Dutch Forces Free 20 Pirate Hostages, Let Pirates Go

(AP) - Somali pirates have hijacked a German cargo ship carrying a crew of 11 in the Gulf of Aden, the latest seizure by high-seas bandits who are holding hundreds of merchant mariners hostage, the AP reports.The MV Victoria was captured yesterday 75 miles south of Yemen. There is no information on the condition of the Romanian crew aboard the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged ship. More»

South Koreans rescue North Korean cargo ship from pirate attack

(NEWSER) - The Gulf of Aden was the scene of a rare example of inter-Korean cooperation yesterday as the unfriendly nations joined efforts to thwart pirates, reports the Wall Street Journal. A helicopter from a South Korean warship was sent to the rescue when a North Korean cargo ship being pursued by a pirate ship sent out a distress call. The pirates fled as snipers prepared to fire and the South Koreans guided the grateful North Korean crewmen to safety. More»

Somali PM urges West to help his government stop pirates reaching the sea

(NEWSER) - Somalia's transitional government says it's ready to take on the pirates that prey on shipping off its shores, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Somalis say they can tackle the pirates on land more effectively than foreign navies can manage at sea—but they are currently outgunned and will need funding from the West to chase the pirates out of their havens. More»

High-profile hostage rescues fail to prevent fresh hijackings

(NEWSER) - Somali pirates have seized another three ships in the Gulf of Aden, the AP reports. Two Egyptian fishing boats were hijacked yesterday and a Greek-owned freighter with at least 20 crew on board was seized before dawn today by pirates evidently undeterred by the recent standoff with the US Navy. The freighter reported a suspicious vessel but received no response on emergency channels, according to a security contractor. More»

To beat back bandits, navies need cohesive international strategy

(NEWSER) - If EU and NATO leaders are serious about ending Somali piracy, they need to develop a coordinated strategy, say experts. Patrolling the high seas and protecting merchant ships has long been an individual effort among states, Time reports, but with piracy on a precipitous rise—there have already been 65 high-seas abductions this year—world leaders need to create a cohesive anti-piracy operation. More»