Former Australian military personnel are among thousands of private security guards who have been hired to protect commercial shipping in the Indian Ocean against attacks by Somali pirates. In a growing free-for-all on the high seas, merchant shipping operators are turning to what are effectively private navies to safeguard their vessels and cargoes. A…
New report reveals boom in private military security forces fighting Indian Ocean pirates. Research into the use of private military security companies in the Indian Ocean has found the fight against Somali-based pirates has become a private battle as global defence cuts reduce naval counter-piracy deployments. The report, ‘Pirates and Privateers: Managing the Indian…
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has announced the introduction of two new Admiralty Maritime Security Charts to cover The Mediterranean (Q6111) and The Persian Gulf (Q6110). The two new paper charts, together with a new online update service, provide a simple, single point of reference for the most up to date security information…
Four South Korean sailors have been held hostage for 500 days with negotiations between a Singaporean shipping company and Somali pirates to release them showing no signs of reaching an agreement, a Seoul official said Monday. The pirates have been requesting an unreasonably large ransom, the official said. The hostages are said to be…