Thread: Real Life Pirate Attacks on the Rise

Pirates have today siezed another ship off the coast of Africa -
This one is a Panamanian Cargo ship, the MV Al Khaliq, reported by one source to have a crew of 25 or 26, and it was taken near the Seychelles.

This is the second ship to be taken this week. One other ship was attacked, but the pirates were successfully repelled.

The first ship, from China, is still being held, and the pirates have threatetened to kill that entire crew of 25, if their government makes a rescue attempt.

Originally Posted by canarymoon

Pirates have today siezed another ship off the coast of Africa -
This one is a Panamanian Cargo ship, the MV Al Khaliq, reported by one source to have a crew of 25 or 26, and it was taken near the Seychelles.

This is the second ship to be taken this week. One other ship was attacked, but the pirates were successfully repelled.

The first ship, from China, is still being held, and the pirates have threatetened to kill that entire crew of 25, if their government makes a rescue attempt.

Thanks for the update on this on going matter.

Going after China? Those guys generally do not take kindly to these sorts of threats....

NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates on Wednesday seized a cargo ship in the Indian Ocean with 22 crew members on board, the European Union Naval Force said.
Naval spokesman Cmdr. John Harbour said that there are three Greeks and 19 Filipinos among the crew of the Greek-owned Filitsa. The ship is registered in the Marshall Islands.

A press release by the EU said the ship was taken 400 miles northeast of the island nation of the Seychelles. It had been heading for the South African port of Durban but has now turned around and is heading north.

Pirates have increased their attacks since the end of the monsoon season last month. They are now holding at least 12 ships and more than 200 hostages. Three ships have been seized in the last week alone.

- Heard on Fox News and found on Breaking News | Latest News | Current News - FOXNews.com

This report, from Fox was dated yesterday:


The spokesman for the European Union's anti-piracy force says Somali pirates have hijacked a Pakistan-flagged fishing vessel.

Cmdr. John Harbour says the pirates seized the MV Shahbaig Tuesday. He says there are 29 crew on board and more details will be available later Wednesday.


Pirates are still holding hundreds of crew and a dozen vessels hostage

Meanwhile, there is also a report that the Indian Navy prevented pirates from seizing a Tanker on Monday of this week.


The Indian Naval Vessel sent a helicopter in reponse to a distress call from a tanker belonging to the Nordic American Tanker Company after it was fired upon by pirates.

One helicopter prevented a takeover!!???? Then why can't all the aircraft carriers in the the Indian Ocean do something about all the other hijackings?

Because it's a very big place?
Maybe thionne happened to be in spitting distance, whereas that isn't always the case. I read the area is 4 times the size of Texas.

And it takes quite a while to scramble a helicopter to a specific location. You are talking hours during which time the pirates can get away.

SAM missiles are far faster but there is a chance that you will hit the innocent parties on the captured ships.