1 2 » Chinese Navy Begins Landmark Somali Piracy Patrols Last Updated: Jan 6 2009 8:17AM A Chinese naval convoy arrived on Tuesday in the Gulf of Aden on a landmark mission to protect the country's shipping from Somali pirates and escorted its first four vessels, state media reported. The four ships escorted were Chinese merchant vessels, including one from Hong Kong, Xinhua news agency said in a dispatch filed from aboard the destroyer Wuhan. The naval task force, deploying two destroyers and a supply ship, marks China's first potential combat mission beyond its territorial waters in centuries. The convoy was preparing to escort a further 11 Chinese ships planning to navigate the pirate-infested waters off Somalia this week, Xinhua said in a separate dispatch from Beijing. "We will actively provide information and necessary rescue services for those merchant ships passing through the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters," ministry of transport spokesman He Jianzhong was quoted as saying.   Malaysian Warship Foils Attack By Somali Pirates On Oil Tanker Last Updated: Jan 2 2009 8:11AM A Malaysian warship on Thursday helped Indian seamen fight off heavily-armed Somali pirates attempting to board an il tanker, a maritime watchdog said. It was the second time the Malaysian navy has fought off pirates in the Gulf of Aden, after it successfully repelled a group who boarded a Chinese commercial vessel on December 18. The Indian-flagged ship was heading west towards the Suez Canal when it was attacked by pirates in two skiffs at 03:37 GMT on Thursday, said Noel Choog, head of the International Maritime Board's piracy reporting centre. "The master of the ship said that seven pirates in one of the skiffs were dressed in military-type uniform," he told AFP. "The small boats used machine guns to repeatedly fire at the vessel's bridge and accommodation," he added. Choong said Malaysian navy vessel KD Inderasakti, which was leading a convoy of ships about 15 nautical miles away, responded to the tanker's distress call by launching a helicopter and steaming towards the vessel under attack.   Malaysia Seeks Indonesia's Help Against Military-Style Pirates Last Updated: Dec 30 2008 7:52AM Malaysia has sought Indonesia's help to crack down on pirates in military-style uniforms who have been menacing fishing boats in the southern Malacca Strait, a senior police official said Tuesday. The action came after a fisherman was wounded earlier this month when sea raiders dressed in camouflage gear fired at his vessel, said Isa Munir, commander of Malaysia's maritime police department. "We are investigating it. We are trying to coordinate the operation (to provide security for fishing boats) with Indonesian authorities. We are intensifying our patrols," he told AFP.   3 Chinese Ships to Head to Somali Coast Last Updated: Dec 23 2008 8:38AM China is sending three ships to the waters off Somalia this week, to help with international efforts to combat pirates. Officials with China's military say this unprecedented deployment of the Chinese navy shows the country's commitment to its international obligations. Preparations are almost complete for Chinese navy ships to head to the Gulf of Aden, to help with international efforts to fight pirates off the coast of Somalia. Rear Admiral Xiao Xinnian, deputy chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army Navy, says China believes the mission is significant and has major implications. Xiao says this demonstrates that the Chinese government is committed to its international obligations and that China is a responsible major country.   Indonesia Conducts Anti-Terror, Piracy Drill In Malacca Strait Last Updated: Dec 19 2008 8:22AM Indonesia's military and police have launched a four-day drill simulating sea-based attacks in the strategic Malacca Strait as part of a nationwide series of anti-terror exercises, a report said Friday. The exercise involving 10,000 army and police personnel simulates an attempt to free hostages from a hijacked tanker, state news agency Antara said. "Security in the Malacca Strait is very important not only for Singapore and Malaysia but also Indonesia as one of the littoral countries, especially with regard to the threat of piracy," Security Minister Widodo Adi Sucipto said.   China To Send Navy To Somalia To Fight Piracy Last Updated: Dec 18 2008 9:01AM China will send warships to fight rampant piracy off Somalia, state media said Thursday, a day after one of its commercial vessels foiled a major attack near the African state. "China will send two destroyers and one large supply ship to engage in the upholding of security in international waters off the coast of Somalia," the Global Times reported, citing maritime authorities. The fleet will depart from China's south sea naval base on Hainan island after December 25 for a three-month tour of the Somali coast, it said. It will be the first time in modern history that the nation's navy has carried out a mission outside Chinese waters, according to Shen Shishun, an expert with the Chinese Institute of International Studies.   Somali Pirates Hijack Malaysian, Turkish Ships Last Updated: Dec 17 2008 8:44AM Pirates have hijacked a Turkish cargo ship and a Malaysian tug boat and attacked three other vessels in the Gulf of Aden in the past week, a global maritime watchdog said Wednesday. The latest incidents came as a European Union naval task force took over from a NATO operation patrolling the pirate-infested seas near the Horn of Africa with six warships and three surveillance planes. In the first hijacking, pirates armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons boarded a Malaysian tug on Tuesday, Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur told AFP.   Maritime Watchdog Issues Piracy Warning For SE Malaysia Last Updated: Dec 8 2008 8:06AM A global maritime watchdog on Sunday warned seafarers to keep a strict watch for pirates off Malaysia's southeastern coast after a recent attack by knife-wielding Indonesians in the area. On Thursday, a tug and barge carrying coal was attacked off the tourist resort of Tioman island in Malaysia's east coast state of Johor, in the South China Sea. No one was injured, but cash and phones were stolen from the crew.   Knife-Wielding Indonesian Pirates Rob Vessel Off Malaysia's Tioman Island Last Updated: Dec 5 2008 8:07AM Knife-wielding Indonesian pirates travelling in two speedboats attacked a coal vessel off Malaysia's southern Johor state, a report said Friday. Malaysian police said the vessel was sailing from Singapore to Thailand when it was intercepted and boarded by ten pirates at about 9pm (1300GMT) on Thursday, state news agency Bernama reported. "Pirates with knives stole cash and handphones from the crew, mostly Indonesians, before vanishing without injuring anyone," district police chief Johari Jahaya told Bernama. He said the vessel was attacked 10 nautical miles off the tourist resort of Tioman island in Malaysia's east coast state of Johor, in the South China Sea. Johari told Bernama the crew reported losing 16 million rupiah (1,300 dollars) to the pirates who, officers said, were from Indonesia. Police did not identify the owners of the coal vessel.   China’s Hu Attends the G-20, APEC, and Conducts Four State Visits Last Updated: Dec 2 2008 2:50PM Download here (.doc)   Ship Owners Urged To Help Keep The Malacca Straits Safe Last Updated: Nov 24 2008 7:50AM Ship owners were on Monday urged to contribute to a fund for ensuring safety on the strategic Malacca Straits, warning that an accident could cripple international trade. The Nippon Foundation, a Tokyo-based group which has shouldered a third of the cost of maintaining navigational aides on the narrow waterway, said that ship owners must ease the burden on border nations. "I appeal to ship owners to contribute to a fund that will be managed by the three littoral states – Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore," foundation chairman Yohei Sasakawa told a regional maritime conference. "As more ships pass through, the burden of this responsibility is becoming too great to be borne by the littoral states alone." With rampant piracy off Somalia already threatening the trade route through the Suez Canal, Sasakawa said that the passage of more than 94,000 ships annually through the Malacca Straits could be imperilled by safety hazards. "If an accident happens, ships may not be able to use the straits.   Abducted Indian Ship Crew Return Last Updated: Nov 24 2008 7:46AM Some members of the Indian crew of a Japanese ship who were released by Somali pirates after two months in captivity have returned home. TV pictures showed five crew members arriving in the western Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay). Somali pirates captured the MV Stolt Valor with 18 Indian crew members on board on 15 September. The threat posed by pirates off the Somali coast has been causing international concern. More than 80 ships have been hijacked there this year. 'Horrific.' The smiling Indian sailors who arrived at Mumbai's international airport from Muscat in Oman were showered with petals thrown by overjoyed relatives. They said that they were "greatly relieved" to be back home. "It was horrific, it was scary," crew member Alistair Fernandez said shortly after landing.   Southeast Asia Winning Malacca Straits Battle For Now, Says Watchdog Last Updated: Nov 20 2008 8:25AM Southeast Asia is winning the battle against piracy in the Malacca Straits but any reduction in vigilance could see a sudden return of high-seas banditry in the vital trade lane, a watchdog said Thursday. The strategic shipping route between Indonesia's Sumatra island and the Southeast Asian peninsula of Malaysia and Singapore was deemed the most dangerous waterway in the world by Lloyds of London only three years ago. But attacks are dramatically down thanks to better cooperation among the littoral states which surround the narrow waterway, and experts believe a major hijacking like the incident off Somalia this week is now unlikely here.   India Praised For Sinking Pirates Last Updated: Nov 20 2008 8:12AM An anti-piracy watchdog has welcomed the destruction of a suspected Somali pirate vessel in the Gulf of Aden by an Indian navy warship. INS Tabar sank the pirate "mother ship" after it did not stop for investigation and instead opened fire, an Indian navy statement said on Wednesday. There has been a surge in piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia. The latest attack came days after the Saudi-owned Sirius Star supertanker and its 25 crew were seized by pirates. The supertanker is now anchored off the Somali coast. 'Heartened.' "If all warships do this, it will be a strong deterrent. But if it's just a rare case, then it won't work," Noel Choong, who heads the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, told Associated Press. Mr. Choong said he was heartened by the Tabar's success. "It's about time that such a forceful action is taken. It's an action that everybody is waiting for," he said.   Japan To Study Anti-Piracy Mission Near Somalia Last Updated: Nov 19 2008 8:57AM Japan is considering sending a naval mission to guard its cargo ships in waters off Somalia, where a number of vessels have been seized by pirates, lobby groups said Wednesday. Prime Minister Taro Aso late Tuesday met representatives of the Japan Foundation and the Ocean Policy Research Foundation, which proposed that the country dispatch a naval mission to the area to guard Japanese ships. "Prime Minister Aso said the government should start studying measures soon," a Japan Foundation spokesman said. "He said it would be too late after Japanese ships and crew members get attacked.   India 'Sinks Somali Pirate Ship' Last Updated: Nov 19 2008 8:48AM An Indian navy warship has destroyed a suspected Somali pirate vessel after it came under attack in the Gulf of Aden. INS Tabar sank the pirate "mother ship" after it failed to stop for investigation and opened fire instead, an Indian navy statement said. There has been a surge in piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia. The latest attack came days after the Saudi-owned Sirius Star supertanker and its 25 crew were seized by pirates and anchored off the Somali coast. Vela International, operators of the Sirius Star, told the BBC no demands had yet been received from the pirates. The company also said all the crew were safe. The biggest tanker ever hijacked, Sirius Star is carrying a cargo of two million barrels of oil - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - worth more than $100m (£67m). Analysts say the pattern of other hijackings suggests a ransom request is likely to follow. Given the value of the tanker and its cargo, that is expected to be a sizeable demand. Two of the captive crew are British.   Malaysia's DPM Says Straits Of Malacca Is Significantly Safer Last Updated: Oct 22 2008 8:46AM Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak says the Straits of Malacca is significantly safer. He revealed that there has not been a single reported security related incident so far in 2008, compared to 75 cases in 2000. He was speaking at the opening of a Centre for the Straits of Malacca set up by the Maritime Institute of Malaysia. Traffic along the Straits of Malacca has increased by nearly 40 per cent from some 44,000 vessels in 1999 to 70,700 in 2007. Mr Najib Razak believes that by 2015, the figure will go up to 120,000 vessels. He says that over the past few years, Malaysia has spent millions of dollars to install and upgrade navigational aids along the Straits of Malacca. Mr Najib added that for a small country, the money spent is well worth it, especially when it involves enhancing the safety and security of an important sea line of communications. One reason for the increased security, says Mr Najib, is cooperation between the littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and the international maritime organisation.   India Deploys Warship To Africa To Thwart Pirates Last Updated: Oct 17 2008 8:13AM NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will deploy a warship in the Gulf of Aden to guard its merchant ships from Somali pirates, but ship owners said on Friday that it was not enough to instill confidence among sailors. The warship with marine commandos and helicopters on board will escort Indian ships passing through the region, considered one of the world's most dangerous stretches of water for piracy, a navy spokesman said on Friday. "The ship has set sail for Africa and will start its anti-piracy patrolling near Somalia soon," the navy officer said. A Japanese-owned merchant vessel carrying a 22-member crew, including 18 Indians, was hijacked by Somali pirates last month in the Gulf of Aden.   Australia Boosts Bio-Security Defenses Last Updated: Sep 16 2008 7:31AM Australia has opened a new National Center for Bio-Security to build its defenses against infectious diseases and biological weapons. Medical experts say it will help protect the country from threats such as SARS and bird flu as well as attacks by terrorists or rogue scientists. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports. The new bio-security center adds another layer to Australia's counterterrorism defenses. Its researchers will look at ways to combat biological warfare, naturally occurring diseases and the theft or misuse of sensitive research on micro-organisms. In addition, they will study the dangers posed by synthetic biology, where a virus or bacteria can be created from scratch. The center's work will concentrate on 22 bacteria, viruses and poisons that the Australian government considers "agents of concern".   Somali Pirates 'Seize Filipinos' Last Updated: Jul 23 2008 7:56AM A ship with 20 Philippine sailors has reportedly been hijacked off the coast of Somalia. A spokesman for the Philippine foreign ministry told reporters that the Japanese-owned Stella Maris was seized by pirates on Sunday. He said officials had been in contact with the sailors, who were in a good state of health. But he added that it was against the Philippine government's policy to pay a ransom to the kidnappers. The Stella Maris, which was carrying a cargo of lead and zinc, was boarded by 38 armed men in the Gulf of Aden, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.   1 2 »