Indian Navy Anti-Piracy Efforts

[digitaltiger]

INS Tabar fired AK-630 deck guns at the pirates on Tuesday night in an effort to repulse an attack by the pirates.

Good news and job done by INS..........

 

[genmirajborgza786]

India 'sinks Somali pirate ship' !

India 'sinks Somali pirate ship'

An Indian navy warship has destroyed a suspected Somali pirate vessel after it came under attack in the Gulf of Aden.

The INS Tabar sunk the pirate "mother ship" after it failed to stop for investigation and opened fire instead, an Indian navy statement said.

There has been a surge in piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia.

The latest attack came days after the Saudi-owned Sirius Star supertanker and its 25 crew were seized by pirates and anchored point off the Somali coast.

Vela International, operators of the Sirius Star, told the BBC no demands had yet been received from the pirates. The company also said all the crew were safe.


Fire broke out on the [pirate] vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored in the vessel
Indian naval statement

The biggest tanker ever hijacked, Sirius Star is carrying a cargo of two million barrels of oil - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - worth more than $100m (£67m).
Analysts say the pattern of other hijackings suggests a ransom request is likely to follow. Given the value of the tanker and its cargo, that is expected to be a sizeable demand.

Two of the captive crew are British. The UK Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, said the Royal Navy was co-ordinating the European response to the incident.

"The problem of piracy around Somalia is a grave danger to the stability in the region," he told the BBC.

Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991 and has suffered continuing civil strife.

Explosions

India is among several countries already patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes which connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.


SOMALIA PIRACY


The Indian navy said the Tabar spotted the pirate vessel while patrolling 285 nautical miles (528km) south-west of Salalah in Oman on Tuesday evening.
The navy said the pirates on board were armed with guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers.

When it demanded the vessel stop for investigation, the pirate ship responded by threatening to "blow up the naval warship if it closed on her", the statement said.

Pirates then fired on the Tabar, and the Indians say they retaliated and that there was an explosion on the pirate vessel, which sank.

"Fire broke out on the vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored in the vessel," the Indian navy said.

Some of the pirates tried to escape on two speedboats. The Indian sailors gave chase but one boat was later found abandoned, while a second boat escaped.

The Tabar has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden since 23 October, and has escorted 35 ships safely through the "pirate-infested waters", the statement said.

Last week, helicopter-borne Indian marine commandos stopped pirates from boarding and hijacking an Indian merchant vessel.

Ransoms

On Tuesday, a cargo ship and a fishing vessel became the latest to join more than 90 vessels attacked by the pirates this year.

THE SIRIUS STAR
Carrying 2m barrels of oil
Biggest vessel to be hijacked

The first vessel, a 25-crew cargo vessel transporting wheat to Iran, was attacked in the Gulf of Aden, while contact was lost with the crew of 12 on the fishing boat.

Piracy off the coast of East Africa and the Gulf of Aden - an area of more than 1m sq miles (2.6m sq km) - is estimated to have cost up to $30m in ransoms this year, a UK think tank has said.

The hijackings account for one-third of all global piracy incidents this year and the situation is getting out of control, according to the International Maritime Board.

The pirates who seized the Sirius Star are a sophisticated group with contacts in Dubai and neighbouring countries, says the BBC Somali Service's Yusuf Garaad.

Much of their ransom money from previous hijackings has been used to buy new boats and weapons as well as develop a network across the Horn of Africa, he adds.

Shipping companies are now weighing up the risks of using the short-cut route to Europe via the Suez canal.

However, travelling around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope would add several weeks to average journey times and substantially increase the cost of goods for consumers.


Story from BBC NEWS:
BBC NEWS | South Asia | India 'sinks Somali pirate ship'

Published: 2008/11/19 10:13:38 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

 

[daredevil]

I think, the somalian pirates have tasted the blood (read goodies) and they are not going to retreat anytime soon until they suffer a major blow (read kick in the nuts).

 

[t-birds]

Somali pirates have attacked a warship in their most brazen attack yet, as another group announced ransom demands for the captured oil tanker the Sirius Star.

By Ben Leach
Last Updated: 10:50AM GMT 19 Nov 2008

The Tabar has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden since Oct 23, and has escorted 35 ships safely through the 'pirate-infested waters' Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES
The Indian navy announced that one of its warships in the Gulf of Aden destroyed a ship belonging to Somali pirates while patrolling 285 nautical miles (528km) south-west of Salalah in Oman, on Tuesday evening.

According to early reports, INS Tabar was approaching a pair of high-speed launches and a pirate 'mother ship' - used as a base from which to launch attacks.

An Indian navy spokesman said it demanded the vessel stop for investigation but the pirate ship responded by threatening to "blow up the naval warship if it closed on her".

The pirates, who were running around the decks with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machine-guns, then attacked.

The Indians say they retaliated by opening fire and that there was an explosion on the pirate vessel, which sank.

"Fire broke out on the vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored in the vessel," the Indian navy said.

Some of the pirates tried to escape on two speedboats - the Indian sailors gave chase but one boat was later found abandoned, while a second boat escaped.

The Tabar has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden since October 23, and has escorted 35 ships safely through the "pirate-infested waters", the statement said.

Last week, helicopter-borne Indian marine commandos stopped pirates from boarding and hijacking an Indian merchant vessel.

Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera television broadcast footage of one of the pirates asking for a cash sum in exchange for the return of the Sirius Star tanker, its cargo and its crew of 25, including two Britons.

One of the pirates, Farah Abd Jameh, said: "Negotiators are located on board the ship and on land. Once they have agreed on the ransom, it will be taken in cash to the oil tanker."

He did not state the amount to be paid but added: "We assure the safety of the ship that carries the ransom. We will mechanically count the money and we have machines that can detect fake money."

The message came as two more ships were seized by Somali pirates in the past 24 hours: a Greek bulk carrier and a Thai fishing boat, despite a large international naval presence in the waters off their lawless country. An Iranian cargo ship was also hijacked earlier in the week.

 

[Imran Khan]

good job IN

 

[nitesh]

Well since it was just a few random pirates, its not really cause for celebrations.

now what u say flint, I hope you will say something positive here

 

[nitesh]

I feel more number of ships have to be sent there:

VOA News - India's Navy Destroys Pirate Ship in Gulf of Aden

India's Navy Destroys Pirate Ship in Gulf of Aden
By Steve Herman
New Delhi
19 November 2008


For the second time in a week, India's navy has repelled pirates in the Gulf of Aden. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi that compared to other navies patrolling the pirate-infested water, India's warships are showing no hesitation in opening fire to thwart hijackings and protect their national interests beyond its shores.

India's navy says one of its stealth frigates destroyed a heavily armed pirate mother ship with two speed boats in tow, about 528 kilometers southwest of the coast of Oman.

It is the second time in a week the Indian navy has clashed with suspected hijackers in the pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden.

The director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies in New Delhi, retired Indian Army Major General Dipankar Banerjee, says India's navy has been given the all-clear by the government here to confront the pirates.

"It is very much in order for India to take an active interest in these attempted hijackings of ships, which now often have a very significant portion of Indian sailors," said Banerjee. "Indian merchantmen are manning most of these ships now. And most of these ships will have a significant number of Indians in them apart from the Indian cargo.

The presence of a number of warships from at least nine countries, including the United States, in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden has, so far, done little to thwart the rising number of attacks on commercial vessels.

Maritime industry groups report pirates are currently holding 14 ships off the Somali coast, including an oil supertanker.

An Indian navy warship, on November 11, first intercepted pirates who surrounded an Indian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

In the second incident - late Tuesday - the Indian Naval Ship Tabar, according to the Defense Ministry here, encountered a so-called mother ship of a group of pirates. The vessel refused to be boarded for an inspection, responded that it would destroy the Tabar if it did not depart and then fired upon the naval ship. India's navy says the Tabar returned fire, the pirate ship exploded as two speed boats of the suspected pirates broke away and escaped.

The Tabar was dispatched on an anti-piracy mission to the region at the beginning of the month to escort Indian and other merchant ships through the pirate-infested waters off of Somalia.

The International Maritime Bureau says piracy in the region is out of control. It is calling on the United Nations to take a role to halt the menace which is driving up costs for shipping and making crew members hesitant to transit one of the world's busiest commercial maritime routes.

 

[su-47]

great job by IN. But i have to say the somali pirates were really stupid to try take on a warship with RPGs and machine guns. now atleast the pirates are also suffering loses. hopefully it will curb their enthusiasm for some time.

I think all stakeholders in the region have to send warships to the horn of africa to escort merchant ships. piracy is on the increase, and if ts not nipped in the bud, soon more capable players are going to enter the game.

 

[Vinod2070]

Why don't the navies deployed there take out the mother ships that feed these pirates.

Apparently it is 3 trawlers that act as the supplies stores for these idiots. Once they are identified and taken out, they will be out of steam.

 

[pkpatriotic]

Saudi-owned crude oil supertanker Sirius Star is seen during its naming ceremony in South Korea in this undated handout picture released on June 18, 2008 and obtained by Reuters on November 18, 2008. The supertanker, hijacked by pirates with a $100 million oil cargo in the largest ever such seizure, has reached the coast of north Somalia, a regional maritime group said on Tuesday.




INDIAN OCEAN - NOVEMBER 17: (EDITORS NOTE: IMAGE RELEASED BY U.S. MILITARY) In this handout image supplied by the US Navy, Pirates hold the crew of the Chinese fishing vessel FV Tian Yu 8 guard their hostages on November 17, 2008 as the ship passes through the Indian Ocean. The ship was attacked November 16 in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali coast. A Saudi oil tanker has also been hijacked in the Indian Ocean and is believed to have anchored off the coast of Somalia.

 

[blain2]

Why don't the navies deployed there take out the mother ships that feed these pirates.

Apparently it is 3 trawlers that act as the supplies stores for these idiots. Once they are identified and taken out, they will be out of steam.

Vinod, there is probably a combined fleet of less than 50 Naval ships monitoring these waters. Approx 15-25000 ships go through this area. Its just not possible for the Navies operating there to pick out these mother ships like that.

As much of an *** kicking that these pirates need, going after these guys is akin to going for a needle in a haystack.

 

[Vinod2070]

Vinod, there is probably a combined fleet of less than 50 Naval ships monitoring these waters. Approx 15-25000 ships go through this area. Its just not possible for the Navies operating there to pick out these mother ships like that.

As much of an *** kicking that these pirates need, going after these guys is akin to going for a needle in a haystack.

I know it won't be easy but with the satellite technology and all, shouldn't really be a herculean task for the likes of the US navy.

But these guys refused to come to the aid of the Saudi ship for some reason. The effort there is disjointed and that is the pirate's best hope to continue their operations.

 

[Imran Khan]

bad guys from somalia

 

[Imran Khan]

INS TABAR

this will hit by INS TABAR

 

[nitesh]

This ship is alone there, I think couple of more OPV with Marcos and helis on board would be a good idea. INS Jalashwa can act as a mother ship for IN.

Indian Navy sinks a pirate vessel, big blow for the brigands<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> - www.ddinews.com

Wednesday 19 November, 2008

An Indian naval frigate sunk a pirate vessel after repulsing an attack in the Gulf of Aden in a significant blow to the sea brigands at the heart of their operations in a third successive strike in as many weeks.

The success for INS Tabar to neutralise rising sea piracy off Somalia came in the first major offensive from among dozens of warships from several countries protecting shipping lanes in the area when it destroyed the 'mother ship' of a group of pirates after a fierce battle on Tuesday.

The pro-active operation from the Indian Navy comes a week after it saved two merchant vessels one from India and other from Saudi Arabia from being hijacked by sea pirates on 11th Nov in the Gulf of Aden near the Horn of Africa.

The Navy said the stealth frigate, currently deployed there for anti-piracy surveillance and patrol operations, successfully took on the pirates on Tuesday evening, 285 nautical miles south west off Salalah in Oman.

The frigate was deployed for the anti-piracy mission since 2nd November.

INS Tabar encountered the pirates' mother ship with two speed boats in tow and there were about 20 pirates on board the ship, it is learnt.

Pirates use mother ships, generally hijacked trawlers, to tow speedboats from which they launch their attacks.

They are also loaded with food, diesel and water.

"This pirate vessel was similar in description to the 'Mother Vessel' mentioned in various piracy bulletins. INS Tabar closed in on the vessel and asked her to stop for investigation," a Navy spokesperson said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

But the pirates threatened to blow up the warship if it sailed closer to their mother ship, despite repeated calls from INS Tabar to stop and let the Navy personnel to inspect the ship, he said.

The Navy noticed that pirates were roaming on the upper deck of the vessel with guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers in hand, and they continued the threats and subsequently fired upon INS Tabar.

In their retaliatory action in "self-defence," INS Tabar opened fire on the mother vessel of the pirates. "As a result of INS Tabar's guns booming, fire broke out on the pirate vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored on the vessel," he said.

Almost simultaneously, Indian Navy said, two speed boats were observed breaking off to escape.

The ship chased the first boat, which was later found abandoned. The other boat made good its escape into darkness, he added.

While some of the pirates could have escaped in the speed boats, a few on board the destroyed mother ship perished, he said.

The incident came as shipping groups reported a new surge in hijackings off Somalia and the International Maritime Bureau said pirates based in the lawless African nation were now "out of control".

INS Tabar was deployed on anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden since 2nd November.

Western Naval Command has been controlling the anti-piracy operation since 23rd October when the government ordered the Navy to deploy a warship in Gulf of Aden with the mandate to save Indian merchant vessels distressed by pirates.

Since deployment, INS Tabar has successfully escorted 35 ships, including a number of foreign-flagged vessels on receiving their request, safely during their transit through pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden.

It also threw back pirates, who attempted to hijack an Indian and a Saudi vessels on 11th November and accompanied the two merchant ships to safety.

The Indian action against pirates comes days after the release after the Japanese ship M V Stolt Valor with 18 Indian crew members hijacked from Gulf of Aden by Somalian pirates on 15th September.