By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa
NAIROBI, Kenya – Two ships were hijacked in two consecutive days off the coast of Somalia. A Japanese chemical tanker with 23 crewmen was hijacked on Sunday and a North Korean vessel was hijacked either late Monday or early Tuesday. The East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme and the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre, a regional maritime organization and a piracy watchdog respectively, confirmed the hijacking of the Japanese ship known as the Golden Nory. Although a U.S. destroyer sank two skiffs attached to the ship, it remained under pirate’s control. The fate of the Japanese tanker and its crewmen are presently unknown, however the U.S. Navy continues to monitor its movement.
Fortunately, the crew of the North Korean ship, MV Dai Hong Dan, was able to overpower the hijackers. According to reports of the investigation, the same men that were supposed to dock the ship conceived the hijacking plan. After its seizure, militiamen demanded $15,000 ransom to release the ship and its crew on Tuesday. That same day, the U.S. Navy received a distress call from the ship. A helicopter was dispatched to the vessel to investigate the call and soon after the 22 crewmen overwhelmed the five hijackers, leaving two dead.
According to Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell, the assistance of the U.S. military was not an indication of a more aggressive stance at Somali piracy however the surge of terrorist involvement is a concern. In total this marks the 26th ship attacked by Somali pirates this year, presently four boats are being held by armed pirates.
Somalia has been in a state of anarchy since 1991. The transitional government and Ethiopian forces has been unable to keep the streets of the capital safe, never mind the coasts of the country.
For more information please see:
Yahoo News (AP)- US Military Takes on Latter-day Pirates – 2 November 2007
BBC – Pirates ‘Overpowered’ Off Somalia – 30 October 2007
Reuters: Africa- Somali Pirates Hijack Japanese Tanker – 29 October 2007
AllAfrica.com- Somalia: U.S. Navy Saves Korean Hijacked Vessel off Coast – 30 October 2007
Yahoo News- With US Help, Ship Crew Defeats Pirates – 30 October 2007
Reuters: Africa- Somali Pirates Seize another Ship – 30 October 2007
