Somali pirates seize Singaporean ship

[Sleepyman]

AFP

 

Somali pirates have seized a Singapore-flagged container ship in the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles, maritime sources told AFP.

 

"The Singapore flagged and owned boxship Kota Wajar was seized around 550km north the Seychelles," said Andrew Mwangura, who heads the Kenyan chapter of East African Seafarers Assistance Program.

 

Other maritime sources in the region confirmed the information.

 

A maritime source in the area, who did not wish to be identified, said that the attack took place early on Thursday, 44km from the site of recent attacks on French tuna-fishing boats.

 

He also said that the attack was only 330km from the Seychelles, inside the archipelago's exclusive economic zone.

 

The maritime security centre of the European Union, which has an anti-piracy naval force patrolling waters affected by Somali piracy, also confirmed the hijacking.

 

"During the early morning of October 15, 2009, a Singapore-flagged container ship KOTA WAJAR was hijacked in the Indian Ocean by pirates some 300 nautical miles (550km) north of the Seychelles," a statement said.

 

"An EU NAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft was tasked to investigate the situation," it said, without providing further details.

 

The latest hijacking brings to at least six the number of vessels in the hands of Somali pirates. The others include a Spanish trawler, a Taiwanese fishing vessel and Ukrainian, German and Turkish freighters.

 

According to non-governmental observers Ecoterra International, at least 163 attacks have been carried out by Somali pirates since the start of 2009 alone, 47 of them successful hijackings.

 

A flotilla of foreign warships has since last year been patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the busiest maritime trade routes on the globe, prompting pirates to hunt down their prey far out in the Indian Ocean.

 

Experts had warned in recent days that dropping winds near the Seychelles had attracted pirates, who generally launch attacks from so-called "mother ships" with tiny skiffs.

[Deathism]

i wonder how our "mighty" armed forces will respond to this..

[Sleepyman]

  On 10/15/2009 at 12:39 PM, Deathism said:

i wonder how our "mighty" armed forces will respond to this..

 

dowan la later they themselves also kena captured

[Deathism]

lol...sorry..next time i should really think before i post..

[WWbarb]

funny meh?

[Blackforte]

  On 10/15/2009 at 1:25 PM, WWbarb said:

funny meh?

 

 

funny leh

[Benarsenal]

Singapore Navy already got a ship standby there. Sure will tackle this problem.

 

If they bother that is.

[Ryosuke]

  On 10/15/2009 at 12:40 PM, Sleepyman said:

dowan la later they themselves also kena captured

 

this is funny!

[Gnolard]

i believe in our defence!!!

[WWbarb]

it will be lagi funny if one of ur relatives is on that ship...

[Lex250]

Kindda sad when we cannot even secure this region from the Indon pirates...much less Somali....My guess is don't expect too much

[Doosan]

dont 4get that few units of sub sub marines

[WTF]

Be it if there's Singaporean or whatever nationals on that ship, hope that nothing bad comes to them.

 

There's enough violence around our chaotic world liao.

[WWbarb]

  On 10/15/2009 at 1:55 PM, Lex250 said:

Kindda sad when we cannot even secure this region from the Indon pirates...much less Somali....My guess is don't expect too much

 

r u telling me u expect the RSN to secure malaysian and indon waters?

[Sleepyman]

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said the Kota Wajar was on her way from Singapore to Mombasa, Kenya when it was seized at about 1012 hours (Singapore time).

 

It said in a statement that there are 21 crew on board the vessel, of which two are Singapore Permanent Residents.

 

The Maritime and Port Authority added it is currently working with the ship owner and relevant agencies.

 

source: CNA

[Vextan]

dont think the navy can do much now as the sailors already held hostage. not sure international maritime law allows the killing of pirates, and so this may impede their rescue mission. i guess in the end, like most piracy cases, end up paying millions to free the cargo and sailors which is worth much much more.

[WWbarb]

the only problem is its very difficult to find the pirates' hiding place...there's nothing wrong to take out pirates, hijackers, terrorists

[Nlatio]

  On 10/15/2009 at 2:18 PM, Vextan said:

dont think the navy can do much now as the sailors already held hostage. not sure international maritime law allows the killing of pirates, and so this may impede their rescue mission. i guess in the end, like most piracy cases, end up paying millions to free the cargo and sailors which is worth much much more.

 

I believe the navies of all country are not suppose to "attacK" the pirates unless they are attacked upon.... they can only chase and apprehend or try to stop whatever nonense the pirates are going to do.... send the good man there, tie their hand up and ask them to do their job..... ....... this type must fight violence with violence..... the fark place already no govt..... once the navies are allowed to attack.... believe the hijacking will decrease..... will not totally wipe out, but at least will limit the hijacking.....

Edited October 15, 2009 by Nlatio