Erik Mednis : Forward

Seriously. Because they’re having a really good time, and so am I, following their exploits. Below is an extensive catalog of ships believed to be currently held for ransom by Somali pirates, and their cargo. Crude Oil, Tanks and Munitions, it’s all fair game and as long as they treat the [universally fillipino?] crews well, and honor ransom agreements, the world’s insurers and oil companies just count their hazard-premiums while sitting on their hands.

CAPT. STEPHANOS: Seized Sept. 21. The freighter was flying the Bahamas flag. It was carrying a cargo of coal and has 17 Filipinos, one Chinese and a Ukrainian aboard.

FAINA: Seized Sept. 24. The ship was carrying 33 T-72 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition destined for Kenya’s Mombasa port. Pirates have demanded $20 million in ransom.

AFRICAN SANDERLING: Seized Oct. 15. The Panama-flagged, Japanese-operated, and Korea-owned bulk carrier has 21 Filipino crew aboard.

STOLT STRENGTH: Seized Nov. 10. The chemical tanker with 23 Filipino crew aboard was hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. It was carrying 23,818 tonnes of oil products.

THE KARAGOL: Seized Nov. 12. The Turkish ship with 14 crew was hijacked off Yemen. It was transporting more than 4,000 tonnes of chemicals to the port of Bombay.

TIANYU 8: Seized Nov. 13/14. The Chinese fishing boat was reported seized off Kenya. The crew included 15 Chinese, one Taiwanese, one Japanese, three Filipinos and four Vietnamese.

CHEMSTAR VENUS: Seized Nov. 15. The combined chemical and oil tanker was travelling from Dumai, Indonesia to the Ukraine. It had 18 Filipino and five South Korean crew.

SIRIUS STAR: Seized Nov. 15. The Saudi supertanker, the biggest ship ever hijacked, held as much as 2 million barrels of oil. Captured off east Africa, it had 25 crew from Croatia, Britain, the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia.

THE DELIGHT: Seized Nov. 18. The Hong Kong-flagged ship with 25 crew aboard is loaded with 36,000 tonnes of wheat bound for Iran. It was captured off the coast of Yemen.

ADINA: Seized last week. The Adina is a Yemeni-operated bulk carrier and carried seven crew, including three Somalis, two Yemenis and two Panamanians.

BISCAGLIA: Seized on Nov. 28. The Biscaglia is a Liberian-flagged chemical tanker with 30 crew on board, 25 Indians, three Britons and two Bangladeshis.

source: http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINLS21154720081128?sp=true

Do Somali Pirates say “Arrr” ? It’s like something out of a William Gibson novel. War is a racket. Now, apparently, so is Piracy for Hire. Nations have been subjugated liberated with shock and awe for less offenses against the world. This ‘Failed State’ seems to be outwitting the western world.

The difference between these guys and the Nigerian email scammers ? They work with their hands, man, and they’re clearly for hire. Want to spike the market price of oil ? Have your newest tanker taken hostage. Want to interdict an arms shipment to your rival ? A well dropped coke bottle and a note will do the job. [yes, it was an obscure reference.]

What does it feel like, Ishmael, commandeering 2 million barrels of the Saudi Royal family’s oil in their brand new supertanker, with 6 guys, a whale boat and a 2-stroke motor?

For emotional context, enjoy this oft-censored Bugs Bunny short, a strong influence on my own formative years…particularly the ‘locks’ off the Panama Canal… I hope it inspires you, like it did me…And the Somali Pirates.