SHIP EN ROUTE TO BEIRA ATTACKED BY PIRATES

The European Union Naval Force in Somalia (EU NAVFOR Somalia) has reported that a container ship en route from Dar es Salaam to the Mozambican port of Beira was hijacked on 10 December by pirates.The five pirates, using two small boats, attacked the US owned “MV Panama” about 80 nautical miles (128 kilometres) east of the Tanzania/Mozambique border. According to the EU Naval Force a rocket propelled grenade was used in the attack. The “MV Panama” has a crew of 23, all of whom are from Burma.Commenting on the attack, the EU force said that “this extreme southerly attack in the Somali Basin is a further example of the constantly expanding area of pirate activity”.The main task of EU NAVFOR Somalia is to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid for the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. In addition, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.Currently, Somali pirates are in possession of 35 ships, and more than 650 hostages, according to Ecoterra International, an NGO that monitors the issues of piracy in the region.Most kidnappings end without any victim being hurt and they are only released after paying ransom. However, the negotiations could drag on for several months.