I will assume that none of these vessels had armed security on board. Because if these dorks are only using steel bars or knives, then by all means they should get a good scare when they see an armed response.
The other thing I was thinking about, but really cannot say for sure, is if any of these attacks show the signs of being jihadist related? The areas of these attacks would make it highly likely that these pirates were muslim, but you never know. These guys could just be thugs trying to take advantage of unarmed and easy prey.
We will see if this area gets nuts again, and how this pirate industry evolves. I have no doubt that all wannabe pirates are watching what the Somali’s are doing, and dreaming about getting millions of dollars in ransoms. –Matt
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Spike in Pirate Attacks in Indonesian Waters Raises Warnings
Sara Schonhardt
06 September 2010
In the latest of a series of attacks in Southeast Asian waters, armed pirates attacked a Japanese chemical tanker off the Indonesian island of Mangkai in the South China Sea. Indonesia and its neighbors are coordinating efforts to fight the pirates.
Pirates armed with guns and knives are increasing their attacks on ships passing by three Indonesian islands off the east coast of Malaysia.
The International Maritime Bureau says 27 pirate attacks have been reported in the South China Sea since January, up from only seven in all of 2009. A spate of attacks since mid-August has deepened concerns at the maritime crime monitor, which warns ships to remain vigilant in the area.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said Monday the country’s navy is coordinating with the navies of Singapore and Malaysia to respond to the issue. He says the government plans to increase naval patrols in the area.
“The South China Sea is a very busy sea lane of communication, including the Strait of Malacca in Singapore,” he said. “It is important on our part that we conduct coordinated patrols as well as close communication.”
Globally acts of piracy are down this year, but an Asia security agency called ReCAAP reported a 40 percent increase in armed ship attacks in the region in the first half of 2010. So far the attacks have been minor, with no hostages taken or ships seized.
In an attack Sunday on a Japanese-owned tanker traveling from Singapore to China, the pirates stole cash and ransacked part of the ship, but the crew was not injured.
Faizasyah says Jakarta takes piracy very seriously. After a spike in pirate attacks in the late 1990s, Indonesia partnered with Malaysia and Singapore to ensure the security of the seas they all border. That cooperation helped stem the attacks.
Faizasyah says it is important for ships passing through the region to keep in close contact with authorities in the area. The International Maritime Bureau says pirates often abort their attacks once they are spotted, and that is where communication between ships on the water can make a difference.
Story here.
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Pirates Rob Tanker as Attacks Rise In S.China Sea
September 6, 2010
Pirates robbed a Japanese chemical tanker in the South China Sea on Sunday amid a “serious escalation” of attacks, a maritime watchdog said on Monday.
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said pirates armed with knives and steel rods boarded the ship off Mangkai Island in Indonesia last week, stole cash and belongings and fled.
The ship was sailing from Singapore to China and none of its 23 crew were hurt.
The South China Sea is close to the Malacca Strait, a key shipping lane for world trade that more than 50,000 merchant ships ply every year.
“This is the second serious escalation of piracy attacks in the area after the first in June. Ships are being attacked every other day for the past 20 days,” said Noel Choong, who heads the IMB’s Kuala Lumpur-based piracy reporting centre.
Choong said pirates have struck 27 times in the area since February.
In June, the IMB issued a piracy warning to ships in the South China Sea after a sharp increase in attacks off the islands of Mangkai, Anambas and Natuna.
The number of attacks dropped after increased patrols by the Indonesian navy, but rose again recently.
Choong said the IMB has requested that naval patrols be stepped up again in the area and advised all ships passing in the area to stay at least 45 nautical miles (83 km) from Mangkai Island.
Story here.