Pirate attacks at two-decade low: Maritime watchdog

[GTom]

Originally Posted by daletournier

That's my recollection as well, also pirates have been captured only 200nm nw of here (Seychelles) two mths ago. That hasn't happened for quite sometime.

Wow, that's quite a lot of diesel to burn from Eyl...

[daletournier]

http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/...possible+trial

It was just after the winds turned west north west.

[GTom]

Originally Posted by daletournier

6 suspected Somali pirates transferred to Seychelles for possible trial - Seychelles News Agency

It was just after the winds turned west north west.

These guys will never give up, hopefully drone technology/application will develop so far that they can be stopped <100nm from the Somali coast. 1 huge warship in every 500nm is just way too inefficient. Besides, I hope that the situation on the coast will improve that they'll get a "nice" welcoming party there from the yet nonexistent security forces.

[Paul L]

A little more Red Sea route action.

[QUOTE] 'Somali pirates' attack Singapore ship
A Singapore-flagged chemical tanker has been attacked by suspected Somali pirates, the European Union's navy has said.

The ship was en route from Sohar, Oman, to Cape Town, South Africa, when they were attacked 160 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia on Friday.

The suspected pirates opened fire as they approached in two small boats, but were repelled by on-board security.

After about 20 minutes, the attackers retreated./QUOTE]

[406Columbia]

wow they were conducting an attack 160nm off the coast, that's impressive. Certainly would be food for thought if my route took me that way. I wonder how many cruisers have some sort of weapon on board to defend themselves.

Scary stuff

[GTom]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

wow they were conducting an attack 160nm off the coast, that's impressive. Certainly would be food for thought if my route took me that way. I wonder how many cruisers have some sort of weapon on board to defend themselves.

Scary stuff

In the heydays of Somali piracy they went much further out. Routes to the Seychelles outer islands were considered unsafe for several years.

[Tientos]

You may wish to rethink that statement...

Yachting Guidance

[daletournier]

Also last week a yacht in the gulf of Aden was approached by five skiffs, navy helicopter and plane kept watchful eye until warship came to aid and provided an escort and some extra fuel.

[lifgun]

Was doing a trip from Richards Bay to Turkey during the last months. Beside the thousands of miles upwind sailing I did not encounter any suspicious skiff movements. What I've learned was that the ability to recognize the difference between a fishing vessel (fishing skiff) and a potential pirat skiff is key. I saw tons of fishing boats, but never a pirate skiff. I was passing Somalia in a kind of stealth mode (no lights, no AIS, not even the radar was running) and all went fine. In the Gulf of Aden I was sailing in between the shipping lanes, which was quite comfortable. Encountered some warships but at least once a day a army airplane was flying over and get in touch with us by VHF. The Red Sea was from a sailing point of view the most tough part due the really strong headwinds and almost no room to sail. Tons of oil and gas rigs, fishing trawlers and cargo traffic makes it unbelievable difficult, specially as a single handed sailor... To make a long story short : I did not seen any pirates or similar stuff during the whole 40 day from South Africa until Suez. For more visit Lifgun

[poiu]

Originally Posted by lifgun

Was doing a trip from Richards Bay to Turkey during the last months. Beside the thousands of miles upwind sailing I did not encounter any suspicious skiff movements. What I've learned was that the ability to recognize the difference between a fishing vessel (fishing skiff) and a potential pirat skiff is key. I saw tons of fishing boats, but never a pirate skiff. I was passing Somalia in a kind of stealth mode (no lights, no AIS, not even the radar was running) and all went fine. In the Gulf of Aden I was sailing in between the shipping lanes, which was quite comfortable. Encountered some warships but at least once a day a army airplane was flying over and get in touch with us by VHF. The Red Sea was from a sailing point of view the most tough part due the really strong headwinds and almost no room to sail. Tons of oil and gas rigs, fishing trawlers and cargo traffic makes it unbelievable difficult, specially as a single handed sailor... To make a long story short : I did not seen any pirates or similar stuff during the whole 40 day from South Africa until Suez. For more visit Lifgun

An amazing trip. Tough too. There’s no way I would have taken the risk of encountering piracy. I wonder if you got active protection from the military there? They will have known about potential pirate activity that you will not have been able to see from just beyond the horizon and much further.

I can’t imagine that being able to identify a pirate skiff will have helped. If the identify you as a target then that is all that is relevant.

[lifgun]

Poiu
You know, there was one situation at 3 am when a coalition warship was calling me and was telling a story over the vhf that they are one hour away and will deploy the ribs in 15 minutes to give me assistance....I didn't saw anything in my area nor I called them, but maybe this was kind of shadow boxing to keep somebody or someone away from somewhere... To be honest this was a bit scary...but at the end nothing happened ....And you was obliged to do the daily email drill with the UKMTO headquarters. Yep...but I'm happy to returned safe....

[Yellowtulip]

Just a small point: there isn't a "European Union navy". There is an international agreement to combat piracy, and the independent European states lend their navies to this operation as appropriate. The UK's Royal Navy has been prominent in this operation.

[poiu]

Originally Posted by lifgun

Poiu
You know, there was one situation at 3 am when a coalition warship was calling me and was telling a story over the vhf that they are one hour away and will deploy the ribs in 15 minutes to give me assistance....I didn't saw anything in my area nor I called them, but maybe this was kind of shadow boxing to keep somebody or someone away from somewhere... To be honest this was a bit scary...but at the end nothing happened ....And you was obliged to do the daily email drill with the UKMTO headquarters. Yep...but I'm happy to returned safe....

Chilling stuff. It goes to show the pirates are still there.