Hijacked vessel LIQUID VELVET soon to be released, Dutch counter-piracy forces mistakenly kill two hostages in raid on pirate mothership, pirate activity out of Kismayo grows, pirates hijack a fishing dhow in the Gulf of Aden, EU NAVFOR extends mandate to December 2014, the TFG announces the creation of a new counter-piracy coastguard.

Developments Onshore

Puntland's New Marine Law Enforcement Force Enter Eyl

According to a press release issued by the Puntland government "On March 1st the Mayor of Eyl Muse Osman Yusef, was pleased to announce that the Puntland Marine Police Force (PMPF) had arrived to set up a police station and build an airstrip. The convoy drove from Bosaso and arrived safely.

The Mayor of Eyl in the release said that; “The people of the community of Eyl are very happy to welcome the Puntland Maritime Police Force,” adding that; “we are looking forward working with the PMPF Task Force.” His remarks were echoed by the Eyl Chief of Police, Mahad Ahmed Mohamud, who said; “we are very happy to welcome the PMPF Task Force,” and that “we want to give them our confidence and work with them to ensure the security and stability of our village.”

Somalia Reporthas an exclusive report on this development.

Enrica Lexie Investigation Ongoing

The Indian Coast Guard has conducted an investigation intothe February 15 incident that resulted in the death of two Indian fishermen, and the preliminary report has fuelled allegations that the Italian naval personnel acted well outside international maritime law. The investigation found that the Italians had not implemented a graduated response plan, and so their actions violated the Alert Embankment Guidelines issued by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which stipulate that Armed Maritime Security Personnel (AMSP) require a detailed graduated response plan to pirate attacks. The investigation also found that there was no damage to the superstructure of the Enrica Lexie, offering further confirmation that the fishermen did not pose a significant threat to the commercial vessel.

Aspects of the incident that have provoked concern include:

-The claim on the part of the Italians that they received a message reporting a pirate attack in the vicinity. Such a message failed to reach any other vessel, coast guard, or reporting body in the region

-The vessel violated the ‘Rules of the Road’ stipulated in international maritime law that state that fishing vessels engaged in operations always have the right of way

-The incident occurred in broad daylight, and so it should have been clear that the fishermen did not pose a direct threat to the Enrica Lexie

The fact that the two Italians (of a team of six) responsible were not privately contracted, but Italian naval personnel complicates the issue, as the chain of command is different to that of a private security company PSC). Where PSCs must answer to the Master of the vessel, military forces run by their own chain of command. The Enrica Lexie legal counsel has said that the captain of the ship was not responsible for the shooting, and that the marines were under the control of the Italian Ministry, but what this means in terms of who the security team were liaising with at the time remains unclear.

Legal wrangling over where the case should be tried are also ongoing. Italy has argued that because the incident took place on the high seas, the case should be tried according to international law. India has maintained that because it took place close to the Indian coastline, it should be tried under Indian law.

TFG Ministry of Defence Announces Creation Of A National Coastguard

The TFG Ministry of Defence announced the establishment of the Somali Anti Piracy Task Force Coast Guard, in association withHalliday Finch International, a Nairobi-based private security company.The new force will be part of the Somali National Security Forces, and will consist of land, sea and air components.

In a press release issued this week, the Minister of Defence, Hussein Arab Essa announced:

“With the help of several members of the internationalcommunity and in partnership with Halliday Finch International we willdeliver, under the auspices of the TFG Ministry of Defence and through theTFG Anti-Piracy Task Force, a National Coast Guard capability with

immediate effect. In developing a national capability we recognise that weneed the help and assistance of our regional partners and we willestablish many of the training facilities and bases in their areas.Halliday Finch International will provide training and logistic support as

well as other services."

Now that the contract has been signed, Halliday Finch is seeking both national and private donors to fund the operation. Qatar, Mauritius, Nigeria and Angola have expressed interest, and the firm has already secured the $52 million required for the first year of operation. Halliday Finch has predicted that the 10-year project will cost approximately $900 million, and the organisation hopes that some proportion of the funding will eventually come from domestic revenue streams, including the sale of fishing licenses.

Puntland’s Administration is already on board, and has agreed to plans to locate the initial training camp in Bosaso, according to Halliday Finch. In the first phase, 500 individuals (yet to be identified, but likely to come from the coastal communities) will be trained by international consultants and Somali security forces.

The ultimate plan is to integrate the numerous of maritime security efforts along the coast, which will require cooperation from the semi-autonomous region of Somaliland. Talks are ongoing, but coordination will likely be difficult given both Somaliland’s bid for secession and its immense pride over its own coastguard.

The initiative is but the latest TFG bid to promote security on the Somali coastline. In 2010, the TFG contracted private security company Saracen International to train its anti-piracy task force. Following allegations that Saracen had violated a UN arms embargo, the contract was cancelled in February 2010. Saracen swiftly shifted focus to its operations in Puntland, where it works with the Farole administration.

ALBEDO Release Imminent

Reports indicate that the Malaysian owned and flagged ALBEDO will soon be released.As detailed last week,the pirate negotiators had agreed on a ransom price with the vessel owners, and are now awaiting the ransom.

Dozens of pirates have arrived in Handulle, near Harardheere, as they await the ransom. Sources close to the group have toldSomalia Reportthat all of those involved in the operation (investors, hijackers, translators, Khat sellers and Ilaalo (guards), are now in Handulle.

ALBEDO’s last known position at 15:30 on March 1, located the vessel in position 04351 north — 04804 east, in the vicinity of the hijacked vessels ORNA, JELBUT 37 and NIMESHA DUWA.

The Malaysian flagged container shipALBEDO was attacked by pirates on November 26, 2010while underway 293 miles west of the Maldives. She was hijacked a long with her 23 strong crew, while heading to Mombasa port from port Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

EUNAVFOR Mandate Extended

This week, the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed to extend the mandate of EU naval operation ATALANTA until December 2014. The current mandate expires in December this year, however as Somali pirates continue to pose a threat to vessels in the Gulf of Aden and wider Indian Ocean region, the need for EUNAVFOR patrols and escorts remains significant. In July of last year, theInternational Maritime Bureau published a report asserting the need for a sustained or increased naval presence in the region.

Since December 2008, Operation ATALANTA has successfully escorted World Food Programme (WFP) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) shipments to Somalia, protected vulnerable shipping of the Somali coast, and monitored fishing activities with the aim of deterring pirate activity.

More Pirates Operating Out of Kismayo

Over the past three months, pirates from the Lower Juba region have been arriving in Kismayo in order to launch attacks. These pirates set off from the coast here, and when they hijack a vessel, they sail up to Haradhere and Hobyo, where they can safely harbour the ship.

The major pirate bases in the region are Kaboora Beach, near Kismayo, and Koyame Island. Prior to this, pirates were launching attacks from Kudha, but relocated following military pressure from Kenya.

Pirates here tend to have good relations with al-Shabaab, which is why they are able to continue to operate. In late 2011, it was widely reported that southern pirate gangs paid 20% of ransom payments to al-Shabaab, however the claim was never verified.

Conflict Resolved Between FV ARIDE Hijackers and Investors

The group of pirates holding the two hostages from the fishing vessel FV ARIDE have come to a mutual agreement with the investors as to how they will approach the ransom negotiations.

The conflict began after Ali Duulaaye and Mohamed Garfanje, two of the pirate leaders, insisted that they would not release the hostages for less than $4 million.The other investors, on the other hand, were more amenable to a faster release and smaller ransom. Pirates have now agreed to accept any forthcoming ransom, so long as it is less than $3 million. As is customary, the hijackers will count the ransom before the investors.

On December 5 last year, pirates moved the hostages on land, and they are now being held in Ceel Huur. After being used as mothership, the FV ARIDE sank on February 2, after monsoon waves hit the Ceel-Huur area. Pirates managed to salvage the motor.

MV LIQUID VELVET Ransom Negotiations Come To A Close

TheMV LIQUID VELVETwill soon be released, as pirates and vessel owners have come to a ransom agreement, according to maritime sources in Mombasa. Today, the vessel was seen changing position; an indication the pirates are preparing for the ransom drop.

Somalia Reportwill monitor developments closely.

NATO Meets with Puntland Officials

Officials from Puntland and NATO met today to discuss counter-piracy operations and efforts to intercept al-Shabaab militants seeking to reach Puntland by sea. Puntland's Minister for Ports and Sea Transport and the Chairman of Jariban District, Abdikarim Kaytoun attended the meeting, as well as a number of NATO representatives.

Representatives from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland agreed to accelerate their own counter-piracy operations on land, and requested that NATO would intercept those boats carrying al-Shabaab militants from the south of the country. Abdikarim Kaytoun also requested that more efforts be made to detain pirates rather than simply releasing them, which he said made operations on land more difficult.

Developments At Sea

Two Hostages Killed in Danish Navy Rescue Operation

On Tuesday, Danish Naval vesselABSALON confronted an Iranian ship hijacked by pirates, thought to be preparing for piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Over the course of the operation, two of the 18 hostages on board were killed and the 17 pirates were detained by the Danish navy.

The ABSALON had been shadowing the pirated vessel for several days, and when it began to head into the Gulf of Aden, naval personnel onboard the Danish warship fired warship. When the vessel failed to stop, the Danish Navy opened fire and disabled the ship, and subsequently boarded the vessel. During the incident, pirates threw their weapons overboard.

"Two hostages were found seriously injured, but despite swift assistance from ABSALON's doctor, their lives could not be saved," the navy reported.

The 17 pirates are now in custody, and a Danish military prosecutor has opened an investigation into the incident.

MV LEILA Hijackers Encounter Difficulties

Since theMV LEILA was hijacked on February 15, pirates have relocated the vessel on a number of occasions. As detailed in last week’s Piracy Report, the pirate gang responsible for the hijacking initially directed the ship to Bargal, where a number of additional pirates boarded the vessel. After locals protested their presence, the pirates moved the vessel to Eyl for a day, and then on to Hobyo. Upon arrival, Galmudug security forces descended on Hobyo and arrested six of the pirates. General Abdiweli Hassan Hirsi, the police commander in Hobyo, confirmed that the six pirates were transferred to the main jail in Galkayo, and added that other pirates fled the town.

The pirates moved on to Labad village, 30 km north of Hobyo. The area is a pirate stronghold, and Galmudug security forces are unable to establish any form of control here.

The vessel is currently operating in the Indian Ocean as a mothership.

Somalia Reportis investigating the origin of the pirate gang responsible for the hijacking.

MV ICEBERG 1 Crew Reported To Be Ill

Somalia Reporthas received reports that a number of the MV ICEBERG 1 crew have fallen ill. While such stories are often pirate propaganda to force the hand of the vessel owners into paying a ransom, after 22 months in captivity, it is quite possible that the crew are not well. Already one crewmember has committed suicide over the course of the vessel’s detention by Somali pirates. At least three are suffering from an unspecified illness, and are unable to take food and water.

Pirates took two of the crewmembers ashore, where they were treated with medicine acquired in Galkayo.

The vessel is located approximately 30 km away from Garacad village. The group continues to demand an $8 million ransom, and negotiations have stalled.

The Panama flagged MV Iceberg 1 was hijacked by pirates on March 29, 2010. 23 crewmembers are on board the vessel.

Counter Piracy Operations

USS KIDD Returns Home

The USS KIDD is one of the five US Navy surface ships set to return to Naval Base San Diego this week. The ships have completed a seven month deployment with the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, operating in the Western Pacific and the Middle East.

On January 5,the KIDD was responsible for freeing an Iranian fishing vessel from pirates, alongside the 13 crewmembers on board. The ship had been under pirate control for six weeks

Chinese Navy Escorts Head To Indian Ocean

On Tuesday, escort ships departed from Qingdao, in China’s latest bid to protect vulnerable shipping from Somali piracy. This marks the eleventh such mission; since the Chinese navy first began patrolling off the Somali coast in 2008, it has escorted over 4,500 ships, and offered assistance to more than 50 ships.

The fleet includes the destroyer Qingdao, the frigate Yantai and the supply ship Weishanhu. A total of 800 naval personnel are involved in the operation, which will replace a previous flotilla sent to the region to guard against piracy.

Incidents

Hijacks: 1

Unsuccessful Attacks: 4

Releases: 1 (ABSALON incident)

Over the course of the week, Somali pirates successfully commandeered one vessel, and launched unsuccessful attacks on four ships.

On February 24, pirates attempted to attack MV KANG SHUN while she was underway in position 1501 north — 05854 east. The pirates aborted the attack, for reasons yet to be made clear. The vessel and the crew are reported to be safe.

On February 27, armed pirates in a skiff seized a fishing dhow AL ASSMA — MNV 2063 while she was underway, close to her sister ship AL AZMAT. The incident occurred approximately 150 nautical miles north of Socotra island, in position 1206 North — 04333 East. AL AZMAT managed to escape to safe waters. At approximately 13:45 on March 1, AL ASSMA — MNV 2063 was spotted in position 1335 north - 04944 east.It is believed that the fishing dhow may be used as a pirate mother ship. The dhow has a brown hull with white band, as well as a blue mast near the bow.

On February 27, nine skiffs carrying 10 pirates in each approached Greek-owned Maltese-flagged bulk carrier while she was underway in position 1229 north - 0434:1 east. The security team on board the bulker fired warning shots, and the pirates aborted their mission. The 18070 gross register tonnage bulker and 19 crewmembers were reported to be safe.

On February 28, three gunmen on a skiff attempted to attack a merchant ship some 120 nautical miles south of Oman while she was underway in position 1603 north - 05858 east. The skiff approached the merchant ship at a distance of 2 cables, but subsequently aborted the attack for unknown reasons. The vessel is now safe.

On March 1, five boats, including three skiffs, approached the St. Vincent-flagged Italian-owned general cargo ship BSLE STAR, while she was underway in position 1702 north - 05755 east. The attackers chased the vessel for almost one hour, over the course of which the majority of the crew mustered to the citadel. The master increased the speed of the vessel, and the pirates were forced to abort the attack. The vessel did not have private maritime security guards on board. The 17 crewmembers are reported to be safe.

Hostages Held By Pirates

On Vessel: 267

On Land: 26

Total: 293