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Tuesday, November 11, 2008
5th Fleet Focus: Somalia Piracy Update
Yesterday the AP had nothing but good news to report off the coast of Somalia.
There are also signs of success, although I think it is legitimate to ask if this is also a sign of political failure.A multinational force of warships has carved out a narrow shipping corridor off the coast of Somalia that is helping protect merchant vessels from pirate attacks, the force's commander said Monday...
In a telephone interview from his East African base in Djibouti, Christensen said coalition naval forces were also having success using planes, helicopters and drones to find and track suspect vessels until they can be boarded and searched...
The multinational force created the shipping channel to better focus its patrols in the vast area. The zone is about 600 miles long and just three to six miles wide. It runs roughly north-south, allowing ships to safely bypass the Somali coast on their way to and from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
But the AP article went on to sound the alarm.The naval forces have captured six pirate attack teams — around 60 people — since October, Christensen said. But after seizing their weapons and equipment, the sailors must release the bandits at sea to sail back to Somalia because no country has been willing to bring them to trial.
And like clockwork, there were three attacks today, all outside the shipping zone. The first two attacks took place on the northern end of the shipping zone after the vessels had crossed the Suez canal. Both made SOS calls, and in both cases the Indian Navy responded.The bandits have already shifted their tactics in response to the patrols, positioning attack teams on the northern and southern ends of the shipping zone to stretch the already thin naval forces, Christensen said.
Interesting, the Indians have a different RoE than the westerners. Later today, the third ship, a chemical tanker with 23 crew members was hijacked. For those keeping count, that means there are now 12 vessels held hostage with captured crews numbering over 200.The Indian warship, which was deployed in the region on October 23 in the wake of rising attacks by pirates on merchant vessels, received an SOS from the Saudi ship at around 1000 hours after a group of pirates surrounded it.
Marine commandos on board INS Tabar flew out in an armed helicopter and launched an assault on the attackers, who were in five speed boats, forcing them to flee into the Somali waters.
Even as this operation was on, the warship received a panic call from MV Jag Arnav, a merchant vessel owned by Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping Company, with about 20 crew members on board.
Arnav, a 38,265-tonne bulk carrier, was also ambushed by heavily-armed pirates in speed boats soon after it crossed Suez Canal and was eastward bound, the Indian Navy said here.
The pirates were firing at the vessel and making attempt to board it.
The Indian warship, after securing the Saudi ship and escorting it to safety, rushed marine commandos on a helicopter. The commandos engaged the pirates, forcing them to flee into the Somalian waters.
This problem will never be solved at sea, it can only be solved on land.Lots of action in the High Seas. I believe this is part of CTF 58. ....RSN.Edited by Arapahoe 22 Nov `08, 1:47PM
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There are currently 14 shipped held hostage in Somalia.
i heard that the Russian are sending more warship to the coast of somalia.
it is sticky because the towns n villages and the warlord along the coast are supporting the raid. Unless u can disarmed those warlord or find other means.
I wonder what happen to the Ukarine Tanks? The saudi oil tank imagine if this happen when oil price was at its spike what would be todays oil price be?
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Looks like business are getting better along Somalia coast Pirates boom town, and Pirates are wondering further into the deep. Just wondering if they will shift part of task force 150 to patrol the Somalia coast? Does it means that Singapore Navy can be called upon?
NEW DELHI, India - An Indian naval vessel sank a suspected pirate "mother ship" Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats into the night, officials said, in a day of escalating violence in the lawless seas.
Separate bands of pirates seized a Thai ship with 16 crew members and a Iranian cargo vessel with a crew of 25 in the area, 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.
Edited by Arapahoe 20 Nov `08, 1:37PM
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I am sure SG is being tested and challenged already.
Half way in the mids of US election the FBI show up at both Obama and McCain campaign office to let them know that their Server has been hacked and all their paper policy has been download by foreign entity.
And this is like the most bu lao stuff to look at. FBI was able to pin point to the specify country.
Edited by Arapahoe 20 Nov `08, 3:03AM
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these days there are alot of fake out there especially made from china claim from other countries. but i would be surprise that they fake Old Navy and Gap becaues they are low end crap.
Some line of knitt wear for Old Navy/Gap are made by a singapore company So if they shipped back to SG and sell it might be possible. look at fabrics material. That would be give away. Also, if the labels are slit than it is release by gap.
Edited by Arapahoe 20 Nov `08, 4:37AM
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Originally posted by jetta:
Tompang what? What do you make?
The bazaar today was a small success. The hardest part of diverting foot traffic to our indoor location. My vendors, for the most part, were happy. Only one didn't sell enough to cover the cost of her rental. I have another one on the 5th in the same location.
The best thing that happened today was, our very first customer ended up being my sign twirler.
He stood out in 90F weather from 1 to 7pm
and we gave him his purchase for free, plus fed him cookies which I
baked, and pizza. He was a happy camper. He even asked me to take
him on again for the 5th and he'll go around the neighbourhood
posting my flyers. What a deal. i have some stock denim jeans. private label. that i am looking for someone to sell.
only for men though....Gay too.
Edited by Arapahoe 15 Nov `08, 11:55PM
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Originally posted by Shotgun:
Eh don't be a blind joker lar. My words were "FORMAL ALLIANCES" not "Formal Ties."
The above 9 countries had formal alliances, either through NATO or through some formal defence arrangements.
Singapore is NOT in ANY ALLIANCE with the US. No Black n White arrangement, nothing OFFICIAL. Comprende??
We are just a regional partner, an FTA partner. Though we have several defence cooperations, Singapore chose not to call these cooperations an "Alliance" due to regional sensitivities. Understand?
my thoughts are typically it is State department that handle all "Formal Communication" Technically speaking he has no voice yet. So obama call those folks would also means that he is establishing his first tier personal relationship with leaders that either he needs to work with and shared common democratics value.
Edited by Arapahoe 15 Nov `08, 8:57AM
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