Piracy – 2 Fishing Vessels freed following Somali pirate hijackings – January 2024

2 fishing vessels, a Sri Lankan and an Iranian one are reported to have been freed following hijackings by Somali pirates. Seychelles forces rescued a Sri Lankan fishing boat on Monday, according to President Wavel Ramkalawan’s office. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy said it had freed an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel. The attacks on the vessels by […]

Naval News – Iran Converts Containership into Drone Carrier

To add to merchant shipping’s long list of concerns surrounding the security situation in the Middle East, Iran is readying to launch the first drone carrier – SHAHID BAGHERI a former containership. She was built in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in 2000 as the 3,280 TEU container ship IRAN ASFAHAN. Trading until […]

Hijacking – Car Carrier GALAXY LEADER – 19.11.2023

On Sunday 19th November, 2023 , NYK Chartered Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) GALAXY LEADER was named hijacked by Iran-affiliated Houthi militia, who described her as “an Israeli ship,” and taken to a Yemeni port. Al Jazeera News Agency cited a Houthi spokesman as saying the seizure of the ship was in response to […]

Piracy – Denmark to deploy Naval Unit to Gulf of Guinea – March 2021

Expressing the serious concern about the maritime security situation in the Gulf of Guinea, the Danish government announced that it plans to deploy a frigate to the region in the fall of 2021. The decision to deploy a naval vessel to the region comes after the Danish Minister of Défense and shipping companies including Maersk […]

Emergency Vehicles – Former RAF Land Rover Series IIa Ambulance at Malta

When the British Forces withdrew from Malta in 1979 two Land Rover Series II ambulances were passed from the Royal Air Force to the Civil Aviation Department at Luqa Airport. All airport vehicles beared the word AVJAZZJONI CIVILI (Civil Aviation in Maltese Language). Land Rover Series IIA Ambulance with RAF registration number 93AA15 was passed […]

Hijacking – ACHILLE LAURO on 7th October 1985

34 Years Ago – on Monday 7th October 1985 the Italian passenger liner ACHILLE LAURO was hijacked by four men representing the Palestine Liberation Front off the coast of Egypt, while on passage from Alexandria to Ashdod, Israel. A 69 year old Jewish American man in a wheelchair, Leon Klinghoffer, was murdered by the hijackers and thrown overboard. The […]

Piracy – Pirates demanding USD 3 Million for vessel RIM – 04.02.2010

The US Navy has reported that North Korea flagged general cargo ship RIM was hijacked by pirates. The 4,800 dwt vessel was taken in the Gulf of Aden to the north of the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor. It was not registered with MSC HOA. EUNAVFOR said that the US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS PORTER […]