Somali Pirate Attack on Chinese Ship Repelled by Indian Navy

Somali pirates are now operating in the near waters of India. This week a Chinese merchant vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates 850 km (!) off the coast of Karnataka.

The action parts of a report in the Times of India:

The pirates had already boarded the merchant vessel by then, with the Chinese sailors barricading themselves in a strong room," said a Navy officer.

"The aircraft made a number of low passes over the ship and strongly warned the pirates, over the radio, to leave the vessel immediately, stating that naval warships were approaching the area," he added.

The repeated warnings apparently had the desired effect, with the pirates abandoning the merchant vessel to hurry off in their skiffs.

Beginning late last year, the pirates invaded the Indian maritime sphere. The Indian Navy has been effective at thwarting attackers. They've hauled in about 120 pirates including the capture of 61 pirates in a single action. Incredibly the pirates still press on, moving closer to the coast.

Angry pirates are threatening to unravel the paradigm of piracy negotiations. Owners of an Indian merchant vessel, the MT Asphalt Venture, paid a ransom of $3.5 million but the pirates refused to release all crew members, holding onto the officers in order to arrange a swap of the captured pirates in Indian jails. Insurers are unhappy the old, reliable assumption of pay and release may break down.