Another week, another seven pirate incidents off the coast of Somalia -- bringing the total to more than 100, this year.
The latest ship to be hijacked: the M/V African Sanderling, a Panama-flagged, Japan-operated, and Korea-owned, 32,379-ton bulk carrier. At least 21 seamen from the vessel are being held. And that ship, packed with tanks and small arms, is still under pirate control.
There is some good news, however. Local Somali forces were able to wrest one vessel from the hijackers. The British Royal Navy is negotiating for the power to conduct raids off of Somalia's coast. And a flotilla of seven NATO ships is headed toward the Gulf of Aden.
ALSO:
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- Somalia Pirate Crisis: A Little Law and Order, Please
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- Sonic Blasters, Mercs vs. Somali Pirates
- Somali Pirate Vessels vs. Navy Tech
- U.S. Navy: Pirates Not Our Problem
- Somali Pirates Seize Ship-Load of Tanks
- French Troops Snatch Pirate Hostages
- Pirate Attacks Up 75%; Nearly One Raid Per Day
- Secret Weapon of the French Anti-Pirate Raid?
- Somali Pirate Map Found!
- Behind the French Anti-Pirate Raid
- Somalia Kidnapping Economy Booming
- Inside Job in Somalia Journalist Abduction?
- Why Bombing Somalia Is a Bad Idea
- Somalia Air Strike Draws Counter Attack
- Somalia's DIY Government
- US Strikes Suspected Terror Target in Somalia
- RIP, AFRICOM?
- Mogadishu's Unlikely Mediator
- Old-School Counterinsurgency in Somalia
- Mogadishu's Wheeled Battlecruisers
- Somalia's Mystery Weapons
- Somali Pirates At It Again
- Argh! Nigeria Pirates Recycle Gov't Guns
- France Raids Pirates!
- Arrrr! Warships vs. Somali Pirates
