Somali pirates seize 7th ship in 12 days

[unhappycamper]

The supertanker MV Sirius Star has been seized by pirates.


Somali pirates seize 7th ship in 12 days
By Mohamed Sheikh Nor and Barbara Surk - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 18, 2008 14:17:08 EST

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali pirates hijacked their seventh ship in 12 days on Tuesday, as the U.S. Navy reported that pirates had seized an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jane Campbell of the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said the bulk cargo carrier was flying a Hong Kong flag but was operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. The status of the crew or the cargo was not known, she said.

Elsewhere, pirates anchored a hijacked Saudi supertanker loaded with $100 million in crude oil off the Somali coast on Tuesday, causing residents in impoverished fishing villages to gawk in amazement at the size of the 1,080 foot tanker.

Pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia have surged recently, despite the presence of NATO ships, U.S. warships and a Russian frigate all working to prevent piracy in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

International Maritime Bureau on Sunday reported five hijackings since Nov. 7, before the hijackings of the Saudi ship or the Iranian ship were announced.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_somalia_piracy_111808/%2e

[Catch22Dem]

1. Maybe I'm buying into propaganda, but it seems like a bad idea to steal from the Iranians

I'm pretty sure they're not interested in playing nice with pirates

ON EDIT: Nor do I think they should!

[LiberalFighter]

2. One way to send a message would be to capture the pirates

then put them on the display dead along the border of Somali.

Not us of course.