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 Pirate fears push ships via Cape
    November 19 2008 at 06:46AM Get IOL on your
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London - More of the world's big shipping firms are quietly diverting their fleets around the Cape of Good Hope instead of risking the hijacking of their vessels by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, a senior industry executive has disclosed.

Rob Lomas, secretary-general of Intercargo, an industry group representing shipowners hauling dry commodities, said more firms were avoiding the Suez Canal.

He said, however, that there was no "stampede" to use the Cape route.

Meanwhile, the Saudi supertanker seized by pirates with a $100-million (about R1-billion) oil cargo in the world's biggest ship hijacking has reached Somalia, while a cargo ship loaded with wheat bound for Iran has been captured in the Gulf of Aden.
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The Hong Kong cargo ship loaded with 36 000 tons of grain has 25 crew members.

The United States Navy said pirates had taken the Sirius Star - seized 450 nautical miles southeast of Kenya at the weekend in the boldest strike yet by Somali pirates - to Haradheere port, halfway up Somalia's long coastline.

The tanker's operator, Vela International, shipping arm of oil giant Saudi Aramco, said it was believed the 25-man crew was safe.

The Sirius Star, the size of three soccer fields, is the largest vessel yet seized by pirates. It had been hijacked further out to sea than any of the other vessels seized by Somali pirates, the US Navy said.

Shipping experts said the pirates had shown that few ships sailing the Indian Ocean were safe.

A spokesperson for the Bahrain-based US Fifth Fleet said the Sirius Star was believed to be heading towards the Somali port of Eyl.

"There is no information yet about the pirates' demands."

The US Navy's operations chief, Admiral Michael Mullen, said he was "stunned" by the Somali pirates' range and the size of the vessel seized. "(The pirates) are very good at what they do.


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muti
Showing page 1 of 1 comment pages, 7 total comments
63 Weeks ago Aubrey wrote :
This problem will never get sorted out. The problem is navies hands are tied with intl. law. How is it possible to win wars , piracy etc if we have to adhere to the rules of engagement. these terrorists do not play by the rules. I say scrap the rules if your opponent discards the rules. Look at the war on terror. The US and its allies could of won the war on terror if they fought as the terrorists fight. but they are bound by intl. law. The world is in a downward spiral because too much emphasis is placed on the terrorists, criminals rights. I beleive if you break the accepted intl, law you give up your rights. Use these powerful navies for what they were intended.
64 Weeks ago Kung Pow wrote :
I'm talking bout the ninja's!
64 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
Well, so much for keeping it quiet. Let's hope the pirates don't read IOL! :)
64 Weeks ago Kung Pow wrote :
yes I agree, they can appear suddenly and rid the world of this filth and then "poof!" disappear again into the night!
64 Weeks ago Marc wrote :
I can think of no other more deserving opportunity for navies needing live targets than deploying (ah, at last the correct use of the word) units to the Somali coastline. Nothing more satisfying than sending some "pirate" vessel to Davey Jone's locker with a 40mm Oerlikon gun (let's face it, you won't need more). No mercy to be shown and great opportunities for movies too.
64 Weeks ago Shinobi wrote :
Who is the greatest enemy of pirates?

Ninjas!!!

Shipping companies need to employ Ninja as protection against the pirates. Everyone knows that Ninjas are superior in every aspect to pirates.
64 Weeks ago GuyverXT9 wrote :
Arrrrrrrr!!! Me matey!!!