2008 in piracy

none April 2022 November 2008 There were 49 ships reported pirate attacks in the first three months of 2008, up from 41 in that period of 2007. According to the ICC International Maritime Bureau, in those attacks: "Seven crew members were taken hostage, six kidnapped, three killed and one missing – presumed dead."http://www.icc-ccs.org/main/news.php?newsid=109 https://web.archive.org/web/20080511142949/http://www.icc-ccs.org/main/news.php?newsid=109 ICC Commercial Crime Services 11 May 2008 Up until mid-November 2008, more than 90 vessels had been attacked by pirates in the year.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7739171.stm BBC News India praised for sinking pirates 20 November 2008 22 April 2010 At the same time, with a more than 75 per cent increase since the previous year, pirates were holding 13 ships captive in the Somali ports of Eyl and Hobyo. 1 February – Somali pirates seize the Russian-built tugboat, Svitzer Korsakov. Pirates seized tug boat Svitzer Korsakov in the Gulf of Aden Fox News 4 February 2008 http://origin.foxnews.com/wires/2008Feb04/0,4670,SomaliaPirates,00.html 2008-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110711022055/http://origin.foxnews.com/wires/2008Feb04/0,4670,SomaliaPirates,00.html 11 July 2011 dead 17 March – Svitzer Korsakov was released after ransom of $700,000 was paid. Somali pirates free Russian-built tugboat AFP 18 March 2008 http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5heu8m6Gmoxlb6Ma_8x6_0NyMM_EQ 2008-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520174121/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5heu8m6Gmoxlb6Ma_8x6_0NyMM_EQ 20 May 2011 dead 4 April – Somali pirates seize the French sail cruise ship, Le Ponant, with its 30 crew members. No passengers were aboard at the time. France is tracking hijacked yacht BBC 5 April 2008 https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7332003.stm 2008-10-09 12 April – After a $2m (£1m) ransom was paid, the crew of the Le Ponant are released. Hours later, French soldiers deployed by helicopter seize 6 pirates ashore in their village and recover part of the ransom. 19 April – Somali pirates seize the Spanish fishing boat, Playa de Bakio with its 26 crew. Spanish fishing boat seized by pirates off coast of Somalia AFP 20 April 2008 http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j_lUPJm66gkE42sBavyv8tSpVSCg 2008-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520174152/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j_lUPJm66gkE42sBavyv8tSpVSCg 20 May 2011 dead 21 April – Somali pirates seize the Dubai freighter, Al-Khaleej. 22 April – Puntland troops board the Al-Khaleej, killing one pirate and arresting seven others. The ship's crew were all rescued unharmed. Eleven pirates and associates would be sentenced to life imprisonment the next week. 26 April – Playa de Bakio and crew released after a reported $1.2 million ransom was paid.http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/04/28/espana/1209355096.html Uno de los negociadores confirma que se pagó 1,2 millones de dólares para liberar al atunero Spanishhttp://www.cadenaser.com/espana/articulo/liberados-26-tripulantes-playa-bakio-secuestrados-somalia/csrcsrpor/20080426csrcsrnac_9/Tes Liberados los 26 tripulantes del 'Playa Bakio' secuestrados en Somalia Spanish 17 May – Victoria carrying 4,000 tons of donated sugar was hijacked 55 km off Somalia.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7406818.stm BBC News Aid vessel hijacked off Somalia 18 May 2008 22 April 2010 20 July – MV Stella Maris, a Japanese-owned bulk carrier with a 20 all-Filipino crew was seized. 12 August – MV Thor Star, a Thai freighter delivering plywood to Aden was seized. 12 August – MT Yengeoa Ocean, a Nigerian tugboat was seized. 19 August – MT Bunga Melati 5, a Malaysian chemical freighter was seized. 21 August – MT Irene, a Japanese-owned tanker with 16 Filipinos and four other foreign nationals was seized. 21 August – MV Iran Deyanat, an Iranian dry bulk carrier was seized. 21 August – MV BBC Trinidad a German heavy lift project vessel was seized. 2 September – Carre d'as, a French leisure yacht was seized. Pirates seize French yacht off Somali coast AFP 3 September 2008 http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i_B_7cS84WnqBKPSjWrOQ6844JMQ 2008-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520174159/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i_B_7cS84WnqBKPSjWrOQ6844JMQ 20 May 2011 dead 11 September – MV BBC Trinidad and MT Irene was released after ransom paid. Pirates free BBC Trinidad and crew Maritime Information Center 12 September 2008 http://www.micportal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=953:pirates-free-bbc-trinidad-and-mt-irene&catid=25:security-measures&Itemid=38 2008-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20081207125143/http://www.micportal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=953:pirates-free-bbc-trinidad-and-mt-irene&catid=25:security-measures&Itemid=38 7 December 2008 dead 15 September – MT Stolt Valor, a Hong Kong chemical tanker with 18 Indians,http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=3bbfe8a0-24e9-4011-99da-d3c7a25b92c4_Special&&Headline=%e2%80%98Once+pirates+are+aboard%2c+the+game+is+over%e2%80%99 "Once Pirates are aboard, the game is over" 19 November 2008 5 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081205133256/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=3bbfe8a0-24e9-4011-99da-d3c7a25b92c4_Special&&Headline=%E2%80%98Once+pirates+are+aboard%2C+the+game+is+over%E2%80%99 dead 2 Filipinos and 13 other nationals was seized. 16 September – French commandoes stormed Carre d'as, a French leisure yacht to release the ship. French commandos free hostages from Somali pirates AFP 16 September 2008 http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gmAqL9urNuZcg72JcZKRszDdN8DQ 2008-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20080921024033/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gmAqL9urNuZcg72JcZKRszDdN8DQ 21 September 2008 dead 17 September – MV Centauri, a Greek chemical tanker was seized with a crew of 25 Filipinos. Somali pirates seize Greek ship AFP/Taiwan News 19 September 2008 http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=742531 2008-10-09 21 September – MV Capt Stefanos, Greek freighter carrying coal was seized with 19 crew members. Somali pirates hijack Greek ship with 19 crew members Xinhua News Agency 22 September 2008 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/22/content_10088664.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20080922145756/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/22/content_10088664.htm dead 22 September 2008 2008-10-09 25 September – MV Faina, a Ukrainian freighter carrying small arms and 33 T-72 tanks for Kenya, was seized. 26 September – MV Genius, a Greek chemical tanker was seized. 27 September – MT Bunga Melati 5, a Malaysian chemical tanker was released after a ransom of $2 million was paid. Omar Hamsar Somali Pirates Free Malaysian Chemical Tanker After Ransom Paid Bloomberg 27 September 2008 https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aZ3YOwmdjls0&refer=africa 2008-10-01 27 September – MV Al Monsourah (also spelled Mansourah), an Egyptian ship was released after a ransom of $1.2 million USD was paid. Liyu Lin Somali pirates release Egyptian ship Xinhua News Agency 28 September 2008 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/28/content_10127554.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20081003112718/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/28/content_10127554.htm dead 3 October 2008 2008-10-01 27 September – MV Stella Maris was released after a ransom of $2 million was paid. Somali pirates free ship as ransom paid Independent Online / AFP 28 September 2008 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Africa&set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20080927152407984C286312 2008-10-01 10 October – MV Wail with a crew of 11 consisted of nine Syrians and two Somalis was seized. Pirates seize ship off Somalia, release another Reuters 10 October 2008 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LA460414.htm 2008-10-10 10 October – MT Irene which was seized on 21 August was released after a ransom of $1.6 million was paid. MV Iran Dianat (also spelled Deyanat, Deyat) was also released. 16 October – Pirates released the crew of MV Bright Ruby after a ransom was paid. Somali pirates release kidnapped crewmen: SKorea AFP 10 October 2008 http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g7gvaXwCncVpoAWkK4387xGc1kQA 2008-10-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520181631/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g7gvaXwCncVpoAWkK4387xGc1kQA 20 May 2011 dead 15 November – MV Sirius Star, a VLCC tanker was seized.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7736472.stm Pirates pass open water test n Walker Robert 18 November 2008 BBC 2008-11-19 17 November – Pirates release the crew of MT Stolt Valor after a ransom of $2.5 m was paid.India buys back its sailors' life for $2.5 mn – India News – IBNLive 21 November – Pirates release the ship and crew of MV Genius after a ransom was paid.https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27855340 Pirates release seized oil tanker, 19 crew NBC News References External links IMB 2008 Interactive Piracy Map Piracy Category:Piracy by year