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Somalia

Indian navy sinks pirate mothership in Gulf of Aden

Article published on the 2008-11-19 Latest update 2008-11-19 16:33 TU

Pirates in Mombassa court on 18 November(Credit: Reuters)

Pirates in Mombassa court on 18 November
(Credit: Reuters)

An Indian navy frigate fired on and sunk a Somali pirate "mothership" late Tuesday after it was attacked in the Gulf of Aden. The INS Tabar, one of many ships patrolling the pirate-infested waters, fired on the pirates after they threatened to blow up the warship.

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The Tabar closed in on the ship and asked it to stop for an investigation, according to Navy officials.

"But on repeated calls, the vessel's threatening response was that she would blow up the naval warship if it approached," Indian navy spokesman Nirad Sinha said.

The pirates fired on the warship and the Tabar retaliated. "Explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored on the vessel," he added.

It is the first time a mother ship has been destroyed, and considered the biggest blow to the pirates to date.

"It clearly shows from an international perspective that there's a focus on taking out these motherships, which are used as staging posts for activities in a particular area," said Roger Middleton, a piracy expert.

This incident is just the latest in a surge of hijackings carried out by Somali pirates off the coast. On Saturday, a Saudi super tanker carrying two million barrels of oil was captured by pirates.

The pirates have now demanded a ransom for the Saudi Sirius Star but have not specified the amount, according to an audio tape obtained by Qatari news network Al-Jazeera.

"There's a certain level of confidence, or brazenness or misplaced bravery among the pirates," said Middleton.

Interview: Roger Middleton, piracy expert at Chatham House, London

 
 

19/11/2008 by Daniel Finnan

A Thai fishing boat, a Hong Kong-registered cargo boat and a Greek bulk carrier were seized by pirates on Tuesday in the Gulf of Aden, according to Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Association. The Greek Merchant Marine ministry has not yet confirmed the bulk carrier hijacking.

Ships must enter the Gulf of Aden in order to travel through the Suez Canal, a vital route for oil tankers going to Europe and Asia. This route is faster and more economically feasible than going around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

A group of Somali pirates were arraigned on Tuesday in Mombassa, Kenya, after being arrested by the British navy for trying to hijack a vessel.