Piracy strikes close

It is with great sadness that I learned about the SY Quest crew.  This hits very close to home.  The SY Quest was anchored 300 meters from us three weeks ago prior to there departure for Salah.  The Adam's where members of the Del Rey Yacht Club in Marina del Rey where I was sailing out of for years while living in Los Angeles.  

The piracy situation in the Indian Ocean has become extreme in the past three months with the area of attacks increasing to the shores of India, and more importantly the tactics used now include attacking private yachts and killing crew.  This has many yachts that I have personally talked with in the past few weeks abandoning there sailing plans for going west and shipping their vessels.

Pirates Kill Four Captives Onboard Hijacked SV Quest Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Pirates onboard the hijacked yacht, SV Quest, killed all four of its captives in the early hours of Tuesday, February 22, according to a statement from the US Central Command. SV Quest was hijacked by pirates approximately 400 nm east of Salalah on February 18 as she was underway from Mumbai to Salalah with four US citizens onboard; Jean and Scott Adam, and Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle. According to the US Central Command statement, four US frigates were assigned as a response force to aid the stricken yacht;USS Enterprise, USS Leyte Gulf, USS Sterett and USS Bulkeley. It was reported that one of these frigates had been tracking SV Quest since she was hijacked. Reports have indicated that a boarding team from the US frigates was dispatched at 0600 UTC when gunfire originating from onboard the yacht was heard. A gun battle ensued when the team attempted to board the yacht in which two of the assailants were killed. However, when the team was able to board SV Quest, it was discovered that all the hostages had been shot; two of which died instantly and two others, despite first aid given at the scene, succumbed to their wounds. Reports have also indicated that 13 pirates were detained by the US forces, and the remains of a further two pirates were found onboard. This suggests that 19 pirates were involved in the hijacking of SV Quest, including two pirates who had been captured earlier. The nature of the incident highlights the complex debate over the use of force in rescue operations at sea, and is reminiscent of the events that occurred when SY Tanit was hijacked in the Indian Ocean on April 4, 2009. On that occasion, the French yacht SY Tanit was under the control of pirates for six days until French forces boarded the vessel. During an exchange of gunfire, four of the hostages were secured, two pirates were killed and three were detained, but the skipper of the yacht, Florent Lemaçon, died in the incident. The advice for yachts transiting the region is co-ordinated between the UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), and is promulgated via the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA). Any yacht transiting the region should inform the MSCHOA, and ensure that anti-piracy measures are robust and comprehensive.