Three Yachts Taken By Somalia Pirates
While the American media focused on
the hijacking of a U.S.-flagged ship and the plight of one American captain during
the last week, a feeding frenzy by dozens of other Somali pirates took place. At
least 15 other people, including a 3-year old boy, were taken captive in three yachts.
There were also four other commercial vessels hijacked by pirates within the same
48-hour period as the U.S.-flagged ship, plus a Taiwanese fishing trawler and an
Italian tug boat taken last weekend.
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Chloe and Florent Lemacon and their 3-year old son, Colin, left France in July of last year. Florent died when French authorities stormed the hijacked yacht, killing two of the hijackers. |
The sailing yacht Tanit had two couples and a three-year-old boy on board when attacked
last week. The boat had set out from Vannes on France's Atlantic coast in July,
2008, last year heading for the archipelago of Zanzibar before it was seized.
 French Navy commandos close in on the hijacked French yacht. |
Report from the Manchester Guardian--
Despite the rescue of his four fellow hostages, including his three-year-old son,
Florent Lemaçon was shot dead on board the Tanit during the raid by elite French
forces. Two pirates also died, and three others were taken prisoner, said the French
defence minister, Herve Morin.
Standing by the commando-style tactics, the French president Nicolas Sarkozy's office
confirmed "France's determination not to give into blackmail, and to defeat the
pirates". However, Morin later said that, in a break with usual French policy, a
ransom had been offered to the pirates, who hijacked the Tanit last weekend as it
sailed towards Zanzibar. He said Sarkozy had given the order to attack after negotiations
had broken down and the pirates threatened to execute the hostages.
 Florent Lemaçon was determined to follow his dream and not be deterred by reports of piracy and warnings of the French Navy. He paid with his life. His wife, son and another couple were rescued. |
French Say they Offered Ransom
"Of course we offered all we could offer ... we even offered them a ransom," said
Morin, declining to name the sum proposed. "All these things were permanently and
consistently refused." He said France had also suggested "exchanging" Colin, the
child, and his mother, Chloe, for an officer, but that had also been rejected.
Military sources last night said it was unclear whether Lemaçon, the owner of the
yacht, had been killed accidentally or whether he had been murdered. General Jean-Louis
Georgelin, the army chief, said the 28-year-old had been shot inside the yacht during
an exchange of fire between French forces and the pirates.
Officials expressed exasperation at the determination of the Tanit's crew to persist
with their expedition despite the parlous security situation in the region, saying
the couple had been "strongly warned" about their adventure by the navy .
Father Defends His Son
Amid accusations the couple, who set off from Brittany last year, had behaved irresponsibly,
Lemaçon's father, Francis, last week defended their actions. "They are experienced
sailors and certainly not irresponsible. They followed the advice they were given,
took the less dangerous route and were in constant contact with the French forces,"
he told the Ouest France newspaper.
France has taken a robust approach to the piracy scourge threatening the world's
shipping through the vital Gulf of Aden-Indian Ocean conduit. Twice it has sought
to make pirates pay for their actions; firstly last April, by pursuing the bandits
on land through Somalia, and then in September by storming a seized French yacht.
But the unfortunate outcome of yesterday's operation underscored the formidable
difficulties facing taskforces policing the treacherous waters off east Africa.
 Once an island paradise where the world’s yachtsmen went bare boating in perfect safety, the Seychelles are now unsafe. |
#2 Yacht Taken in Seychelles
A tourist yacht and its crew of seven has been hijacked by Somali pirates near the
Seychelles islands off Africa's east coast, officials said last Thursday. The Indian
Ocean Explorer had dropped off its contingent of tourists before it was seized,
said Kirk Green, director of Aquatours, the London-based tour operator that books
diving tours on the luxury yacht.
Green said he was told of the hijacking Wednesday by the British Navy and thought
the boat had been taken then. But the U.S. Navy says the ship was taken either Friday
or Saturday. Green said the British Navy e-mailed him to say the boat would be taken
to Harardhere, a pirate stronghold north of Mogadishu. Green said he was told to
expect the ship to be held about three months.
"It's the first time it's happened to us, so it's a bit of a shock at the moment,"
he said. "Obviously one of the feelings we have is relief because none of our clients
were taken. But on the other hand, we are extremely concerned about our crew."
Crew from Seychelles
All seven crew members are from the Seychelles, he said. Green said he did not know
the boat's exact location when it was seized or where it was headed when it was
taken. Diving, fishing and sightseeing tours on the seven-cabin boat start at $3,000,
and the majority of customers are British, he said. The ship can carry 14 passengers
along with crew.
According to Aquatours' Web site, the ship is flagged in Panama, but the U.S. Navy
says the boat is registered in the Seychelles. Green said the converted oceanographic
research ship was formerly Swiss-owned. The boat was recently resold, and he could
not confirm the identity or nationality of the new owners.
"This is not a boat that transports crews around the world and is worth huge amounts
of money," Green said. "This boat operates really for the love of it, and if we
manage to break even at the end of the day, we're really lucky."
"I don't understand why the countries involved don't just go down there and sort
it out once and for all," Green said.
YouTube Plea from Seychelles Leader
Seychelles President James Michel posted a somber five-minute clip on YouTube calling
for support. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families friends of the victims
of these acts of aggression," he said. "Such incidents further reinforce the need
for our nation to come together and offer each other support."
 600 miles east of the African coast and a few hundred miles north of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles are a 5-star resort destination. |
#3 Yacht Hijacking – The Yacht
Serenity
Report from Yachtpals.com--
It appears that the pirates of Somalia have struck a private yacht again, this time
attacking somewhere between the Seychelles and Madagascar. Reportedly, Gilbert Victor
and Andre Conrad, onboard the yacht Serenity, left the islands on February 28th,
sailing for Madagascar, but disappeared soon after. John Hoareau alias Samson has
been confirmed as the third hostage currently being held by pirates near Somalia.
One of the hostages reportedly called his family last Tuesday, saying he was being
held by pirates and begging for help.
"The ill-fated yacht is presently under tight security, anchored next to Garacad,
Somalia," said Andrew Mwangura, who is often called upon by YachtPals as a reliable
source regarding piracy in Somalia. Though piracy is reportedly "unusual" in this
area, it is not unheard of. It is possible that the multinational naval presence
in the Gulf of Aden is forcing the Somali pirates to shift their operations into
the Indian Ocean.
The Seychelles government has contacted the British, French and American governments
to ask for their assistance.
SEYCHELLES PIRACY UPDATE -- April 6, 2009:
Pirates Taiwanese Fishing Vessel in the Seychelles
A Taiwanese vessel has been hijacked by pirates near the Seychelles. The Seychelles
government reports that they received a distress call saying that a Taiwanese fishing
vessel, the MV Winfar, and its 29 crew were hijacked north of Denis island. Seychelles
Transport Minister Joel Morgan says military forces had been deployed to intercept
the pirates, and to protect three other Taiwanese ships that they say are currently
trying to escape capture by the pirates.