Posted on 07/25/2002 4:11:17 PM PDT by Clive
Heavily armed pirates targeting cargo ships along the African coast - many of which have passed through Durban - are raking in billions of dollars in trade on the international black market.
In the first six months of this year, 28 cargo ships were attacked by gangs of sea pirates operating around Africa.
Last year, 97 ships were attacked on Africa's coastline - more than half of the vessels attacked throughout the world.
Most of these ships were attacked after either berthing in Durban or Richards Bay to deliver or collect cargo, such as oil, iron, steel and coal, worth millions of dollars.
'Most of the
attacks occur in waters above Angola or Mozambique' Pirate attacks have increased throughout the world, from 165 in the first six months of last year to 171 attacks in the first six months of this year, with a major increase in attacks on oil tankers.
Using state-of-the-art boats, helicopters and weapons, pirates storm ships at night and hold the crews hostage for ransom before stripping the vessels of their cargo and fleeing, sometimes leaving their victims dead.
Since the start of the year, 21 sailors have been killed in separate attacks throughout the world. Last year, 59 sailors were murdered by pirates.
Piracy investigators are now warning all shipping agencies to alert their vessels travelling through troubled areas to the impending danger. The areas most affected by pirate attacks are South America, Indonesia, Africa and the Middle East.
Investigators say this is because countries in these continents have weak navies which are unable to protect their waters properly.
Informers work
in the ports where the vessels berth Capt Jayant Abhyankar, of the International Chamber of Commerce's Crime and Piracy- fighting International Maritime Bureau, who is based in London, said the bureau had been monitoring piracy since 1991.
"Most of the attacks occur either in waters above Angola or Mozambique. There have been very few pirate attacks in South African waters because of the strong presence of the country's navy and water and border police," said Abhyankar.
He said there were two types of pirates: "Those who rely on opportunity and those who plan their attacks months in advance.
"The pirates who plan attacks have modern weapons and equipment, including machine-guns and hand grenades.
"These pirates often follow ships for months, watching what they are transporting through information given to them by their informers working in the ports where the vessels berth.
"When the pirates attack, they use high-powered speedboats and helicopters to get aboard the ship, before tying up the crew and holding them for ransom," he said, adding that the pirates often stayed on board the ship for weeks until the ransom was paid.
"Most ransom demands exceed $500 000 (R5-million) and, while they wait to be paid, the pirates off-load the cargo onto barges they have hijacked."
I wonder why he doesn't just come right out and say where it's happening? I'm assuming, off Somalia, and perhaps Liberia and Sierra Leone, on the west side?
Why risk millions when you can hire a security team for your vessles?
I mean, how hard can it be to keep a bunch of amateurs from climbing onto your boat? And can't the boat itself be equipped with devices to help foil this kind of behavior?
Even cars have lojak systems.. Come on!
Good point. I wondered the same thing. After all, most sea cargo ships I have seen are pretty big. You would think that they would have a small, well-armed "security force". I dont think speed boats coming up to the side would be much of a problem to take care of, and helicopters can be shot down.
(Hey, boats are big and 'spensive..)
Dang just 2 much time on my hands....
Seems me brothers in arms have been keepin' busy. The scurvy dogs! Arrrh!
Ya can't scuttle a car.
Sure you can.. and you can track it right to the spot where it was "scuttled"
(Which appears to be impossible with these ships.. Tom Sawyer could capture on his raft from the sound of it.)
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