Bad Pirate News Archives
Pirates mess with Texas
Zapata, Texas - Bandits with Zs
tattooed on their arms and necks,
armed with machine guns, are
accosting Texas fisherman on Falcon
Lake. The Z tattoos mean the pirates
are with Los Zetas, one of Mexico's
ultra-violent drug cartels. Boaters have
been warned to stay on the U.S. side
of the lake, and this past Memorial
Day weekend saw a sharp decline in
the number of boats on the lake.
The lake is site of marijuana smuggling.
Jose E. Gonzalez with the Border
Patrol says it's The Wild West on
Water. To add to the sinister and
dangerous nature of the situation,
Gonzales says of the smuggler-pirates,
"They watch us, they watch our boats,
our cars, our homes...they know every
move we make." (June 1, 2010)
Piracy still in fashion
Somali pirates have been holding more
that 400 crew members from 20
vessels since January of this year. (June
15, 2010)
Sleeping pirates captured
Crew of the 4,800 ton, Libyan-flagged
vessel MV Rim pounced on their
sleeping captors to free themselves. 5
pirates killed. (June 2, 2010)
Somali forces liberate ship
The QSM Dubai was sailing within the
"internationally recommended transit
corridor" in the Gulf of Aden when it
was captured by pirates. Sadly, its
Pakistani skipper died during the
vessel’s re-capture. Though it was
Somali forces that managed to free the
ship, the country has not had a
functioning government since 1991.
(June 3, 2010)
Pirates to be prosecuted
A Dutch court ordered Somali pirates
extradited to Germany to be tried for
hijacking a German container ship, the
MV Taipan. The pirates, 9 men and 1
teen, were captured in the Gulf of
Aden April 5 by Dutch Marines. The
hijacking and subsequent rescue
mission left the ship's bridge riddled
with bullet holes. Nobody was hurt.
Because the extradition request was
between two European Union nations,
the Somalis have no right to appeal the
decision. Other piracy cases are under
way or pending in the Netherlands and
France. Still, most pirates are
disarmed and released because of
difficulties prosecuting them. (June 7,
2010)
Pirate knife attack
Location: 03:01.9N–108:15.75E,
35 nautical miles west of Subi
Besar Island, South China Sea
Date: June 16, 2010 / 0245 LT
Source: ICC Commercial Crime
Services
Using only knives, 6 pirates in a speed
boat managed to board a container
ship from the stern. The pirates stole
the ship’s cash and personal property
of the crew. The ship’s master and
purser were taken hostage during the
attack. The pirates later escaped.
Pirate goes solo
Location: 38:56.8N–121:43.3E,
Dalian, China
Date: June 16, 2010
Source: ICC Commercial Crime
Services
A general cargo ship at anchor in
Dalian, the second largest city in
China's eastern Liaoning province, was
boarded by a lone pirate on the
forecastle deck. Spotted by the crew,
the rogue escaped. Dalian port
authorities were alerted and the ship’s
look-out enhanced.
Pirates abort attack
Location: 13:26N–042:41E, north of
Bab el Manded, Red Sea
Date: June 15, 2010
Source: ICC Commercial Crime
Services
3 skiffs with 6 pirates in each chased a
crude tanker underway. The tanker
increased speed, sounded its horn,
enforced anti-piracy measures, and
warned all ships by VHF Ch. 16. The
pirates aborted the attack.
The Islamist piracy
connection
While no smoking gun exists, there is
good reason to believe Islamists who
control parts of coastal Somalia, al-
Shabaab and Hizbul Islam, are actively
supporting piracy off the Horn of
Africa. In fact, a Reuters report by
Peter Apps notes “an increase in
attacks launched from Islamist-
controlled areas of the Somali coast.”
(June 18, 2010)
Pirates forsake rope
for aluminum
Location: 13:23.6N–042:44.8E, Bab
el-Mandeb straits, the Red Sea
Date: June 18, 2010
Source: ICC Commercial Crime
Services
Pirates in 2 skiffs attempted to hijack a
general cargo ship underway. Boarding
was attempted with an aluminum
ladder. “Arrrgh! The dang rope ones
keep a-frayin’. An’ these new fangled
aluminum ladders be so light an’ sturdy.
Plus they be on sale at the Pirate Depot
in Djibouti,” said Cap’n Fishpants.
When asked about why the pirates
fired real live ammo which can hurt
people, Fishpants relied, “Um – I
thought we be a-shootin’ paint balls.
Oh, sea snot! We be pirates dang-
nabbit! Can’t we shoot real bullets
once in a while?” The ship took evasive
maneuvers, mustered all crew, and
managed to evade the hijacking.
Not pirates, just robbers
Location: Kakinada, India
Date: June 20, 2010
Source: ICC Commercial Crime
Services
Robbers boarded a general cargo ship
at anchor and stole stores from the
forward locker. They escaped. Port
control was informed.
Pirates shoot and miss -
another Red Sea attack
Location: 13:32.7N – 042:59.1E,
Bab el Mandeb, the Red Sea.
Date: June 21, 2010
Source: ICC Commercial Crime
Services
6 pirates armed with guns in a skiff
chased a bulk carrier underway. The
carrier made evasive maneuvers. The
pirates opened fire but due to effective
anti-piracy measures, the carrier
escaped.
Chemical tanker taken
Location: 13:24N – 049:58E,
Gulf of Aden.
Date: June 28, 2010
Source: ICC Commercial Crime
Services
Armed pirates attacked and hijacked a
chemical tanker underway.
June 2010