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<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.net/images/stories/real-pirates.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />I'm a little late with this one mates, sorry, been a busy week for me! <a href="http://www.gulfweeklyworldwide.com" target="_blank">Gulf Weekly</a> has an interview with the US commander of Combined Task Force 151, Admiral Terence E McKnight.
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<blockquote> The man at the helm of a multi-national task force with a mandate to take on the pirates terrorising the high seas and causing millions of dollars of losses to international shipping has spoken to GulfWeekly exclusively about the challenges he faces.Â
Bahrain-based Rear Admiral Terence E McKnight, pictured above, the US commander of Combined Task Force 151, finds himself working in partnership with the Russians and Chinese for the first time in his naval career on a united mission to make the Gulf of Aden safer for commercial vessels.Â
This unprecedented united co-operation follows an international outcry and embarrassment over the seizure of a Saudi-owned super-tanker by a motley crew of heavily-armed former Somali fishermen who have been making their fortunes with audacious attacks and massive ransom demands.Â
"We are fighting a hard battle on the high seas and we think CTF 151 can successfully combat piracy in the waters we patrol. There has been a drop in pirate attacks in recent months which is very positive," said Rear Admiral McKnight from his command ship in the Gulf of Aden.Â
In a move to safeguard vital oil shipments, Japan has also agreed to deploy two warships to join the anti-piracy patrols. "Piracy is a threat to the international community, including Japan, and it is an issue that should be dealt with immediately," said defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada.Â
Two destroyers from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force are due to leave southern Japan on Saturday. About 90 per cent of Japan's crude oil imports come from the Middle East, according to the International Energy Agency. Japan is the world's second largest net importer of oil, after the US.Â
The Piracy Reporting Centre in Malaysia, said 111 ships were attacked last year by pirates in the gulf and along the coast of Somalia. And, while international shippers say the presence of the naval vessels has helped deter attacks, the reporting centre revealed that 33 ships have been hit this year. Four have been hijacked and are being held for ransom. Â
</blockquote> You can read the original story <a href="http://www.gulfweeklyworldwide.com/article.asp?Sn=6362&Article=21652" target="_blank">HERE </a>Read on for this weeks Weekly Piracy Report!
<a href="http://piratesahoy.net/history/real-pirates/263-real-pirates-weekly-piracy-report.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a>
<a href="http://piratesahoy.net/history/real-pirates/263-real-pirates-weekly-piracy-report.html" target="_blank">View the full article</a>
Â
<blockquote> The man at the helm of a multi-national task force with a mandate to take on the pirates terrorising the high seas and causing millions of dollars of losses to international shipping has spoken to GulfWeekly exclusively about the challenges he faces.Â
Bahrain-based Rear Admiral Terence E McKnight, pictured above, the US commander of Combined Task Force 151, finds himself working in partnership with the Russians and Chinese for the first time in his naval career on a united mission to make the Gulf of Aden safer for commercial vessels.Â
This unprecedented united co-operation follows an international outcry and embarrassment over the seizure of a Saudi-owned super-tanker by a motley crew of heavily-armed former Somali fishermen who have been making their fortunes with audacious attacks and massive ransom demands.Â
"We are fighting a hard battle on the high seas and we think CTF 151 can successfully combat piracy in the waters we patrol. There has been a drop in pirate attacks in recent months which is very positive," said Rear Admiral McKnight from his command ship in the Gulf of Aden.Â
In a move to safeguard vital oil shipments, Japan has also agreed to deploy two warships to join the anti-piracy patrols. "Piracy is a threat to the international community, including Japan, and it is an issue that should be dealt with immediately," said defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada.Â
Two destroyers from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force are due to leave southern Japan on Saturday. About 90 per cent of Japan's crude oil imports come from the Middle East, according to the International Energy Agency. Japan is the world's second largest net importer of oil, after the US.Â
The Piracy Reporting Centre in Malaysia, said 111 ships were attacked last year by pirates in the gulf and along the coast of Somalia. And, while international shippers say the presence of the naval vessels has helped deter attacks, the reporting centre revealed that 33 ships have been hit this year. Four have been hijacked and are being held for ransom. Â
</blockquote> You can read the original story <a href="http://www.gulfweeklyworldwide.com/article.asp?Sn=6362&Article=21652" target="_blank">HERE </a>Read on for this weeks Weekly Piracy Report!
<a href="http://piratesahoy.net/history/real-pirates/263-real-pirates-weekly-piracy-report.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a>
<a href="http://piratesahoy.net/history/real-pirates/263-real-pirates-weekly-piracy-report.html" target="_blank">View the full article</a>
