MV Izumi
Encyclopedia
The MV Izumi is a multi-purpose, RoLo (roll-on lift-off) merchant vessel. After its capture by Somali pirates it was used as the first captured merchant vessel in a novel mothership role for pirate operations that expands the pirates' operational capabilities.
Transporting steel and on its way from Japan to Mombasa, Kenya, the vessel was intercepted and captured by Somali pirates in Somali waters on October 10, 2010. It was brought to Xamdule (Hamdule) between Hobyo
and Harardheere. The crew, all Filipino nationals although the government of the Philippines had prohibited the use of their nationals in pirate waters, was made hostage.
Thereafter, with hostages as a human shield the pirates used the Izumi as a mothership in attacks on other vessels, first on the tanker near Pemba Island, and then, on November 6, 2010, in an attack on the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship ESPS Infanta Christina and her escort object, the AMISOM-chartered merchant vessel Petra 1 heading for Mogadishu
. During the night action, the warship moved between Izumi and Petra to protect its escort and used only "minimal force" to deter the pirates out of concern for the hostages. The pirate ship could leave unharmed.
Izumi has become the first vessel of a fleet of captured merchant vessels that have been called "Large Pirate Support Vessels" (LPSVs) and been considered "game-changing"; previously pirates had used only dhow
s and fishing boats as motherships. This new strategy of using merchant vessels presents an escalation in the war against pirates. The use of merchant vessels enlarges the range of operations, increases transit speed, allows more pirates and skiffs to be taken along, provides better accommodations, gives access to radar and navigational technology, and reduces dependency on sea and weather conditions. Using a larger ship, the pirates can attack ships of equal size and apply heavier weapons from a more stable firing platform; skiffs would still be used to board the victim vessel. The presence of hostages on such ships poses a problem for naval forces as their superior fire power cannot be effectively applied. The size of the captured merchant ships, however, makes it easier to detect them and avoid them.
By the end of 2010 four other merchant vessels had been enrolled as pirate motherships, namely the LPG tanker , the chemical tanker , the tanker , and the chemical tanker .
Transporting steel and on its way from Japan to Mombasa, Kenya, the vessel was intercepted and captured by Somali pirates in Somali waters on October 10, 2010. It was brought to Xamdule (Hamdule) between 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...
and Harardheere. The crew, all Filipino nationals although the government of the Philippines had prohibited the use of their nationals in pirate waters, was made hostage.
Thereafter, with hostages as a human shield the pirates used the Izumi as a mothership in attacks on other vessels, first on the tanker near Pemba Island, and then, on November 6, 2010, in an attack on the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship ESPS Infanta Christina and her escort object, the AMISOM-chartered merchant vessel Petra 1 heading for Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
. During the night action, the warship moved between Izumi and Petra to protect its escort and used only "minimal force" to deter the pirates out of concern for the hostages. The pirate ship could leave unharmed.
Izumi has become the first vessel of a fleet of captured merchant vessels that have been called "Large Pirate Support Vessels" (LPSVs) and been considered "game-changing"; previously pirates had used only dhow
Dhow
Dhow is the generic name of a number of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with lateen sails used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region. Some historians believe the dhow was invented by Arabs but this is disputed by some others. Dhows typically weigh 300 to 500 tons, and have a...
s and fishing boats as motherships. This new strategy of using merchant vessels presents an escalation in the war against pirates. The use of merchant vessels enlarges the range of operations, increases transit speed, allows more pirates and skiffs to be taken along, provides better accommodations, gives access to radar and navigational technology, and reduces dependency on sea and weather conditions. Using a larger ship, the pirates can attack ships of equal size and apply heavier weapons from a more stable firing platform; skiffs would still be used to board the victim vessel. The presence of hostages on such ships poses a problem for naval forces as their superior fire power cannot be effectively applied. The size of the captured merchant ships, however, makes it easier to detect them and avoid them.
By the end of 2010 four other merchant vessels had been enrolled as pirate motherships, namely the LPG tanker , the chemical tanker , the tanker , and the chemical tanker .