Pirate attacks off Somalia's coast are being organised from command vessels,
or "mother ships", the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4428808.stm

This was a post that I did on another forum on November 10th that
pertains to the "mother ship" theory. Bill



Nov 10, 10:56 am

Newsgroups: rec.travel.cruises
From:
Date: 10 Nov 2005 10:56:49 -0800
Subject: My Take On Pirates

I doubt the pirates navigated 100 miles out to sea from shore.
More likely they were launched by a bigger boat.

Yep Skip... I think your right. Remember the recent report (see
below)that was issued by a commercial ship during the same time
frame and area:

November 5, 2005 at 1200 UTC in position 04:26.3N - 054:14.6E, off
east coast Somalia. A bulk carrier underway spotted a craft drifting
16nm away. When ship came close the craft suddenly increased
speed and chased the bulk carrier. Master took evasive manoeuvres,
increased speed and moved away from the coast. Craft continued the
chase until 1400 UTC before moving away. Craft had one derrick and
master suspects this may be a...

..mother ship to launch speedboats who attack ships.

Also... based on the photos I saw of the craft that the "bad guys"
were using it is hard for me to imagine that they were launched from
the mainland... some 100 miles away.

Best regard

Bill

M/V Polynesia