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PIRACY - HOA AND ?

Armada de Chile Antarctic vessel

Current pirate area of operations

From BBC News Africa comes a report on one of the latest counter-piracy operations. Surprising to NAUTICAL LOG the Danish Navy has been one of the most active NATO navies against Somalian pirate groups. Together with the Indian Navy they have executed some very effective operations in this overall mission. On reflection though since the Maersk Line is a Danish maritime corporation it is not really surprising at all. Maersk operates the largest container ships in the world and the largest fleet sailing worldwide with many very high value contracts both military and civilian. Denmark is therefore no doubt encouraged to utilise its RDN in effective counter-piracy patrols in the Horn of Africa (HOA). In the report today CMDR. Haumann of HDMS Esbern Snare stated that they had eliminated one of those threats. His warship has captured a suspected pirate mother-ship off Somalia after warning shots had been fired. Sixteen armed pirates, with a weapons cache were seized and two Yemeni hostages freed. The NATO mission said the incident happened on Saturday morning when the warship came across a suspicious vessel with two small skiffs on deck.

Now does that description remind you of anyone? How about those black ships with the RHIBs on deck manned by a cult leader and his motley crews currently sailing in circles in The Southern Ocean between New Zealand and Chile. Would that the Indian Navy and perhaps the Danish Navy patrolled that area on counter-piracy patrols. However next week the New Zealand Navy will have an offshore patrol ship (P55) heading down there. As both the SSCS Pirate Group and the JWF seem to be heading eastwards they will soon be in the area of responsibility of the Armada de Chile. Should the Government of Chile decide that they are not going to allow both groups to continue this whale war nonsense the Armada will be detached to patrol that CRCC area of responsibility. Armada de Chile officers are famous as gracious hosts and one of the few navies to allow civilian guests to sail in active duty warships. However they are some of the best naval officers in the world and expect their orders to be followed without question. If the SSCS Pirate Group and the JWF meet up with one of their patrolling warships it will best to follow those instructions.

The chart above shows the current operating area of pirates, as of yet The Southern Ocean is not included. That could soon change and if it does the attitude to giving solace and succour to pirates by countries such as Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands, their Flag State, could also greatly change.

Good Watch.

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