Pirates Seize Supertanker Loaded with Crude

By Reid Hulett

On Saturday, Somali pirates managed to seize yet another ship. This time, it was a Saudi supertanker that was loaded with crude oil, and it was seized hundreds of miles out into the Indian Ocean. This shows the pirates' expanding reach. This is the largest vessel that has been seized along with more than 30 other smaller vessels thus far.

The ship had a 25-member crew which included citizens of Croatia, Britain, the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia. It is unsure whether or not there was armed security on board, but the pirates would have had to demonstrate their skills in seizing this ship due to the size. At 1, 080 feet, the pirates would have scaled about 33 feet from the water to the deck. In past attempts, the pirates often used ropes and ladders to climb the sides of the ship. As is likely the case here, crew members on large ships often don't spot the pirates until it's too late. The pirates are usually well-equipped with automatic weapons, RPG's, and various grenades. So, these pirates more often than not have the capabilities of overpowering crew members on board the ships trying to be hijacked.

The Sirius Star, the supertanker seized on Saturday, could have been carrying up to $100 million worth of crude oil. However, due to the lack of refineries and the ability to sell the oil, the oil is worthless to the pirates. So, it is likely they are going to make a ransom for the ship, if they haven't already. It is also discussed in the article how difficult it is becoming to defend ships in this area, especially now that the pirates are going farther and farther off coast. Something has to be done quick though, the world is losing too many valuable ships and the pirates are becoming more rich with everyone they seize, which just makes them stronger.