Somali pirates move south, attack Seychelles yacht

4:00 AM Thu 26 Mar 2009 GMT

'Pirates are seen on a speed boat near the enclave of Eyl, Somalia' .

Multiple reports considered to be reliable say that Somali pirates have hijacked the yacht Serenity, with Seychelles citizens Gilbert Victor and Andre Conrad on board and are holding them in an area close to Garacad in Somalia.

The yacht left the Seychelles on February 28 en route to Madagascar but disappeared soon after. Nothing was known about the fate of the yacht until one of the crew telephoned his family this week to plead for their assistance.

One of the reports comes from Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Program who has for years reported accurately about the Somali situation, and was jailed briefly when he correctly reported the hijack of the Faina, with arms on board headed for the Sudan.

'The ill-fated yacht is presently under tight security, anchored next to Garacad, Somalia,' he commented to one news outlet.

The news has also been reported by the Seychelles state broadcaster.

Assumed route of the yacht Serenity, attacked by Somali pirates and now held near Garacad - .. .

The Serenity had started the 200 nautical mile journey southwards towards Madagascar, in an area of the ocean not normally associated with Somali pirate attacks.

However, observers and analysts are assuming that the increased security in the Gulf of Aden region may have driven the desperate Somalis south into quieter waters. Recently navies from many nations have sent ships to the area, and are protecting with success commercial shipping transiting through the 'pirate corridor' on their way to the Red Sea.

In addition, a number of pirates have been killed during skirmishes, and some arrested and handed over to Kenyan authorities, who have agreed to hold and try them.

The current incident is the first on yachts for many months in the Indian Ocean, and follows quickly on the heels of the tragic murder of a British sailor by Burmese pirate/fishermen in the seas off Thailand.

The Seychelles Government has appealed to British, American and French governments for help. However, if past experience is repeated, nothing will save the two crew except a ransom payment.

by BW Media roundup

Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos: