Doc Mercer
EOG Master
Pirates, ships and bounties: a recent history
Pirates have seized a series of ships in the last six months
The MV Faina seen from the USS Vella Gulf off the coast of Somalia. It was released for a reported $3.2m ransom. Photograph: Jason Zalasky/US navy via Getty Images
Somali pirates have seized the Maersk Alabama, a US-operated container ship with 21 American crew members aboard. It is the latest in a spate of recent high-profile attacks:
? The Malaspina Castle, a UK-owned and Italian-operated carrier, was seized in the Gulf of Aden this week.
? Bow Asir, a Norwegian tanker, was captured by pirates off Somalia last month. All 24 crew are still being held and are reported to be well.
? The Titan, a Greek-owned cargo ship, was seized off Somalia last month en route to Korea from the Black Sea. The ship and its 24 crew are still being held.
? The MV Faina, a Ukrainian ship carrying arms and tanks, was released for a reported $3.2m (?2.2m) ransom in February after being held for almost five months.
? The Saldanha, a Maltese-registered cargo ship, is being held with 22 crew on board after being seized in February.
? The Sirius Star became the subject of the world's biggest hijacking when it was taken 450 miles out to sea in November carrying about $100m worth of oil. The ship and its 25-member crew, including two Britons, were freed in January after a reported ransom payment of $3m.
? The Longchamp, a German-owned tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas and a crew of 13, is being held after it was seized in January.
? The Delight, a Hong Kong cargo vessel carrying wheat, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden in November.
? The Stolt Strength, a chemical tanker with a crew of 23 Filipinos aboard, is being held by pirates after being captured in November.
? The Chemstar Venus, a Japanese oil tanker, had a crew 18 Filipinos and five South Koreans when it was seized in November. It is still being held.
Pirates have seized a series of ships in the last six months
The MV Faina seen from the USS Vella Gulf off the coast of Somalia. It was released for a reported $3.2m ransom. Photograph: Jason Zalasky/US navy via Getty ImagesSomali pirates have seized the Maersk Alabama, a US-operated container ship with 21 American crew members aboard. It is the latest in a spate of recent high-profile attacks:
? The Malaspina Castle, a UK-owned and Italian-operated carrier, was seized in the Gulf of Aden this week.
? Bow Asir, a Norwegian tanker, was captured by pirates off Somalia last month. All 24 crew are still being held and are reported to be well.
? The Titan, a Greek-owned cargo ship, was seized off Somalia last month en route to Korea from the Black Sea. The ship and its 24 crew are still being held.
? The MV Faina, a Ukrainian ship carrying arms and tanks, was released for a reported $3.2m (?2.2m) ransom in February after being held for almost five months.
? The Saldanha, a Maltese-registered cargo ship, is being held with 22 crew on board after being seized in February.
? The Sirius Star became the subject of the world's biggest hijacking when it was taken 450 miles out to sea in November carrying about $100m worth of oil. The ship and its 25-member crew, including two Britons, were freed in January after a reported ransom payment of $3m.
? The Longchamp, a German-owned tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas and a crew of 13, is being held after it was seized in January.
? The Delight, a Hong Kong cargo vessel carrying wheat, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden in November.
? The Stolt Strength, a chemical tanker with a crew of 23 Filipinos aboard, is being held by pirates after being captured in November.
? The Chemstar Venus, a Japanese oil tanker, had a crew 18 Filipinos and five South Koreans when it was seized in November. It is still being held.
