MV York
Encyclopedia
The MV York is a tanker
for transport of liquefied gas that after its 2010 capture by Somalian pirates has become a mothership for pirate operations.
On its way from Mombasa, Kenya, to Mahé, Seychelles
, the vessel was captured by Somali pirates about 205 miles off the coast of Kenya on October 23, 2010. It is possible that the FV Golden Wave 305, a pirate-seized South Korean fishing boat that allegedly had been fishing illegally off the Somalian coast, was used in the capture of the MV York. That the York entered service as a mothership for pirate operations was suspected in December, 2010, and confirmed in January, 2011, when the York was used by pirates to assist taking control of the captured MV Beluga Nomination in the Indian Ocean
. The Beluga had ran out of its fuel (using apparently the day tank) and was unable to move. Several hours later the York appeared and assisted the captured ship so that the Beluga could resume its course towards Somalia.
The MV York has become part of a fleet of captured merchant vessels that have been called "Large Pirate Support Vessels" (LPSVs) and been considered "game-changing" in view of the increased operational capabilities. Previously dhow
s and fishing boats had been used as motherships. This new strategy of using merchant vessels was initiated with the pirate-seized MV Izumi
in the fall of 2010. 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 a ship of equal size and apply heavier weapons from a more stable firing platform. The presence of hostages on such ships poses a problem for naval forces out to protect shipping lanes. The size of the ship, however, makes it easier to detect them and avoid them.
By the end of 2010 four other merchant vessels were used as pirate motherships, namely the chemical tanker , the tanker , the chemical tanker , and the MV Izumi.
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
for transport of liquefied gas that after its 2010 capture by Somalian pirates has become a mothership for pirate operations.
On its way from Mombasa, Kenya, to Mahé, Seychelles
Mahé, Seychelles
Mahé is the largest island of the Seychelles, lying in the north east of the nation. The population of Mahé is 80,000. It contains the capital city of Victoria and accommodates 90% of the country's total population...
, the vessel was captured by Somali pirates about 205 miles off the coast of Kenya on October 23, 2010. It is possible that the FV Golden Wave 305, a pirate-seized South Korean fishing boat that allegedly had been fishing illegally off the Somalian coast, was used in the capture of the MV York. That the York entered service as a mothership for pirate operations was suspected in December, 2010, and confirmed in January, 2011, when the York was used by pirates to assist taking control of the captured MV Beluga Nomination in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. The Beluga had ran out of its fuel (using apparently the day tank) and was unable to move. Several hours later the York appeared and assisted the captured ship so that the Beluga could resume its course towards Somalia.
The MV York has become part of a fleet of captured merchant vessels that have been called "Large Pirate Support Vessels" (LPSVs) and been considered "game-changing" in view of the increased operational capabilities. Previously 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 had been used as motherships. This new strategy of using merchant vessels was initiated with the pirate-seized MV Izumi
MV Izumi
The MV Izumi is a multi-purpose, RoLo 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,...
in the fall of 2010. 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 a ship of equal size and apply heavier weapons from a more stable firing platform. The presence of hostages on such ships poses a problem for naval forces out to protect shipping lanes. The size of the ship, however, makes it easier to detect them and avoid them.
By the end of 2010 four other merchant vessels were used as pirate motherships, namely the chemical tanker , the tanker , the chemical tanker , and the MV Izumi.