Captured Yacht Decoy for Somalian Pirates?

Somalia - YachtPals just received a warning from Andrew Mwangura of the Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP) in Kenya to ALL VESSELS NEAR THE HORN OF AFRICA.  The Amel Super Maramu Carre D'as IV, captured by Somalian Pirates a week ago, may be under use as a decoy vessel attacking other ships.  The SAP warns that the vessel likely is or will be used to signal ships at sea as being under distress, while hiding a speedboat from view of any ships responding to the rescue.  Mwangura says that a small attack vessel of the type that can hide behind the Carre D'as IV "usually carries 5-7 heavily armed attackers (equipped with bazookas, assault guns like AK47, G3, FAL, M16 plus RPG - rocket propelled grenade launchers, as well as hand-grenades and/or mines). Such attack-boats do deliver a swift and heavy assault."

The head of the SAP also said that the hostages were not, in fact, taken to Eyl, as was reported.  "Reports directly from Somalia indicate that the hostages (the couple Jean-Yves and his wife Bernardette Delanne of French Nationality) were dropped at the Somali coast near Alula (written Caluula) (formerly: Bendar Beyla) at the tip of the Horn of Africa, from where part of the gang have dragged them into a remote hideout in the Xaabo (pronounced: Hawo) mountains."

Andrew Mwangura told YachtPals that the pirates have made unusual demands for the release of these latest hostages:  "The Somali hi-jackers of the couple demand for the release a sum in excess of 1.4 million US dollar and the return of the 6 Somali prisoners, which the French Navy had taken after the negotiated and paid-for release of the French Luxury Yacht Le Ponant."  These accused pirates have been facing trial in Paris since capture.

All vessels are advised to stay well off of the Somalia coast, travel in convoys, and to keep a specific eye out for the Carre D'as IV.  The vessel (pictured above) is a 16 meter (53') ketch (two masts) with a doghouse-style dodger (fiberglass-enclosed cockpit).  If you see this yacht, prepare for an attack and notify authorities immediately.  We again repeat our warning against any yacht transiting the Gulf of Aden at this time.

If you have any information regarding the yacht Carre D'as IV, the Puntland pirates, or any other piracy, please contact the IMB 24-hour Piracy Reporting Centre at +60 3 2031 0014, or you can contact us or leave a comment (anonymously, if necessary) here at YachtPals.com, to be forwarded to the proper agency.

- B. Hampton, exclusively for YachtPals.com

Read more about:

• Piracy (all articles about piracy)
• Piracy Somalia (all articles about piracy in Somalia)
• Le Ponant Yacht - French Hostages
  
• Playa de Bakio -  Pirates Attack Boat in Somalia
• German Hostages kept by Pirates in Somalia
• Somalia Piracy Out of Control
• Pirates Kidnap French Yacht Crew (original article about the pirate attack on the yacht Carré d'As IV) 
• Somalia Pirates - French Hostages Phone Home