti-piracy initiative in the Indian Ocean, Guardafui Channel, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. It follows the earlier Operation Allied Protector. Naval operations began on 17 August 2009 after being approved by the North Atlantic Council, the program was terminated on 15 December 2016 by NATO. Operation Ocean Shield focused on protecting the ships of Operation Allied Provider, which transported relief supplies as part of the World Food Programme's mission in the region. The initiative also helped strengthen the navies and coast guards of regional states to assist in countering pirate attacks. Additionally, China, Japan and South Korea sent warships to participate in these activities.
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.
Piracy kidnappings occur during piracy, when people are kidnapped by pirates or taken hostage. Article 1 of the United Nations International Convention against the Taking of Hostages defines a hostage-taker as "any person who seizes or detains and threatens to kill, to injure, or to continue to detain another person in order to compel a third party namely, a State, an international intergovernmental organization, a natural or Juridical person, or a group of people, to do or abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition tor the release of the hostage commits the offense of taking of hostages ("hostage-taking") within the meaning of this convention." Kidnappers often try to obtain the largest financial reward possible in exchange for hostages, but piracy kidnappings can also be politically motivated.
2023 in piracy was marked by 120 events of maritime piracy against ships, according to the annual Piracy and Armed Robbery Report of the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB). 105 vessels were boarded, nine additional attacks attempted, two fired upon, and four vessels hijacked.
2024 in piracy included 33 reports of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships to the International Maritime Bureau during the first quarter of the year. Incidents included 24 vessels boarded, six of which experienced attempted attacks; two hijacked; and one fired upon. Crew continued to suffer violence, with 35 crew taken hostage, nine kidnapped, and one threatened during the first three months of the year.