BREAKING NEWS!!!-Indian Navy sinks Somali pirate ship off Somalia, by Natalie Duval reporting for BBC's Biodun Iginla--from Djibouti

By: BiodunIginla

Mogadishu : Somalia | about 1 month ago

2 3

Images

Participants make their way down Duval Street during Fantasy Fest ...

Source: Reuters
Caribbean carnival dancers strut down Duval Street in Key West

Source: Reuters

See All Images

Participants make their way down Duval Street during Fantasy Fest ...

by Natalie Duval reporting for BBC's Biodun Iginla--from Djibouti ______________________________________________

Search term

Explore the BBC

BBC News Updated every minute of every day One-Minute World News
News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Health Science & Environment Technology Entertainment Also in the news ----------------- Video and Audio ----------------- Advertisement Have Your Say In Pictures Country Profiles Special Reports Related BBC sites

Site Version

Languages

Page last updated at 07:36 GMT, Wednesday, 19 November 2008 E-mail this to a friend Printable version The Indian navy is now patrolling off the Somali coast

The Indian navy has said that one of its warships in the Gulf of Aden has destroyed a ship belonging to pirates operating off the coast of Somalia.

The INS Tabar opened fire on a pirate "mother ship" after it came under attack, a government statement said.

There has been a recent surge in piracy off the coast of Somalia.

The Saudi-owned Sirius Star supertanker is currently anchored off the Somali coast after it and its 25 crew were seized by pirates.

Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991 and has suffered continuing civil strife.

Warships from several countries are already patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes which connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

The Indian navy said the Tabar spotted a pirate vessel while patrolling 285 nautical miles south-west of Salalah in Oman, on Tuesday evening.

When the Indian ship asked the vessel to stop for investigation, "the vessel's threatening response was that she would blow up the naval warship if it closed on her", the statement said.

"Pirates were seen roaming on the upper deck of the [pirate] vessel with guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers. The vessel continued its threatening calls and subsequently fired on INS Tabar," it added.

The Indian warship retaliated and opened fire on the pirate vessel, leading to fire breaking out in the vessel, the statement continued.

"Fire broke out on the vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored in the vessel."

Two speedboats accompanying the pirate vessel were also seen escaping during the attack.

The navy said the warship chased the first boat which was later found abandoned, while the second boat escaped.

The Tabar has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden since early this month, and has escorted 35 ships safely during the "pirate-infested waters", the statement said.

Ransoms

Hijackings off the coast of East Africa and the Gulf of Aden - an area of more than one million square miles - make up one-third of all global piracy incidents this year, according the International Maritime Board.

They are usually resolved peacefully through negotiations for ransom.

Shipping companies are now weighing up the risks of using the short-cut route to Europe via the Suez canal.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia is estimated to have cost up to $30m (£17m) in ransoms so far this year, according to a recent report by a UK think-tank.

Bookmark with:

What are these?

E-mail this to a friend Printable version Advertisement
SEE ALSO India navy 'stops pirate attack'
11 Nov 08 | South Asia India targets defence industry
01 Oct 08 | Business India agrees Russia warship order
06 Jul 06 | South Asia India receives 'stealth' warship
18 Jun 03 | South Asia
RELATED INTERNET LINKS Indian Navy The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
TOP SOUTH ASIA STORIES India 'sinks Somali pirate ship'
'US raid' kills five in Pakistan
UN in talks on Afghan returnees
| News feeds

MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW

Most popular now, in detail FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS Work stops
Chinese plants shut as global financial crisis hits Goodbye tailback
How navigation systems track and treat traffic jams 'I was wrong'
Ex-Khmer Rouge admirer says sorry, 30 years on Skip to top PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Home