Incident: Vessel fired upon

A vessel in the Gulf of Aden, not otherwise identified, is fired upon by six to seven men in a skiff. The attacker broke off the action. (ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping, 8/19/09)

Analysis: Somalis flee to Yemen via Gulf of Aden

The United Nations says 30,000 Somali refugees have fled to Yemen to escape civil war, relying on smugglers to carry them across the Gulf of Aden. The UN says another 12,000 await transport in Bossaso. (ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping, 7/30/09)

Incident: US Navy warns of increased attacks

The U.S. Fifth Fleet has warned that "High sea states over the past few weeks in the Somali Basin have resulted in fewer attacks on vessels transiting the area, but mariners must continue to remain vigilant." The statement notes that am end to the monsoon season in September will mean better sailing weather for pirates. (Wor;d Tribune, 07/28/09)

Incident: Elephant freed by French, Indian military

The French and Indian navies liberate a Liberian vessel, A Elephant, through military action.

The small [sic] boat was hijacked by the pirates off the Somali coast Friday and was freed Wednesday after a joint operation by the two navies, the official said. The Somali pirates carrying rocket propelled grenades and AK-47s hijacked the Indian boat about 10NM off Bosasso in Gulf of Aden waters. The vessel had discharged its cargo at the Somali harbor and was proceeding to Dubai. The Somali pirates forced the boat towards Bab el Mandeb, north of Somalia, and tried to hijack the vessel, a Liberian tanker, Monday. A French warship shadowed the pirated boat and exchanged information about it with the Indian naval ship. “The dhow was thereafter tracked continuously by the warships of both the navies. Attempts to board the dhow for investigation by the French ship were abandoned when the pirates threatened to kill the 14 crew held hostage on the dhow. Following the joint efforts by the Indian and French warships patrolling the waters of Gulf of Aden, the pirates steered the dhow towards the Somali coast and released it along with the crew on July 15,” the Indian Navy official said. However, the pirates robbed the crew of all their cash and valuables. The hijacked boat was registered at Porbandar in India and was operating from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is the sixth successful operation of the Indian Navy against the pirates in the region since November last.

(ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping, 7/30/09)

A Elephant is, in fact, a 320 m long tankship. (vesseltracker.com)

Incident: Crude tanker fired upon

A crude tanker sailing the Gulf of Aden (not otherwise identified) is chased by four pirates in a skiff. The pirates fired upon the tanker, then "tried to hook a ladder onto the shipside. Master made evasive manoeuvres and contacted the warships for help." Evasive action defeated the would-be boarders. (ICC/IMB Website)

Incident: Product tanker pursued by 10 skiffs

A product tanker in the Gulf of Oman (not otherwise identified) is pursued by two skiffs. "Master informed, crew alerted and fire hoses rigged. Ten minutes later, ten speed boats chased the tanker but due to anti piracy measures, pirates aborted the attempt." (ICC/IMB Website)

Incident: Nafeya hijacked

The Dhow Nafeya is hijacked 14 NM off Bosasso with a crew of 11 Indians aboard.

The vessel was used as a mothership in a failed attack on the tanker (A ELEPHANT). The dhow was released without ransom on 15 Jul 09, with all crew members safe

(ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping, 7/30/09)

Incident: Horizon I taken

The Horizon I is taken in the Gulf of Aden with 23 Turkish crew aboard. (ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping, 7/8/09)

The 176m vessel is registered in Turkey. (vesseltracker.com)

It was carrying sulfur from Saudi Arabia to Jordan and was taken by five armed men.

The ship was brought first to the Somali port Hordio along with her 23-member crew including a female third officer. On July 10, the Horizon-1 left Hordio and sailed to the so-called pirate haven of Eyl in 60 nmi (110 km; 69 mi) distance southwards, cruising at low speed for unknown reason.

The ship had previously witnessed the capture of the Titan but itself escaped capture after the arrival of warships. (Wikipedia, "List of ships attacked by Somali pirates," 12/31/09)

Incident: Bulk carrier attacked

A bulk carrier, not otherwise identified, reports an approach by a small boat in rough seas, followed by a rocket propelled grenade attack.

The master conducted evasive maneuvers, increased speed, and managed to elude the boat. ONI Comment: UKMTO contacted the master after the incident and was unable to confirm an attack. No weapons seen, no damage confirmed to date, and no attempt to board was noted.

(ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping, 7/8/09)