The crew of a Danish weapons ship have been kidnapped by pirates in the Gulf of Aden off Oman, but in an unusual departure from normal practice.

On 12-JAN-2011 at 14:20 UTC, general cargo vessel Leopard came under attack from a PAG while underway in position 15 11 0 N, 58 19 0 E, 229nm SE of Madrakah, Oman on bearing 353.

4 vessels were attacked by pirates in Arabian Sea in the last 4 days, two of them tankers of Bourbon Offshore, France.

Pirates boarded the Italian-flagged products tanker, DOMINIA off the coast of Nigeria Jan 11 2011 and later kidnapped three of the crew.

On 09-JAN-2011 at 19:30 UTZ, pirates boarded chemical tanker Chassiron at anchorage in position 6 20 4 N, 3 21 3 E. 6nm South of Tin Can Island Port (Lagos), Nigeria.

Indian cargo vessel with 14 crew members was hijacked by the sea brigands off the coast of Oman , officials said on Wednesday.

At 1342 UTC 11JAN11 a merchant vessel was reported under attack by 1 skiff in position 14 03N 067 29E. Skiff armed and with ladder.  Vessel managed to evade hijack.

Lasers canons could be mounted on ships and boats to help fight off pirates attempting to board the vessels.

The cost of hiring larger vessels to haul coal this week plunged the most in more than two years as floods in Australia disrupted shipments from the world’s biggest exporter.