Somali pirates hijack Thai fishing boat

[unhappycamper]

Somali pirates hijack Thai fishing boat
By Sam Dolnick - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 19, 2008 6:14:58 EST

NEW DELHI — Separate bands of pirates hijacked two ships and captured their crews, while yet another opened fire on an Indian navy ship before being driven off — clear signs that the brigands roaming the Gulf of Aden are becoming bolder and more violent, officials said Wednesday.

A Thai ship with 16 crew members and an Iranian cargo vessel with a crew of 25 were hijacked Tuesday in the Gulf of Aden, where Somalia-based pirates appear to be attacking ships at will, said Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting center in Malaysia.

“It’s getting out of control,” Choong said.

The incidents raised to eight the number of ships hijacked this week alone, he said. Since the beginning of the year 39 ships have been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, out of 95 attacked.

“There is no firm deterrent, that’s why the pirate attacks are continuing,” Choong said. “The criminal activities are flourishing because the risks are low and the rewards are extremely high.”


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_piracy_111808/%2e