2008 in piracy
Encyclopedia
See also:
2007 in piracy
,
other events of 2008,
2009 in piracy
and the
list of 'years of Piracy'
.
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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." Up until mid-November 2008, more than 90 vessels had been attacked by pirates in the year. 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
.
2007 in piracy
2007 in piracy
See also:2006 in piracy,other events of 2007,2008 in piracy and thelist of 'years of Piracy'.-----Events:* June 3 - Danica White owned by H. Folmer & Co. is hijacked off the Horn of Africa.-External links:**, The New York Times, 2007....
,
other events of 2008,
2009 in piracy
2009 in piracy
In 2009, much greater international resolution has resulted in more control of piracy than in the prior decade, although many pirates still operate from Somalia....
and the
list of 'years of Piracy'
Timeline of piracy
This is a timeline of the history of piracy.*1600s: 1600 - 1601 - 1602 - 1603 - 1604 - 1605 - 1606 - 1607 - 1608 - 1609*1610s: 1610 - 1611 - 1612 - 1613 - 1614 - 1615 - 1616 - 1617 - 1618 - 1619...
.
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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
International Maritime Bureau
The International Maritime Bureau is a specialized department of the International Chamber of Commerce.The IMB's responsibilities lie in fighting crimes related to maritime trade and transportation, particularly piracy and commercial fraud, and in protecting the crews of ocean-going vessels.It...
, in those attacks: "Seven crew members were taken hostage, six kidnapped, three killed and one missing – presumed dead." Up until mid-November 2008, more than 90 vessels had been attacked by pirates in the year. 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
Eyl
Eyl is an ancient town in the northern Puntland region of Somalia. It is situated near the Hafun peninsula.-History:Eyl is the site of many historical artifacts from Somalia's pre-colonial period...
and Hobyo
Hobyo
Hobyo is an ancient harbor city in the Mudug region of Somalia. Hobyo literally means "here, water", and the plentiful fresh water to be had from the wells in and around the town has been the driving force behind Hobyo's ancient status as a favorite port-of-call for sailors.-Establishment:Hobyo's...
.
- 1 February - SomaliSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
pirates seize the Russian-built tugboat, Svitzer Korsakov. - 17 March - Svitzer Korsakov was released after ransom of $700,000 was paid.
- 4 April - Somali pirates seize the French sail cruise ship, Le PonantLe PonantLe Ponant is a three-masted, commercially operated French luxury yacht owned by CMA CGM and operated under their Compagnie du Ponant brand. The ship carries up to 67 passengers in 32 cabins...
, with its 30 crew members. No passengers were aboard at the time. - 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.
- 21 April - Somali pirates seize the Dubai freighter, Al-Khaleej.
- 22 April - PuntlandPuntlandPuntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
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.
- 17 May - Victoria carrying 4,000 tons of donated sugar was hijacked 55 km off Somalia.
- 20 July - MV Stella Maris, a JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese-owned bulk carrier with a 20 all-Filipino crew was seized. - 12 August - MV Thor Star, a ThaiThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
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 JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese-owned tanker with 16 Filipinos and four other foreign nationals was seized. - 21 August - MV Iran DeyanatMV Iran DeyanatMV Iran Deyanat is an Iranian ship that was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden by 40 pirates with Kalashnikovs and RPGs on August 21, 2008. The crew of the ship numbered 29: a Pakistani captain, 14 Iranians including an engineer, 3 Indians, 2 Filipinos, and 10 Eastern Europeans...
, an IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian dry bulk carrier was seized. - 21 August - MV BBC Trinidad a GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
heavy lift project vessel was seized. - 2 September - Carre d'as, a FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
leisure yacht was seized. - 11 September - MV BBC Trinidad and MT Irene was released after ransom paid.
- 15 September - MT Stolt Valor, a Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
chemical tanker with 18 Indians, 2 Filipinos and 13 other nationals was seized. - 16 September - French commandoes stormed Carre d'as, a FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
leisure yacht to release the ship. - 17 September - MV Centauri, a GreekGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
chemical tanker was seized with a crew of 25 Filipinos. - 21 September - MV Capt Stefanos, GreekGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
freighter carrying coal was seized with 19 crew members. - 25 September - MV FainaMV FainaThe MV Faina is a roll-on/roll-off cargo ship operated by a Ukrainian company that sails under a Belize flag of convenience.The Faina is owned by Waterlux AG, based in Panama City, and managed by Tomex Team in Odessa, Ukraine....
, an UkrainianUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
freighter carrying small arms and 33 T-72T-72The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
tanks for Kenya, was seized. - 26 September - MV Genius, a GreekGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
chemical tanker was seized. - 27 September - MT Bunga Melati 5, a Malaysian chemical tanker was released after a ransom of $2 million was paid.
- 27 September - MV Al Monsourah (also spelled Mansourah), an EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian ship was released after a ransom of $1.2 million USD was paid. - 27 September - MV Stella Maris was released after a ransom of $2 million was paid.
- 10 October - MV Wail with a crew of 11 consisted of nine Syrians and two Somalis was seized.
- 10 October - MT Irene which was seized on the 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.
- 15 November - MV Sirius StarMV Sirius StarMV Sirius Star is an oil tanker owned and operated by Vela International Marine. With a length overall of and a capacity of of crude oil, the ship is classified as a very large crude carrier or VLCC. Vela is based in the United Arab Emirates and is a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian state oil...
, a VLCC tanker was seized. - 17 November - Pirates release the crew of MT Stolt ValorMT Stolt ValorThe MT Stolt Valor is a Hong Kong-flagged ship that was hijacked while in the Designated Safety Corridor within the Gulf of Aden, approximately away from the coast of Yemen, while heading from the United States south through the Gulf towards Asia. After the ship passed through the Suez Canal, it...
after a ransom of $2.5 m was paid. - 21 November - Pirates release the ship and crew of MV Genius after a ransom was paid.