here. Highlights:
C. SOUTH AMERICA:And the latest ICC CCS Piracy Report (to 21 Jan 08) from here with the following highlights:
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1. COLOMBIA: Vessel transporting tourists robbed, six passengers kidnapped, 14 Jan 08, late in the afternoon shortly after landing near Nuqui. The six hostages belonged to a group of 19 people taking a boat trip on the Atrato river in the west of the country. When they stepped ashore at one point in an area known locally as Morromico, they were surrounded by 10 armed men who said that they were members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The rebels took the tourists’ money, cell phones, as well as fuel from the vessel. The six captives were then led into the jungle (AP, REUTERS, LM: Radio Netherlands Worldwide).
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3. NIGERIA: Oil service vessel (LIBERTY) attacked by gunmen, 14 Jan 08, while
underway near Aker base, Bonny River. The vessel was attacked while in route to the
(MYSTRAS) platform. Eyewitness accounts said that a passing boat suddenly opened fire. Crewmembers were reportedly injured (LM: This Day, Vanguard).
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N. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC NON-STATE ACTIVIST GROUPS:
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1. SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY: Research/Fishing vessel (YUSHIN
MARU NO 2) boarded by protesters, 15 Jan 08 at 1700 AEDT while underway near the
intersection of the coordinates 60:00S-077:00E, approximately 360NM south of the Heard and McDonald Islands. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) states Benjamin Potts, 28, of Sydney, and Giles Lane, 35, from Britain, crew from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel (STEVE IRWIN), boarded the Japanese whaling vessel from a Zodiac boat. They reportedly intended to hand its captain a letter. SSCS stated the men were held against their will aboard the fishing vessel. The director-general Minoru Morimoto of Japan’s Institute for Cetacean Research confirmed the protestors’ detention explaining it is illegal to board another country’s vessel on the high seas. Mr Morimoto also claimed the protestors fist made attempts to
entangle the screw of the vessel using ropes and threw bottles of acid onto the decks. After the two sides could not agree how to return the protestors to their vessel, the Australian customs ship (OCEANIC VIKING) volunteered to transfer them. As of 18 Jan, the protesters were safely back onboard the (STEVE IRWIN). The standoff brought Japan's whaling fleet to a temporary standstill while officials worked out the details of the men's transfer. Glenn Inwood, a spokesman for the Japanese whaling program told the media that the whaling fleet would now
resume its operations. Paul Watson, captain of the Steve Irwin, said he would resume
aggravating the whalers, though it was unlikely members of his crew would again try to board one of the Japanese fleet. A spokeswoman for the Australian Federal Police said a full investigation would be carried out but that no charges were laid. The dispute underscored the high-stakes nature of the contest fought each year in the remote and dangerous seas at the far south of the world, thousands of miles from the possibility of regular emergency or rescue services (AP, LM: The Age, The Daily Telegraph).
5.01.2008: 2245 LT 01:11.03N - 064:39.0W, Bahia De Robledal, Isla De Margarita, Venezuela. Five pirates armed with guns boarded a yacht. They assaulted the crew and demanded from the crew all their property. One crew was shot and injured. Incident reported to local authorities who undertook an investigation.
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16.01.2008: 1345 LT: 16:58.17N - 082:24.26E, Kakinada OPL, India.
Pirates in a small craft came alongside a tug, underway, towing a barge. They stole ship's stores. Alert crew raised alarm, crew mustered and took back the stolen stores and pushed the pirates back to their craft. The pirates boarded the barge and left after 20 minutes. Local agent informed.
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