CASUALTIES

Ukraine president calls for UN anti-piracy centre

African office is needed for seafarer protection, says Viktor Yushchenko

Somali pirates murder second seafarer this year

Four others injured in shoot-out as master refused to divert ship

Keeping track of pirates

THIS rumour is possibly apocryphal, but deserves to be true, even if it isn’t. According to Last Word’s authoritative sources — OK, a trade union official we had a few beers with as the UK Labour Party conference opened in Brighton this weekend — there was something of a muddle over maritime security issues at the Trades Union Congress annual get together a couple of weeks back.

Turkish Navy holds attackers

SEVEN suspected pirates were arrested off the coast of Somalia on Saturday after attacks on two separate Panama-flagged merchant vessels that appear to have been the work of the same gang, reports from the region indicate, writes David Osler.

US proposes legal immunity for mariners who kill pirates

PROPOSED legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives will give a US mariner immunity from criminal prosecution for harming or killing a pirate while defending his or her ship, writes Rajesh Joshi in New York

Associated British Ports fined over Ipswich death

ASSOCIATED British Ports has been fined £266,000 (US$434,495) after the death of a worker at one of its facilities in an industrial accident two years ago, with Ipswich Crown Court also holding the company liable for costs of around £75,000, writes David Osler.

India on alert for Black Rose bunker spill

INDIA is readying itself for a bunker spill following the sinking of a Mongolia-flagged bulk carrier off its coast earlier this month.

Casualty Briefs - 1st October 2009

 

Brussels asked for damages over Pompei hijacking

THE European Union has been asked if it is willing to pay compensation following the revelation that the dredger Pompei was refused Atalanta protection prior to its hijacking by pirates earlier this year.

EU urged to pay for failure to prevent hijack

Dredger Pompei held for 71 days had been refused naval protection

Somalia piracy is on the rise again

US naval forces report four attempted attacks since September 19

Pirates free Horizon 1 and her crew

Somali pirates have released Turkish bulk carrier Horizon 1 and her 23 Turkish crew, according to private security concern with knowledge of the region.

Ships warned to keep up guard after Horizon 1 release

JUST two merchant ships and two fishing boats are currently being held by Somali pirates, following the release of Turkish-owned bulk carrier Horizon 1 yesterday. However, security sources are warning against complacency, and are sticking to earlier predictions that the problem will re-emerge once weather conditions in the Gulf of Aden improve.