A maritime security alert has been issued following the emergence of further details on a yacht incident off the coast of Somalia.
Two South African nationals are reported to have been taken hostage and brought ashore after their yacht was seized in the Indian Ocean several days ago. A third national managed to resist being taken ashore and escaped before being rescued by an EU patrol boat. The yacht was abandoned shortly afterwards.
The identity of the captives will not be publicly released until their next of kin are informed. Rumours have circulated that they were the wife and child of the escaped captain but this has not been substantiated as yet.
Earlier reports had suggested that the escapee had in fact been shot dead, highlighting the difficult reporting environment in the area.
What can be concluded is that all vessel types are at risk of attack.
The recently released Samho Dream illustrates that the largest of ships have been attacked and seized, while the capture of several yachts over recent years shows that the smallest of ships are also attractive targets.
Meanwhile the Saudi authorities have ratified an agreement to combat sea piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. The agreement provides for co-operation among signatory states for the repression of piracy among signatory states.
Increasing assistance of regional states will likely provide greater logistical support to the anti-piracy operation, but in reality a resolution of a myriad of problems on the land will need to be addressed if the piracy problem is to be effectively tackled.
Two South African nationals are reported to have been taken hostage and brought ashore after their yacht was seized in the Indian Ocean several days ago. A third national managed to resist being taken ashore and escaped before being rescued by an EU patrol boat. The yacht was abandoned shortly afterwards.
The identity of the captives will not be publicly released until their next of kin are informed. Rumours have circulated that they were the wife and child of the escaped captain but this has not been substantiated as yet.
Earlier reports had suggested that the escapee had in fact been shot dead, highlighting the difficult reporting environment in the area.
What can be concluded is that all vessel types are at risk of attack.
The recently released Samho Dream illustrates that the largest of ships have been attacked and seized, while the capture of several yachts over recent years shows that the smallest of ships are also attractive targets.
Meanwhile the Saudi authorities have ratified an agreement to combat sea piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. The agreement provides for co-operation among signatory states for the repression of piracy among signatory states.
Increasing assistance of regional states will likely provide greater logistical support to the anti-piracy operation, but in reality a resolution of a myriad of problems on the land will need to be addressed if the piracy problem is to be effectively tackled.