It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
One Crewmember Medically Evacuated from Hijacked Bulker off Somalia
Bulker Ruen remains anchored off Somalia being monitored by security forces (Navibulgar file photo)
One of the 18 crewmembers aboard the Bulgarian-owned bulk carrier Ruen seized by pirates last week was released for medical reasons officials reported today. However, the situation aboard the vessel remains unclear with the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) reporting the demands of the hijackers remain unknown, and local authorities in Somalia are planning to storm the ship.
EUNAVFOR confirmed that the Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria had been permitted to track the vessel into Somali waters arriving off the breakaway province of Puntland on Sunday. The Victoria moved away temporarily today for logistic reasons but EUNAVFOR says the vessel remains in a position between Eyl and Xaanfun on the Horn of Africa.
The hijackers are reported to have released one individual late on Monday who was requiring medical attention. The crewmember was taken aboard the Indian Navy vessel INS Kochi and given initial medical treatment. The Spanish also offered to assist, but it was determined that the crewmember needed to be transferred to a hospital and the Indian vessel is currently transporting him.
EUNAVFOR and the Spanish Navy provided additional details about the situation reporting that the Indian Navy’s spotter plan had been able to make contact with the crew on Friday via radio while it was overflying the vessel. At the time the crew was still secure in the citadel approximately a day after the vessel had been boarded. Later, however, the boarders were able to break into the citadel and take the crew hostage. It is unclear when the one crewmember was injured.
A Japanese Navy ship was also in the area and responded to the emergency call issued on December 14 after the vessel was boarded. EUNAVFOR reports the Japanese INS Akebono had remained in the area until it was relieved by the Victoria.
Since reaching Somalia, the bulker has remained near Puntland which is a breakaway area but in an unusual development, local media is reporting that the Puntland government announced that it is planning a military operation to rescue the vessel and to act as a deterrent to other potential pirates. They are also expressing concern about potential links between the Somali pirates and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“We are fully prepared to deploy the Puntland Marine Police Force and take decisive action against the pirates,” a government spokesman told the local media.
The concern is that a breakaway group is attempting to resume the attacks nearly six years after Somali pirates' last successful seizure of a merchant ship. Last month, Somali pirates were reported to have seized a small, commercial fishing boat, but EUNAVFOR said that group was handed over to the Somali authorities. The United States also said after interrogating the boarders of the tanker Central Park that preliminary indications were that the group was also Somali pirates. A U.S. Navy ship chased and captured the group when they attempted to flee from the tanker.
EUNAVFOR reports that the bulker, which is registered in Malta, is being continuously monitored. Efforts are being coordinated among the partners participating in EUNAVFOR and also with the local Somali authorities.
Hijacked Bulker Winds Up off Somalia's Northern Coast
The Bulgarian bulker that was hijacked in the Arabian Sea last Thursday is now located off Somalia, according to antipiracy task force EUNAVFOR.
The Indian Navy reported on Saturday that it had located the vessel, and dispatched a search plane and a warship to intercept the ship, the geared bulker Ruen.
The EU Operation Atalanta flagship, ESPS Victoria, also transited quickly to meet up with the bulker, EUNAVFOR said Sunday. The Victoria's current mission on scene is to "gain more awareness and evaluate following actions."
If the hijackers had intended to hide the ship, they did not try hard. As of Sunday, Ruen was still broadcasting her position on AIS. The signal put the ship's location about eight nautical miles off the coast of Abo, a coastal village in the Somali province of Puntland.
According to the shipowner, the hijacking occurred in the middle of the Arabian Sea, hundreds of miles from any shore. AIS data confirms the location: when she was about 380 nautical miles due east of Socotra, Ruen came to a stop, then changed course and made straight for the Somali coast.
The long-distance high seas attack is reminiscent of the methods seen in the worst years of Somali piracy. At the peak of the kidnapping epidemic in the early 2010s, pirates with "mother ship" fishing vessels would roam far from Somali waters, some reaching almost to India.
The operator told Bulgarian media that it lost contact with the ship last Thursday. The last signal from the security officer was that the crew was not in control of the vessel, but the 18-member crew was safe. Six unknown individuals were reported to be aboard the ship.
Alexander Kalchev, director of the company, confirmed that there is a "security incident," underway on the vessel. Speaking on Bulgarian TV, he said “We expect the kidnappers to contact us. The area where the ship was last detected is not a pirate area.”
The Indian Navy released pictures after its plane and warship began tracking the missing bulker (Indian Navy)
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday that it has assembled a specialized team to handle the situation. Malta, the ship’s flag state, reports it is also monitoring developments.
The reports are saying it is unclear since there has been no contact if the incident is related to current problems in Yemen or possibly a resurgence of Somali piracy. Reuters however reported it had contact with the rebels in the Puntland region of Somalia who are saying they have managed to seize a vessel.
It would be the first capture of a large commercial vessel by Somali pirates since 2017. An international security effort was successful in reducing the threat over the past few years.
However, there was a recent report from Somalia that a small commercial fishing vessel had been seized and was being held for ransom. Those reports said the pirates were threatening to use the ship as a mother vessel for more attacks, but EUNAVFOR later said the pirates had been handed over to the Somali authorities and that the threat was over.
The United States has also blamed the recent boarding of the tanker Central Park on Somali pirates. A team from the U.S. Navy captured five individuals who boarded the ship and said that after meeting with them the indications were that they were from Somalia.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization also issued a security warning on Friday alerting ships of potential piracy activity off the Somali coast. They have posted the warning to run through December 17.
Bulgarian-Owned Bulker Boarded South of Yemen in Arabian Sea
The identity of the vessel being boarded has not yet ben confirmed. (file photo)
Bulgaria’s largest shipping company, Navigation Maritime Bulgare (NAVIBULGAR) issued a written statement late today confirming the earlier reports of an ongoing incident aboard one of its vessels sailing in the Arabian Sea. Details on the situation remain sketchy and the whereabouts of the vessel are unknown as well as if it has been intercepted by any of the naval forces in the region.
The company writes that its vessel the Ruen (42,300 dwt) registered in Malta is “the subject of a security incident 380 nautical miles east of the island of Socotra, Yemen." They reported they are coordinating with the international authorities after losing contact with the vessel and that their priority is the safety of the 18 crewmembers onboard. Media reports from Bulgaria indicate that the crew are Bulgarian and Myanmar citizens.
Earlier today, United Kingdom Trade Organization (UKMTO) reported that it was investigating an incident in the Arabian Sea south of Yemen and east of Somalia. In a later update, they revised the alert to say a boarding was underway reporting an overheard VHF transmission indicating that the vessel had been boarded approximately 700 nautical miles east of Bossaso, Somalia.
Built at Hongqiang Shipyard and delivered in 2016, the AIS track for the 607-foot (185-meter) vessel shows that it had departed South Korea and made a stop in Singapore on December 4. She is reporting a destination of Gemlik, Turkey.
UK security consultants Ambrey issued an alert reporting that a vessel had been detected moving erratically in the area. Earlier they advised that an Iranian-owned fishing vessel had been detected going dark, turning off its AIS transmission, in the Arabian Sea.
Nearly two weeks ago there were reports that a fishing vessel had been hijacked off the coast of Somalia with the pirates demanding a ransom. Local media reports said the pirates were threatening to use the vessel as a mother ship for subsequent attacks, but EUNAVFOR later reported having tracked that vessel and handing it over to the authorities in Somalia. The last report was that Somalia arrested the pirates.
U.S. officials blamed Somali pirates, not Yemen for the November 27 attack and boarding of the tanker Central Park. Confronted by the task force, the five armed intruders debarked the Central Park and attempted to flee in a small boat. A team from the USS Mason gave chase and fired warning shots at the intruders as they attempted to flee. They did not return the fire and eventually surrendered to the U.S. team.
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