More trouble in Somalia

This isn't really about international shipping, except for the effect the pirates from Somalia have on the shipping industry.

Somalia has been without a functioning government for almost 20 years. The current one, backed by the U.N. appears to be on it's way to be ousted, and, along with it, aide agencies.

From all Africa

The Somali interim government, which is the 15th attempt to restore national order since 1991, is struggling against an insurgency led by Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam hardliners, who control sections of Mogadishu and are attempting to overthrow the U.N.-backed government.

A senior member of Somalia's Islamist guerrilla movement Al Shabaab has ordered international aid agencies to leave the southwestern region of Gedo, Radio Garowe reports Monday.

Abdullahi Osman Jibril, a top militia commander in Gedo region, said Al Shabaab informed the aid agencies' local and international offices to leave "within a short period of time."

"Security forces in Gedo [region] have orders to take necessary steps against all aid agencies who refuse to leave the region," said Mr. Jibril, who accused aid groups of "espionage."

No reports have emerged from U.N. and other international aid agencies operating in Gedo, where lack of rainfall this year has contributed to a growing humanitarian crisis.

click here for complete article

No wonder they have turned to piracy.

More on reasons behind Somali piracy

To add to what I stated last Thursday


as to what created the piracy problem in the first place...

Jeremy Scahill of the Huffington Post had this to say

Take this fact: Over $300 million worth of tuna, shrimp, and lobster are "being stolen every year by illegal trawlers" off Somalia's coast, forcing the fishing industry there into a state of virtual non-existence.

But it isn't just the theft of seafood. Nuclear dumping has polluted the environment. "In 1991, the government of Somalia collapsed," wrote Johann Hari in The Independent. "Its nine million people have been teetering on starvation ever since - and the ugliest forces in the Western world have seen this as a great opportunity to steal the country's food supply and dump our nuclear waste in their seas."

According to Hari:

As soon as the [Somali] government was gone, mysterious European ships started appearing off the coast of Somalia, dumping vast barrels into the ocean. The coastal population began to sicken. At first they suffered strange rashes, nausea and malformed babies. Then, after the 2005 tsunami, hundreds of the dumped and leaking barrels washed up on shore. People began to suffer from radiation sickness, and more than 300 died.
...

This is the context in which the "pirates" have emerged. Somalian fishermen took speedboats to try to dissuade the dumpers and trawlers, or at least levy a "tax" on them. They call themselves the Volunteer Coastguard of Somalia - and ordinary Somalis agree. The independent Somalian news site WardheerNews found 70 per cent "strongly supported the piracy as a form of national defence."

Neustrashimy patrols for pirates

Russia Today reports as of October 27th, the Neustrashimy, a Russian warship, has finally arrived off the coast of Somalia.

The M/V Faina, being held be pirates, has 2 Russian crew members. Speculation is, the Russians might use force against the pirates holding this ship.

As I mentioned in my blog of Oct. 25th, Russia asked Somalia permission to use force in Somalia's territorial waters.

Pressure on Pirates

Finally, ships are arriving off the coast of Somalia to combat the Pirates.

The Russian vessel Neustrashimy is close to the area.

Reuters reports "Russia, which sent a warship to Somalia's coast to combat pirates, asked the African nation on Thursday for carte blanche to use force in its territorial waters."

On Oct. 25, from Russia Today, "The Russian warship 'Neustrashimy' (Fearless) is set to enter the waters off Somalia on a mission to combat piracy. Seven NATO vessels are already monitoring the area which is notorious for hijackings. The Russian vessel may be used to help intercept a Ukrainian freighter (M/V Faina) captured a month ago with 20 people onboard."

Even the Columbia Journalism Review has been following the saga of the M/V Faina.

There are reports, such as this one in Deseret News, that Blackwater is planning to get into the business of protecting vessels from pirates.

"Blackwater is offering the MV MacArthur, a 183-foot vessel with a crew of 14 and a helicopter pad, as an escort for ships through the Gulf of Aden. The helicopters and MacArthur won't be armed, although workers will carry guns, Mathews said."

One Somali pirate killed. Two others wounded.

This just in from Reuters

Somalian military forces in northern Somalia have killed one of the pirates onboard the M/V Awail.

This is not the same group of pirates holding the M/V Faina.

Good Pirates VS Bad Pirates

Another ship was hijacked by Somalian Pirates. The M/V Awail, loaded with cement, bound for Bosasso. (or Bosaso, or Boossaaso)

However, the spokesman for the Good Pirates (perhaps their ship is named the Lollipop) claimed they were not the ones who hijacked this ship which was bound for Somalia.


".. the pirates who seized a Ukranian ship carrying a cargo of battle tanks in the Gulf of Aden last month say they won't hijack aid ships or merchant vessels bringing goods to Somalia.

``We have had nothing to do with the hijacking of such vessels and have been preventing other pirates from seizing such ships,'' Sugale Ali Omar, spokesman for the group, said by satellite phone today."

I guess they must be getting some P.R. training. Too bad they haven't figured out that threatening to blow up the M/V Faina is not good P.R.

Map of Somalia

I noticed a google ad offering for sale; Banks in Somalia.

I clicked on it and saw a nice map of Somalia, so thought I would include it here.



Further into this web-site are instructions to set up a bank. For only a million dollars you can set up a bank in Somalia. They are trying to attract off shore banking, but make a point they don't allow money laundering. Wonder how many of those guys from Lehman Brothers have set up banks.

But seriously, we are all moaning about the financial crisis in the U.S., when the per capita GDP of Somalia is USD 200.00.

Now those folks have something to whine about.

Somalia Government Now Wants to Fight the Pirates

Last week the Somalian Government gave foreign forces approval to use action against the pirates. I am sure they realized doing anything less would make everyone question how much the government might be behind and/or supporting the actions of the pirates.

I don't think it was, but after all, the pirates were bringing lots of money into this very very poor country. I suspect they were viewed a bit like "Robin Hoods". However, theie bad luck to have hijacked the M/V Faina will most likely end their activities.

From The East African (Nairobi) Oct. 5

"The government has lost patience and now wants to fight pirates with the help of the international community," Somali president, Abdullahi Yusuf said in a radio address.

In June, UN Security Council resolution gave permission for such action to stop "piracy and armed robbery at sea," but this has at most been weak and unco-ordinated.

That could dramatically change with the formation of an international task force to combat Somali piracy. By the end of last week, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden had offered ships for the force, which was also expected to be joined by the US and Britain and possibly Russia. On its part, the Somali government says it will welcome any action by the task force against the pirates."

click here for complete article

I was surprised Lithuania was named as part of the international task force. I didn't know they had a navy. Must check into that.

European Group to Patrol Somali Waters

From the BBC Oct. 2nd.

"The European Union has agreed to establish an anti-piracy security operation off the coast of Somalia.

French Defence Minister Herve Morin said at least eight countries have agreed to take part.

The announcement came as the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported a further three attempts to seize ships overnight."
The eight participating countries were not named in this article.

The African Viewpoint - M/V Faina

The Nairobi, Kenya news claims the M/V Faina had incorrect information on their registration documents. This might have just been an oversight, or maybe not.

"The pirates got the ship owner's contacts from the pilot as the registered office in official documents in the ship had wrong details.

"The ship manager is registered as Tomex in Panama and the contacts given are fake. The ship owner is registered as Waterlux Ag in Panama and has already been contacted and is cooperating with the pirates," said the source."

This news report is claiming there are 4 dead onboard the ship. However, the pirates are still denying any death except the Captain, who apparently died of a heart attack.

Click here for full story

Russian Military Vessel Neustrashimy

The Russians sent a military vessel, the Neustrashimy, to Somalia sometime around last Wed., Sept. 24th.

It's about 3300 nautical miles from Russia to Somalia. I can't find anything giving the speed of the Neustrashimy, but guessed it could be 20-25 knots.

Based on this, it should get there Tues. or Wed., Sept. 30/Oct. 1.

My guess is until it gets there, everyone else will just be sitting around making sure nothing gets off the Ukrainian freighter Faina.


Some of the retired U.S. Navy guys are following this story on Information Dissemination.

I did pick up some good information from this blog. Apparently the vessel Faina is a ro/ro (roll-on-roll-off) which means the tanks can be driven off the ship. This does make it all a bit more interesting.

Pirates Limited (Ltd.)

The pirates operating out Eyl, Somalia have turned this into big business.
According to this BBC article, the region around Eyl is booming, all from the proceeds of this plundering.

On Sept. 22nd I commented on the pirate problem in the Gulf of Aden. Pirates! No Kidding!!

I had no idea it would become front page news so quickly.

Jean Poole posted a comment on that blog, mentioning the need for security for ships with food aide going to the starving people in East Africa. This is absolutely correct. She also suggested reading piratebook.blogspot.com.

When I posted my comments I was thinking mainly of liner shipping (which is my background), but there are so many more small break bulk vessels which will be the target for the pirates.

Now I think Pirates Ltd. has bit off a bit more than they can chew. It's kinda like hooking a big fish, only to find out you can't haul it into the boat.

This from CNN Sunday afternoon.

"The pirates initially demanded $35 million and no military action, said Andrew Mwangura of the Kenya Seafarers Association. They decreased their demands for several reasons, Mwangura said.

Those reasons include that the crew is from eastern Europe and not the United States, the weapons the ship carries are secondhand, and there is no way to unload the tanks without coming onto land, he said."

This is the full story.

Of course the comment "no way to unload the tanks without coming onto land" is an understatement, as I believe these tanks weigh about 90,000 lbs a piece (over 41 metric tons). It's not something you can unload with fishing nets.


Additional info 6:30 PM
Russia Today (RT) has a video available with pictures of the ships and interviews