View Full Version : NATO planning new anti-piracy mission off Somalia
NATO is planning to deploy a new naval flotilla in the coming months to combat piracy off Somalia, the alliance said Thursday.
In November, NATO sent four warships to the waters off the Somali coast and the Gulf of Aden to stem a surge of pirate attacks against merchant shipping in one of the world's busiest sea lanes.
They were replaced in December by a European Union task force, which will remain in place until the end of 2009. A number of other countries, including China, Russia and India, also have contributed warships to the international effort to combat piracy.
Still, pirate attacks have continued, and NATO has been considering sending a follow-on force to reinforce it.
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters that six vessels would be sent, although he did not say from which countries.
"It's a considerable strengthening of the anti-piracy role," he said. "We are seeing the end of the monsoon season, so I would not be astonished to see piracy go up again."
The U.N. Security Council has authorized countries to enter Somalia's territorial waters, with advance notice, and use "all necessary means" to stop piracy and armed robbery at sea.
The pirates are well-funded, well-organized and have easy access to heavy weapons in a country that has been in tatters for nearly two decades. Pirates travel in open skiffs with outboard engines, working with larger ships that tow them far out to sea. They use satellite navigational and communications equipment and have an intimate knowledge of local waters, clambering aboard commercial vessels with ladders and grappling hooks.
To date, pirates have raked in tens of millions in ransom and attacked and seized dozens of vessels carrying everything from palm oil and chemicals to luxury yachts. High-profile seizures include an oil tanker and a Ukrainian ship laden with tanks, both recently released.
Their focus has been the Gulf of Aden, between Somalia and Yemen, where 20,000 merchant ships a year pass on the way in and out of the Suez Canal, the quickest route from Asia to Europe and the Americas.
http://townhall.com/news/world/2009/02/19/nato_planning_new_anti-piracy_mission_off_somalia
einherjar
02-20-2009, 01:52
Wikipedia has a seemingly thorough write-up including history, attacks, global response and some pictures here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_pirate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_pirate)
Here is an interesting except:
United Nations
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on November 20, 2008 that was proposed by Britain to introduce tougher sanctions against Somalia over the country's failure to prevent a surge in sea piracy.[84] The US circulated the draft resolution that called upon countries having naval capacities to deploy vessels and aircrafts to actively fight against piracy in the region. The resolution also welcomed the initiatives of the European Union, NATO and other countries to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia. US Alternate Representative for Security Council Affairs Rosemary said that the draft resolution "calls on the secretary-general to look at a long-term solution to escorting the safe passage of World Food Programme ships."[85] Even Somalia's Islamist militants stormed the Somali port of Haradheere in the hunt for pirates behind the seizure of a Saudi supertanker, the MV Sirius Star. A tribal elder affiliated with the Islamists said "The Islamists arrived searching for the pirates and the whereabouts of the Saudi ship. I saw four cars full of Islamists driving in the town from corner to corner. The Islamists say they will attack the pirates for hijacking a Muslim ship."[86]
On December 17, 2008, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a tougher resolution, allowing for the first time international land and sea occupations in the pursuit of pirates.[87] Four ships, a Chinese fishing boat, a Turkish cargo ship, a Malaysian tug, and a private yacht were seized by pirates that same day.[88]The Resolution 1851 takes current anti-piracy measures a step further. [89]
...the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a tougher resolution...
Well, that ought to put the fear of God in those pirates...it's worked so well every other time they've adopted a tougher resolution. :rolleyes:
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Calling Capt. Jack Aubrey.
Team Sergeant
02-20-2009, 09:44
Well, that ought to put the fear of God in those pirates...it's worked so well every other time they've adopted a tougher resolution. :rolleyes:
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Only if someone "reads" it to them.:rolleyes:
The Reaper
02-20-2009, 09:56
I move that we take 40' cargo containers, make drop sides for them, install a Vulcan and a Mark 19 or two with several basic loads of ammo, tie them into the ship's radar, and put the containers with crews on board transiting ships with a squad or two of grunts for good measure.
Any small craft with hostile intentions approach, you power up, wait for them to get within range, drop the sides and light them up.
Anyone who survives, gets fragged and chummed.
We can install the loudspeakers on the Vulcan mount. Read them the resolution after the mad minute. Wouldn't want to violate any UN ROE.:rolleyes:
After the first few weeks, you can put empty containers on the decks of every ship and let the wannabe pirates try the shell game, if there are any still alive and willing to come out to play.
TR
We can install the loudspeakers on the Vulcan mount. Read them the resolution after the mad minute. Wouldn't want to violate any UN ROE.
Or--for simplicity's sake--wire it to electrical system for the gun's firing mechanism so it activates automatically whenever the Vulcan is fired. :p
Richard's $.02 :munchin
greenberetTFS
02-20-2009, 12:26
NATO is planning to deploy a new naval flotilla in the coming months to combat piracy off Somalia, the alliance said Thursday.
In November, NATO sent four warships to the waters off the Somali coast and the Gulf of Aden to stem a surge of pirate attacks against merchant shipping in one of the world's busiest sea lanes.
They were replaced in December by a European Union task force, which will remain in place until the end of 2009. A number of other countries, including China, Russia and India, also have contributed warships to the international effort to combat piracy.
Still, pirate attacks have continued, and NATO has been considering sending a follow-on force to reinforce it.
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters that six vessels would be sent, although he did not say from which countries.
"It's a considerable strengthening of the anti-piracy role," he said. "We are seeing the end of the monsoon season, so I would not be astonished to see piracy go up again."
The U.N. Security Council has authorized countries to enter Somalia's territorial waters, with advance notice, and use "all necessary means" to stop piracy and armed robbery at sea.
The pirates are well-funded, well-organized and have easy access to heavy weapons in a country that has been in tatters for nearly two decades. Pirates travel in open skiffs with outboard engines, working with larger ships that tow them far out to sea. They use satellite navigational and communications equipment and have an intimate knowledge of local waters, clambering aboard commercial vessels with ladders and grappling hooks.
To date, pirates have raked in tens of millions in ransom and attacked and seized dozens of vessels carrying everything from palm oil and chemicals to luxury yachts. High-profile seizures include an oil tanker and a Ukrainian ship laden with tanks, both recently released.
Their focus has been the Gulf of Aden, between Somalia and Yemen, where 20,000 merchant ships a year pass on the way in and out of the Suez Canal, the quickest route from Asia to Europe and the Americas.
http://townhall.com/news/world/2009/02/19/nato_planning_new_anti-piracy_mission_off_somalia
Excellent point............:D
GB TFS :munchin
einherjar
02-22-2009, 01:36
Somali pirate patrol: Day one
On the deck of HMS Northumberland
The BBC's Jonah Fisher has joined British Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland as it patrols the Gulf of Aden in an EU taskforce to deter Somali pirates. In the first instalment of his diary from the ship's deck, our correspondent finds that even with a fleet of warships, catching the seaborne hijackers is not as easy as one might imagine.
THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY
We've been at sea now for a few hours and still no sign of Keira Knightley or Johnny Depp. It's an obvious joke. But the deployment of a British frigate off Somalia's coast and in the Gulf of Aden shows just how seriously the struggle against modern piracy is now being taken.
The HMS Northumberland has for the last three months been part of the European Union's anti-piracy Combined Task Force Atalanta. It's one of six warships from across the continent trying to cover an area of more than a million square miles (2.6m sq km). From Mombasa in the south and as far north and east as Oman.
ELUSIVE PREY
Duties within the taskforce are shared between the warships and are a mixture of escorting aid deliveries into Somali ports and patrolling commercial shipping lanes to try to deter attacks. Warships from Russia, China, Malaysia and India are also on their own anti-piracy missions in the region. So far the jury is out on their success.
After the high-profile captures of the oil tanker, the Sirius Star, and the Ukrainian MV Faina in late 2008 the last two months have seen the number of piracy attacks decrease markedly. So far this year there have been 21 attempted boardings - just three of them successful.
But that improvement could also be down to changing sea conditions. Monsoon winds made December and January much harder for the pirates in their small open boats to operate. Now the weather is improving and the navy is waiting to see if the pirates emerge.
So far the nearly 200 crew of the HMS Northumberland have made only limited contact with the pirates. And when they have, the complex legal basis for the operation has made taking action difficult. "For us to intervene we have to actually arrive as an act of piracy is taking place," Martin Simpson, the commander of HMS Northumberland, told me. "That means we see the pirates approaching a merchant vessel with AK47s (automatic rifles) or RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) and trying to put a ladder in place to climb aboard."
On two occasions the HMS Northumberland has arrived just too late and was unable to prevent the ships being taken. Once the Somalis have scrambled up a ladder on to deck there is no prospect of a rescue bid. The owners of the merchant vessels prefer to enter into ransom negotiations with the pirates. After several months of talks with intermediaries the crew and cargo have usually been released unharmed in return for several million US dollars.
For the next few days I'll be reporting from on board the HMS Northumberland as it patrols the world's most dangerous shipping lane through the Gulf of Aden. At present we've just left the Omani port of Salalah and are heading west towards Somalia and Djibouti.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7899898.stm
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7899898.stm)
einherjar
02-22-2009, 01:46
Somali pirate patrol: Day two
The BBC's Jonah Fisher has joined British Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland as it patrols the Gulf of Aden in an EU taskforce to deter Somali pirates.
In the second instalment of his diary from the ship's deck, our correspondent joins a helicopter patrol.
FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY
A trip in the Merlin helicopter provided the perfect opportunity to see how hard it is to tackle Somali piracy.
This is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with huge container ships and tankers making their way to and from the Suez Canal. But there are also lots of much smaller local ships here, and almost all of them match the initial profile of "Somali pirate ship". That means a wooden dhow with fast-moving motorised skiffs attached alongside.
From high in the sky ships that could hardly be seen with the naked eye were magnified through a powerful video camera mounted on the outside of the helicopter.
SUSPICIOUS SIGNS
I watched as the operator skilfully zoomed in, trying to look for secondary clues that the boats might be more than just fishing vessels. The key indicators are the presence of ladders or grapple hooks which the pirates use to climb from the skiffs onto the hijacked ship.
Large numbers of men - far too many for a fishing trip - is another sign, as is lots of fuel on board that the pirates can use as they wait at sea for their target to come along. But you wouldn't have to be the cleverest Somali pirate captain to stash your ladders and fuel out of sight and to keep as many of your men as possible under a tarpaulin. So most of the local ships we checked out from the air were inconclusive. Nothing to warrant sending the Royal Marines in their speed boats - but impossible to say with conviction that they were not pirates.
DETERRENCE ROLE
It's clear that the sailors on board the HMS Northumberland are keen for action. For two hours late on Thursday a real buzz went around the ship as it was briefly diverted to intercept a drug-running ship. But the information turned out to be old. Then today the Royal Marines got kitted up to go and check out some local fisherman. Unfortunately for them the chances of an act of piracy taking place close enough to the Northumberland for it to act are pretty slim.
Deterrence is a big part of the role of the EU Atalanta taskforce - and it seems that in the areas that they operate the warships are having an effect. This afternoon the biggest gun on the ship - with shells four-and-a-half inches wide - was fired in a training exercise. If pirates were watching they would have been impressed. But with between just 10 and 15 warships in the region, most of the one million square miles around Somalia are still perfect for bounty hunting.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7902685.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7902685.stm)
einherjar
02-22-2009, 01:54
Somali pirate patrol: Day three
The BBC's Jonah Fisher has joined British Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland as it patrols the Gulf of Aden in an EU taskforce to deter Somali pirates.
In the third instalment of his diary from the ship's deck, our correspondent joins a helicopter patrol.
SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY
HELICOPTER HUNT FOR SEA PIRATES
For the last two days I've been shown the British navy's search and respond capabilities in the Gulf of Aden. But there have been no pirates.
This morning, in a bid to keep us entertained, the Royal Marines showed us their guns. We were even given the chance to fire them. A huge inflatable red ball nicknamed the Killer Tomato was thrown into the water and allowed to drift half a kilometre from the HMS Northumberland. A 30mm cannon capable of 600 rounds per minute was then fired. With each earsplitting round costing nearly £50 ($72), some novice shooting from the guests on board meant sinking the Killer Tomato wasn't cheap.
After another helicopter ride in the afternoon failed to identify any pirates we returned to the ship expecting the day to wind down before a formal evening meal in the officer's mess. Instead we were greeted by Royal Marines arming themselves to head out to sea. A lone skiff ahead of the HMS Northumberland had attracted the captain's attention - and he wanted the marines to take a closer look.
I was on board one of the two Royal Marine boats as it sped a mile towards the skiff in question. As we came closer it became clear that these were not pirates. Inside the boat were 35 scared men, women and children. The leader of the Royal Marines got out his Arabic phrasebook and ventured. "Inta min wehn," he asked. "Where are you from?" "Somalia," came the reply, in English. "Hungry. We are hungry" The skiff was one of the many making the dangerous journey from Somalia's chaos to Yemen in search of a better life.
When we arrived back on board the Northumberland the radio on the bridge was buzzing noisily. Several ships were worried about a skiff that was moving rapidly among them. The helicopter was despatched to take a closer look and the marines readied themselves to head out again. But - as has happened so often - there was nothing which gave the British any reason to believe that the boat was anything more than a fisherman on his way home.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7904019.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7904019.stm)
einherjar
02-23-2009, 00:36
Somali pirate patrol: Day four
The BBC's Jonah Fisher has joined British Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland as it patrols the Gulf of Aden in an EU taskforce to deter Somali pirates. In the fourth instalment of his diary from the ship's deck, our correspondent sees how the pirates are able to seize ships only a few miles away from naval vessels.
SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY
The day jolted into life with the news that the MV Saldanha had been taken by pirates. The first realisation that the Saldanha, a Greek-owned container ship was in trouble came on the radar. Instead of following the established shipping corridor through the Gulf of Aden it was heading directly towards Somalia.
The helicopter was sent up to take a closer look while the HMS Northumberland moved towards the Saldanha at top speed. Two miles away radio contact was established. The frightened voice of the Saldanha's captain came over the airwaves. A "hostage situation" had now developed, he said, with the pirates issuing the demand that the warship stay away.
There was little that Martin Simpson, captain of the Northumberland, could do. He was forced to watch as the Saldanha with its crew of 22 below deck drifted past the bridge windows and on towards the Horn of Africa. The Greek owner will now be expecting the phone call that begins ransom negotiations.
The mandate of the European Union taskforce - of which the Northumberland is part - is to act as a deterrent and try and stop acts of piracy in process or about to take place. It does not have the mandate or capability to retake captured ships like the Saldanha.
It appears that the Saldanha was seized either at night or at first light about 60 miles (100km) from the Northumberland's location. Despite being relatively close in maritime terms, with no alarm being sounded there was no chance of the Northumberland being able to act.
Later in the day an abandoned skiff was spotted drifting. It appeared to be the launch vessel that the pirates had used. On board was a large amount of fuel, a ladder with hooked ends, two RPG grenades and a quantity of money. After having a close look at the skiff the decision was taken to sink it. The ship's snipers and machine gunners were given the honour and some impromptu target practice eventually led to an explosion and the pirate boat going under.
Not for the first time on this three-month-long mission, the Northumberland has found itself in the same region as an act of piracy but without the advance warning to stop it.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7904874.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7904874.stm)
einherjar
02-23-2009, 01:02
...the European Union taskforce...does not have the mandate or capability to retake captured ships like the Saldanha...
I think that stating that the EU taskforce isn't capable of retaking the ship might be a case of Mr. Fisher waving around his artistic license. However, it would appear that those pirates may have read the fine print of that EU ROE.
Maybe the EU should change up the rules a little, like TR says:
...drop the sides and light them up. Anyone who survives, gets fragged and chummed.
einherjar
02-23-2009, 16:55
Somali pirate patrol: Day five
The BBC's Jonah Fisher has joined British Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland as it patrols the Gulf of Aden in an EU taskforce to deter Somali pirates. In the fifth instalment of his diary from the ship's deck, our correspondent asks whether such patrols can succeed in the troubled region.
MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY
This morning at about 1130 the HMS Northumberland arrived in the port of Djibouti. For the crew of the ship engine trouble means they'll be turning around and heading back to Oman. But for both the ship and I our time on "pirate patrol" has come to an end.
The most tangible sign that the Northumberland has made a difference during its three months with the EU anti-piracy taskforce has been its success escorting ships carrying food aid into Somali ports. It has had rather less joy catching pirates or stepping into prevent attacks. On three occasions, the most latest being the case of the MV Saldanha this weekend, the frigate has arrived just too late. Whether because they were too far away - or because no alarm was raised - the crew has three times had the frustrating experience of watching a hijacked ship sail off over the horizon.
INEVITABALE WEAKNESSES
Several people have emailed to ask why the taskforce is not mandated to retake captured ships. There are several reasons.
First, it is an operational one - the Northumberland's captain Martin Simpson was at pains to stress that he would need a much more robust force - including two helicopters - to ensure that his crew were not at risk. Boosting the force would increase the costs - and yet still in such a large area it would be impossible to ensure everyone was protected.
Secondly and most importantly, it is not what the shipping community want. If a merchant vessel is transporting $100m (£69m) of oil and 23 crew, its owners would much rather pay a ransom than risk a bloodbath and the loss of the cargo.
The taskforce stress that they act as a deterrent and are focusing their patrolling on narrow corridors in the Gulf of Aden. But the brazen theft of the Saldanha just 60 miles (97km) from the Northumberland on Sunday illustrates the inevitable weaknesses that still exist when a handful of warships attempt to cover a million square miles of water.
With Somalia in ruins the lure of piracy is unlikely to diminish anytime soon. The question then for the countries with warships in the region is this: Do they have the long-term commitment to keep funding a force that is at best a sticking plaster for the problem?
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7906849.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7906849.stm)
The Reaper
02-23-2009, 19:35
The taskforce stress that they act as a deterrent and are focusing their patrolling on narrow corridors in the Gulf of Aden. But the brazen theft of the Saldanha just 60 miles (97km) from the Northumberland on Sunday illustrates the inevitable weaknesses that still exist when a handful of warships attempt to cover a million square miles of water.
Basic misunderstanding of the mission.
You don't have to cover a million square miles of water.
You just have to cover the few that the ships are in, or the even fewer that the pirates are in.
TR
Patriot007
02-23-2009, 20:15
Basic misunderstanding of the mission.
You don't have to cover a million square miles of water.
You just have to cover the few that the ships are in, or the even fewer that the pirates are in.
TR
Which begs the question, do they want to act as a "deterrent" or actually seek and destroy the criminals?