I think, there must be exact definitions for vessels recognized as pirated, because if we start to count each highjacked floating object we won’t get a real, clear picture of piracy threat and situation, we won’t be able to analyze situation. Actually only one criteria I suppose, is enough for including pirated vessel in statistics – wether vessel has IMO or not. There must be recognition of pirated vessel from shipowner and state. My statistics give 20 highjacked vessels, and even among them all fishining vessels don’t have IMO No, under suspicion of poaching, but they’re at least recognized as pirated by their states. I didn’t include in statistics any pirated dhow, two recenlty maybe-pirated-maybe-not maybe Taiwanese fishing vessels, and recently pirated local vessel of unknown type Aly Zoulfecar, presumably Comorros-flagged.
Judging from my statistics, there are 20 pirated vessels presently held by pirates, manned by 433 people, among them British pair pirated with their yacht more than year ago.
Crews by nationality:
Philippines 19+3+19+18+20+14+16=109
Thailand 77
Kenya 7+39=46
India 11+19+15=45
China 2+9+19+2=32
Georgia 15
Indonesia 11
Tanzania 10
ROK 5+2=7
Greece 1+2+3=6
Pakistan 5
Montenegro 4
Ukraine 1+1+2=4
Turkey 3
Bangladesh 2
Mozambique 2
UK 2
Germany 1
Romania 1
Taiwan 1
m/v Suez Crew 23: Egypt, Pakistan, Shri Lanka, India.
m/v Iceberg I. Crew 24: Yemen, India, Ghana, Sudan, Pakistan, Philippines.
Total 433 seamen, fishermen and yachtsmen.
Vessels’ nationality:
Germany 1
Greece 5
Egypt 1
Indonesia 1
Japan 1
ROK 2
Saudi Arabia 1
Thailand 3
Taiwan 2
UAE 3
Type of vessels:
Fishing vessels – 6
Tankers – 9
General cargo – 3
Ro-ro – 1
Bulk carrier -1
Pirated vessels by date
1 Product tanker Al Nisr Al Saudi, Saudi Arabia
Product tanker Al Nisr Al Saudi pirated on March 1 in Gulf of Aden. Vessel was enroute Asia – Saudi Arabia to be exploited as a bunker tanker. Crew 14: 1 (master) Greece, 13 Shri Lanka. Al Nisr Al Saudi – IMO 9058696, dwt 5136, built 1993, flag Saudi Arabia, owner International Bunkering Company Ltd (IBCO).
2 Ro-ro Iceberg I, UAE
Ro-ro Iceberg I pirated on March 29 10 nm off Aden, crew 24: citizen of Yemen, India, Ghana, Sudan, Pakistan, Philippines. Iceberg I IMO 7429102, dwt 3960, built 1976, flag Panama, owner Azal Shipping & Cargo Dubai.
3 Tuna fishing vessel Jih Chun Tsai 68, Taiwan
Tuna fishing vessel Jih Chun Tsai 68 pirated on March 31, no data on the vessel including IMO No. Crew 14: 1 (master) Taiwan, 2 China, 11 Indonesia.
4 VLCC Samho Dream, ROK
VLCC Samho Dream in full load pirated on April 4 in Indian ocean, enroute Iraq – US, cargo crude oil values some $ 170 mil, owner of cargo US Valero Energy Corp. Crew 24: 5 S Korea and 19 Philippines. VLCC Samho Dream – IMO 9235737, dwt 319430, built 2002, flag Marshall Islands, owner Samho Shipping Co. Busan Korea.
5 General cargo Rak Africana, UAE
General cargo Rak Africana pirated on April 11 in Indian ocean, 280 nm W off Seyshelles. Crew 26: 11 India, 5 Pakistan, 10 Tanzania. Rak Africana – IMO 8200553, dwt 7561, built 1981, flag St-Vincent, owner Zambezi Shipping Agency LLC Dubai.
6, 7, 8 Three tuna fishing vessels Prantalay 11, Prantalay 12, Prantalay 14, Thailand
Three tuna fishing vessels Prantalay 11, Prantalay 12, Prantalay 14 were pirated on April 18 in Indian ocean, some 1200 nm off Somali coast. Vessels were sailing from Jibouti, Ecoterra Intl claims they were enroute to fishing grounds without proper licence, i.e. poaching. No data on any vessel including IMO. All three vessels Thailand flagged and owned, owner PT Interfishery Ltd. Crews 77, all Thailand.
9 Fishing vessel Tai Yuan 227, Taiwan
Fishing vessel Tai Yuan 227 pirated in Indian ocean on May 6 when sailing to Maldives. No data on vessel including IMO. Crew 28: 9 China, 3 Vietnam, 3 Philippines, 7 Kenya, 2 Mozambique. Vessel considered to be Taiwanese, either because of flag and owner or owner, not clear.
10 Chemical tanker Marida Marguerite, Germany
Chemical tanker Marida Marguerite pirated on May 8, 120 nm off Salalh, Oman. Vessel was enroute Kandla India to Rotterdam. Crew 22: 19 India, 2 Bangladesh, 1 Ukraine. Marida Marguerite – IMO 9445655, dwt 13168, built 2008, flag Marshall Islands, manager OMCI Shipmanagement GmbH & Co. Germany.
11 Bulk carrier Eleni P., Greece
Bulk carrier Eleni P. pirated on May 12 in 15 55N, 060 50E, Arabian sea. Vessel was enroute Yuzhniy Ukraine to China. Crew 23: 19 Philippines, 2 Greece, 1 Ukraine. Eleni P. – IMO 9128025, dwt 72119, built 1997, flag Liberia, manager Eurobulk Ltd Greece.
12 Chemical tanker Golden Blessing, Indonesia
Chemical tanker Golden Blessing pirated on June 28 in 13 23.7N 049 58E, IRTC, Gulf of Aden. Vessel loaded with glykoethylen sailed from Jedda Saudi Arabia. Crew 19: all China. Golden Blessing – IMO 9539016, dwt 14445, built 2010, flag Singapore, manager P.T. Berlian Laju Tanker Tbk. Indonesia.
13 Tanker Motivator, Greece
Tanker Motivator pirated on July 4 in 13.16N 42.56E, near Bab el Mandeb Strait. Vessel loaded with lubricators was enroute from Ukraine to Indonesia. Crew 18: all Philippines. Motivator – IMO 9340386, dwt 13065, built 2007, flag Marshall Islands, manager Evalend Shipping Tankers Co, Greece.
14 General cargo Suez, Egypt
General cargo Suez pirated on August 2 in 13.02N 48.54E, IRTC, Gulf of Aden. Vessel loaded with cement in bags was enroute from Karachi Pakistan to Red sea. Crew 23: Egypt, Pakistan, Shri Lanka, India. Suez – IMO 8218720, dwt 17300, built 1984, flag Panama, owner Red Sea Nav. Co Egypt.
15 Tanker Olib G., Greece
Tanker Olib G. Pirated on September 8 in 13 23 N 049 58 E, Gulf of Aden. Crew 18: 18 Georgia, 3 Turkey. Olib G. - IMO 8026608, dwt 6406, built 1988, flag Malta, manager Frio Ventures S.A. Greece.
16 Asphalt tanker Asphalt Venture, UAE
Asphalt tanker Asphalt Venture pirated on September 29, in position 120 nm E off Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Vessel was enroute Mombasa Kenya to Durban SAR. Crew 15: all India. Asphalt Venture – IMO 8875798, dwt 3884, built 1991, flag Panama, manager Bitumen Invest AS India, owner Inter Global Shipping UAE.
17 Fishing vessel Golden Wave, ROK
Fishing vessel Golden Wave (Keummi 305) pirated on October 9 off Lamu, Kenia. Crew 43: 2 Koreans (including master, who’s also owner), 2 China and 39 Kenya. No data on vessel except 241 tonnage, presumable Kenya flagged and poaching.
18 General cargo Izumi, Japan
General cargo Izumi pirated on October 10 in Indian ocean in 01 39S 042 05E. Crew 20: all Philippines. Izumi – IMO 9414955, dwt 20170, built 2007, flag Panama, owner Fair Field Shipping Co. Ltd Tokyo Japan.
19 LPG tanker York, Greece
LPG tanker York pirated on October 23 in 04 11 S 41 19 E, vessel was enroute Mombasa Kenya to Seyshelles. Crew 17: 1 (master) Germany, 14 Philippines, 2 Ukraine. York - IMO 9220421, dwt 5076, built 2000, flag Singapore, manager Interunity Management Corp Greece.
20 Product tanker Polar pirated on October 30 in 12:12N – 064:53E, Indian ocean. Vessel was enroute Baltic to Singapore. Crew 24: 3 Greece, 4 Montenegro, 16 Philippines, 1 Romania. Polar – IMO 9299563, dwt 72854, built 2005, flag Panama, manager Paradise Navigation S.A. Greece.