[QUOTE=MMNETSEA;39998]
Attachment 1220
Had reports from some members that the above .pdf doc could not be opened - therefore have extracted the summary of pirate activity during the 2009 calendar year :-
SOMALIA/GULF OF ADEN ATTACK FIGURES UPDATE
Since January to December 2009, the IMB PRC received reports of 217 incidents
carried out by suspected Somali pirates. The incidents varied in geographical
location encompassing the waters off the east and south coast of Somalia
including the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Southern Red Sea, Straits of Bab El
Mandeb, off east coast Oman and the Arabian Sea.
867 crewmembers have been taken hostage. A further 10 have been injured, four killed and one missing.
There have been 80 attacks off the east and south coast of Somalia, 116 attacks in
the Gulf of Aden, 15 attacks in the southern Red Sea, four attacks off Oman and
one reported in the Arabian Sea and 1 in the Indian Ocean. 47 vessels have
been reported hijacked in this period.
As on 31 December 2009, suspected Somali pirates held 12 vessels for ransom
with 263 crewmembers of various nationalities as hostages.
Somali pirates have attacked all types of vessels; General cargo, Bulk carrier, all
types of Tanker, Ro Ro, Container, Fishing vessel, Sailing yacht and Tugboat.
Pirate attacks are continuing with serious concerns as Somali pirates are firing
their RPG and automatic weapons indiscriminately to intimidate the Master to
stop the vessel.
Pirates are now more desperate to hijack ships.
Recent attacks, at distances of over 1000 nautical miles from Mogadishu,
indicate the increased capability of the Somali pirate. Somali pirates are now
attacking vessels off Kenya / off Tanzania/ off Seychelles, off Madagascar and in
the Indian Ocean.
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