In early October Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) released a study on the psychological impacts of piracy on seafarers. While incidents of piracy decline off the Horn of Africa, an inestimable number of seafarers continue to bear the psychological impact of captivity by pirates.
Last week a cargo ship was freed after being held captive for nearly two years. The MV Orna, was hijacked 400 nautical miles northeast of the Seychelles in December 2010. The ransom for MV Orna was $600,000. Six hostages are still being held by the pirates on land.
BOURBON announced today that 7 crew members, 6 Russians and 1 Estonian were kidnapped during the boarding of the Bourbon Liberty 249, which occurred on October 15, 2012 in Nigeria. The other 9 crew members are still onboard the vessel, safe and in good health, heading for the Port of Onne.
The WatchStander system was originally developed for the US naval fleet but has been modified and adapted over the past two years for use by commercial vessels, cruise ships and yachts. A significant advance in anti-pirate technology, WatchStander is a fully automated and integrated system that detects and identifies pirates before launching a series of non-lethal but highly effective counter measures.
All information presented below are retrieved from ICC Commercial Crime Services (CCS) and are being updated on a monthly basis. For up to date live and accurate information please refer to ICC Commercial Crime Services (CCS) website.
Sailors Helpline has produced a documentary film regarding the life of a fisherman who suffered under the capture of somali pirates but in the end managed to escape but only to find himself stranded in an Indian police station since any documents that could confirm his identity do not even exist. The film “Man Without a Nation” presents the background of the real story that has made headlines in India and elsewhere.
A new low budget Danish film confronts the global scourge of piracy on the high seas, creating a psychological drama around negotiations in order to free a vessel and her crew by Somali pirates. Written and directed by Tobias Lindholm, the film nowadays maritime piracy.
INTERTANKO’s Executive Committee (ExCom) recently held its third meeting for 2012 in Rome, Italy, focusing on the major issues currently facing independent tanker owners such as tanker market sustainability, piracy, ballast water management and air emissions. Participants expressed concern over the state of the tanker industry and the rising costs of shipping, which are considered the most crucial issue facing INTERTANKO’s Members. They noted that, while independent owners acknowledged to have contributed to the problems by over-ordering, current market levels could actually endanger the supply chain element of safe, sustainable transportation of oil, products and chemicals.
According to Fairplay, Denmark’s TORM crew onboard the tanker Torm Gertrud used a novel method to repel a pirate attack off Nigeria over the weekend. Jakob Risom, press officer at TORM reported that the crew overflowed the ballast system meaning that water was poured over the side of the vessel.
All information presented below are retrieved from ICC Commercial Crime Services (CCS) and are being updated on a monthly basis. For up to date live and accurate information please refer to ICC Commercial Crime Services (CCS) website.
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Officer of the Watch 