Latest ONI World Wide Threat to Shipping Released (29JUne05)

For 29 June 05 report click ONI World Wide Threat to Shipping and on the date. Much of interest, and here's recent highlight:

J. PERSIAN GULF: 1. IRAQ-N.ARABIAN GULF: The U.S. flag tug (THUNDER) and integrated barge (LIGHTNING) was boarded 30 June early morning local time while approaching Iraqi waters enroute Umm Qasr with reconstruction aid material. The pirates held crew at gunpoint, fired shots inside vessel and took money, radios, jewelry and watches. Pirates left without other incident and tug/barge proceeded to Umm Qasr (MARAD/Operator).

Integrated tug and barges can be quite large and may resemble this: