Philippine pirate attack kills 3

[cat man do]

Philippine pirate attack kills 3

Philippine pirate attack kills 3


ZAMBOANGA (Philippines) - PIRATES attacked a fishing boat in the southern Philippines, killing three crewmen and taking two others hostage as they fled with the vessel, a local official said on Sunday.
The pirates opened fire on the unidentified vessel late Thursday off the island of Basilan before they boarded it and killed the three crewmen, said Al Rasheed Sakkalahul, Basilan's deputy governor.
Authorities later recovered the fishing trawler but found no one on board, he said, adding the boat had been completely stripped.
'We don't know whether the two hostages are still alive or not,' Mr Sakkalahul said.
Authorities have not yet named any suspects in the case, but the area is a known stronghold for Muslim extremist groups like the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf. -- AFP

ZAMBOANGA - Google Maps


Does anyone with knowledge know if the dodgy areas are just limited to the East?

I had heard that it's sus around this area to the East http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&s...120361&t=h&z=9 where the Phillipines comes in close to Malaysia/Sabah, but that the Western part around here http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&s...240723&t=h&z=8 and up was supoosed to be OK

Dave

[Pelagic]

That area is a battleground of very disgruntled players on both sides of the fence so I would not read into that … any more than an opportunistic hit amongst locals.

Such a shame, because it is a beautiful area but most local yachtsmen stay away and cruise in much happier waters.

[Talbot]

This is the major difference between this area and the Gulf of Aden. The Sommalian Pirates have not killed as a policy, indeed, the only recent death was a heart attack. Whereas the Philipine area is very different.

[muskoka]

The area you've identified is the Sulu Sea which is a notorious area due to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front extremists who've been fighting the Philippines government since the 80's. Mindinao and the southern region of the Sulu Sea is a no-go zone for Westerners and highly dangerous for the locals as well. Other areas of the Philippines are fine.

We'll be sailing down to the Philippines in two months and our port of call will be Puerto Gallera, after which we'll sail down the north coast of Palawan to Borneo.

For the record, over SE Asia I think there has only been one incidence of piracy against a yacht in the past decade. I believe SNeuman wrote a paper on piracy in this area about a year ago.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by muskoka

For the record, over SE Asia I think there has only been one incidence of piracy against a yacht in the past decade. I believe SNeuman wrote a paper on piracy in this area about a year ago.

I think you are wrong there.

I have been tracking and placing marks on Google Earth to match up with these articles

These are all in the last 10 years and its not all of them

Yachtie sites
Noonsite: Indonesia, Eastern Moluccas, Tanimbar Islands - Armed Robbery
Noonsite: 2006 - Piracy Round-Up for the Year
Noonsite: Worrying Incident Near Ayerabu Island, Indonesia
Reported pirate attack in Indonesia

News sites
Pirates rob vessel laden with coal off Tioman

Marine cops nab pirates

Marine police in shootout with pirates

Ships on alert for pirates off Tioman island

MALAYSIA Pirates attack ship in Malacca Strait - Asia News

Knife-Wielding Indonesian Pirates Rob Vessel Off Malaysia's Tioman Island

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Pirates storm Indonesian tanker

The Jawa Report: Pirates Sieze Two Japanese Hostages

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Pirates free Indonesia hostages

Pirates attack three ships off Indonesia - International - redOrbit

USATODAY.com - Pirates attack U.N. ships near Indonesia

Green Car Congress: Pirates Attack LPG Tanker in Indonesia

ICC Printer Friendly Display

Pirates ahead! | csmonitor.com


Check this site for many more

Piracy Map 2008

Piracy Map 2007

Piracy Map 2006

Piracy Map 2005

Dave

[muskoka]

You've referenced commercial shipping.

I clearly said yachts.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by muskoka

You've referenced commercial shipping.

I clearly said yachts.

Try the noonsite ones

Dave

[muskoka]

Noonsite lists a few incidents of gear theft from unattended boats, two boardings and one 'suspicious incident'.

Gear theft from an unattended moored boat isn't piracy - it's garden variety opportunistic theft. One of the boardings I have read about, the other is news to me. I'd stress that in both cases the pirates left with a few odds & ends leaving the crews and boats to continue their journey. The suspicious incident is anyones guess.

The point is that it is a distinctly uncommon occurrence. In fact, you are more likely to be struck by lightening. And the third world taxi's you'll take when ashore are far more likely to kill you.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by muskoka

The point is that it is a distinctly uncommon occurrence. In fact, you are more likely to be struck by lightening. And the third world taxi's you'll take when ashore are far more likely to kill you.

I agree and have stated such in other piracy threads before.

Dave

[muskoka]

Are you planning to cruise in SE Asia when your boat is finished?

We're heading out of Hong Kong in May and the first port of call will be Puerto Gallera in the Philippines. Then along Palawan to Borneo, etc.

You may want to check out the SE Asia Cruising Guide (vol 2) published by Imray as they deal with the waters south of our passage. Volume 1 deals with the more northernly parts such as Thailand.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by muskoka

Are you planning to cruise in SE Asia when your boat is finished?

We're heading out of Hong Kong in May and the first port of call will be Puerto Gallera in the Philippines. Then along Palawan to Borneo, etc.

You may want to check out the SE Asia Cruising Guide (vol 2) published by Imray as they deal with the waters south of our passage. Volume 1 deals with the more northernly parts such as Thailand.

Certainly the plan man.
Thai Malaysia, Sabah, Phillipinnes so both books would be of interest, thanks.

Yet to be convinced on Indonesia.


Dave

[muskoka]

I'm not too sure about Indonesia either. Which is a shame but there a lot of other pretty nice places to visit.