Cruise Missiles Captured

By Somali Pirates

Ship loaded with illegal missiles

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During the middle of November 2009 Somali pirates seized another ship and its crew. The pirates hijacked the Al-Mizen cargo ship only to find that it was full of Cruise Missiles. They could not believe their luck and started demanding £2million ransom for the missiles return.

The notorious Somali buckaneers moving in fast boats opened fire with automatic weapons on the Al-Mizen as it sailed along the east African coast with its illegal haul of guided weapons.

The gang drew close to the ship which was sailing near Garacad, Somalia, in the Indian Ocean and fired rocket-propelled grenades at the vessel before clambering aboard and seizing control of the ship from the crew.

The pirates were amazed to discover the Cruise Missiles believed to be short and medium range when they searched the ship. The carrying of these types of weapons contravenes the United Nations arms embargo that is in place in this area of the world.

Counter Piracy

They would not be able to use them

However military experts do not think that the pirates would have the ability to fire these arms; they appear to be more interested in the money than anything else. The crew of 18 are all being held hostage. Fifteen are Indians, two are Pakistanies and one of them is a Somalian.

A member of the UK-based Merchant Maritime Warfare centre stated: "The Al-Mizen is a regular weapons carrier in the Gulf region. Various countries' navies track the vessel. The pirates knew there would be weapons on board but they did not know they were Cruise Missiles."

He added "We think the ransom will be paid and the ship will be returned. It is not thought to be the big threat to national security we initially believed it could be."

A businessman who hired the ship, which was seized on 8th November 2009, insisted there were no weapons on board, only food and electronic items.

Issa Abdi Ahmed, one of the pirate gang, confirmed the bandits wanted £2million for the return of the ship and its crew. He was speaking via the ship's satellite phone.

British hostages Paul and Rachel Chandler

Pirates have made millions hijacking ships off the horn of Africa over the last few years. Warships from navies from all over the world are trying to combat the menace in the Somalian waters. The pirates are being forced to go further afield.

We can all remember the British couple Paul Chandler and his wife Rachel being captured while the British navy watched them and their yacht being taken.

Because of the British rules of engagement or health and safety if you want to put it another way; the navy was not permitted to intervene.

Now today it is even worse for the British couple because the pirates' stronghold the port of Haradhere has been overrun by Islamic insurgents and nobody knows what has happened to the British couple or the 300+ hostages that were captured when their ships were hijacked.

Islamic insurgents are seizing control

The pirates have sailed three ships to another pirate stronghold at Hobyo, 110km, further along the coast. The pirates have taken the 60+ crew members of those ships with them.

On 2nd May 2010 the islamist insurgents attacked Haradhere and captured it. Somalia has not had an acceptable government for about 20 years. The Islamists say they want to bring stability to the area and stop the piracy.

Only time will tell! If they really do have honourable intentions? By releasing the ships and their crews at the earliest stage will it be seen as a good indication that they are doing some good to the area.

It is possibly only a matter of time now before the Islamist insurgents move on to the next port along the coast where the next pirate stronghold the town and port of Hobyo.

With all this going on the complex ransom negotiations risk being undermined by the possible turf war? Many millions of dollars have been paid to date; with the uncertainty of where the hostages are it looks like these payments are due to end?

Somali Pirates take on the Russians

Wednesday 5th May 2010, Somali pirates attacked the Russian oil tanker Moscow University, in the Gulf of Aden off yemen. The ship's crew were alerted of the assault and that pirates were boarding the ship.

The pirates first objective was to gain control of the ship and hold its crew hostage. When they searched for the crew but could not find any?

By using various alert calls the crew knew which stage of attack they were faced with. All of the crew made for the secret safe room; those on the bridge disabling the ship before leaving their stations. The large safe room had all the ameanaties for them to survive including radio contact to anywhere in the outside world.

Immediately the Russian Navy was alerted the warship Marshal Shaposhnikov sailed to their aid. When the warship approached the oil tanker she called on the pirates to surrender they replied with shots from their automatics.

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Pirates shoot-out with Commandos

Russian Commandos stormed the tanker abseiling from helicopters with the pirates frantically firing at them. The moment the Commandos landed and prepared to fight it out with the 10 pirates all of them surrendered.

One pirate was killed in the shoot-out; the other pirates were handcuffed and taken to the warship ready to be transported to Moscow to face criminal charges.

The crew of the Moscow Univeristy were informed when the ship was recaptured by the Russian forces and came out of their safe room which could only be opened from the inside. The oil tanker continued on her journey to deliver the $50 million dollars worth of crude oil to China.

When the Russians released the Somali pirates captured during the dramatic rescue of the Riussian oil tanker. The Russian Defence Minister said: "The ten Somalian pirates were freed because of 'Inperfections' in International law."

The pirates abandoned craft was replaced with a large inflatable craft for their journey home; supplied with enough fuel for them to reach the closest port.

When the pirates departed from the ship they were seen heading in the direction of the distant coast. Shortly after they vanished out of sight they also vanished from the radar screen; approximately one hour after setting off. This band of pirates were never heard of again.

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