Somali Pirates Continue to Attack Merchant Vessels

Google Earth satellite view of the Indian Ocean.
At the right the Malaysian Peninsular, at the left the Gulf of Aden,
in the centre Malé the capital of the Maldives.

(Click on image for full size view)

South Korean Cargo Ship Hijacked by Somali pirates

A South Korean cargo ship manned by Korean and foreign sailors was reported to have been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, sources said.

Eight Korean sailors and an unknown number of other nationalities were on the ship when it was seized at 07:00 GMT on 10^th September 2008.

Somali waters are the most dangerous in the world for piracy. The International Maritime Bureau has received reports of more than 24 attacks in the area between April and June 2008, but many incidents go unreported.

Somali pirates operate using very fast, high-powered speedboats and carry weapons such as heavy machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, etc.

When will the next Malaysian flagged vessel be hijacked off Somalia?

Are the three RMN vessels still safely at anchor, about three thousand miles away, near the Maldives, south of India, mid-way between Malaysia and the Gulf of Aden?

The Malaysia naval vessels are reported to be:

One fighting ship:

KD Lekui (F30)

Frigate, launched in December 1994 (UK) and commission in 1999, maximum speed about 28 knots.

Two logistical support vessels:

KD Sri Inderapura (L-1505) (ex-USS Spartanburg County (LST 1192)

Tank-landing ship, Keel laid, 7th February 1970, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Corp, San Diego, CA. USA.

Launched, 7 November 1970

Commissioned USS Spartanburg County (LST-1192), 1st September 1971, maximum speed 27 knots (reported in 1971)

Decommissioned and Struck from the Naval Register, 16th December 1994

Sold to Malaysia for $18.7 million, under the Security Assistance Program.

Renamed RMN KD Sri Inderapura (L-1505)

Commissioned into the Royal Malaysian Navy, 31st January 1995.

Maximum speed unknown.

KD Mahawangsa (L-1504)

Multi-role support ship.

Built 1992 (Korea) Commissioned 1983.

Maximum speed about 17 knots.

Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit

He who is not prepared today will be less so tomorrow.