The most significant piracy event this week was the sinking of MV ALBEDO in her anchorage position off the East Coast of Somalia near Haradheere. There are reports of 4 crew members and 7 pirates perishing in the sinking however these numbers have not been confirmed. No further information with regards to the whereabouts of the remaining crew is available at this time. There have been no reports of pirate activity, this could be partially due to the particularly strong monsoon effects being experienced in the Somali Basin and up into the Eastern approaches of the Gulf of Aden where winds and sea states have created very unfavourable conditions for small boats and skiffs. However, despite the unfavourable sea states in the Indian Ocean and Somali Basin pirate groups retain the capability and intent to conduct attacks and have the potential to attack with little or no warning. To counter an attack, the crew must take proactive counter-piracy preparations and remain aware of their environment as they transit the region. Moreover, if a vessel comes under attack, reporting the event as quickly as possible to the UKMTO and MSC HOA will allow for the manoeuvring of naval assets in the region. The South west monsoon conditions will continue to dominate the region until sometime in the fall when the weather system will breakdown and transition to the North east monsoon season. Until then the overall forecast for small boat / skiff operations is unfavourable along the East Coast of Somalia extending from the tip of the Horn of Africa down through the Somali Basin.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 01:58:29 +0000
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