I follow these reports on a weekly basis. This is one of
the worst weeks I've seen in a long time. Hope it is not
the start of a trend... Bill

The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast
by the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic,
Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service
of Inmarsat-C from 31 May to 6 June 2005:

May 22, 2005 at 1500 LT, at posn 03:42N 48:16E, Eastern
coast, Somalia.

Pirates boarded and hijacked a general cargo ship underway.
They beat up the 21 crewmembers and locked them in a room.
Pirates have demanded ransom for releasing the ship and the
crew. Further news is awaited.

May 31, 2005 at 0230 LT, deep water anchorage "A", 10nm
south of Basra oil terminal, Iraq.

Pirates armed with ak47 rifles boarded a tanker awaiting
berthing. They tried to enter bridge claiming to be police-
men. Master denied them entry and pirates became violent
and broke glass panels on bridge wing door and entered bridge.
They assaulted the master causing him injuries and demanded
money. They entered master's cabin and located the safe and
stole cash and personal belongings. They dragged the master
and tried to take him to main deck and left at 0240. Master
sent a mayday message and activated SSAS and moved to deep
water anchorage "B". Later a coalition warship arrived to
investigate.

June 1, 2005 at 2000 LT in position 04:15N - 100:18E, off
Pangkor island, Malacca Straits.

Eight pirates armed with automatic guns and long knives
fired warning shots at a tanker underway. They boarded
and kidnapped master and boatswain and left in a fishing
boat with ship's documents. The Second Officer navigated
the tanker safely to a port. Pirates have demanded ransom
for releasing the crew. Further news is awaited.

June 6, 2005 at 1535 UTC in position 02:23N - 046:07E, off
Mogadishu, Somalia.

Three pirates armed with automatic guns in a white speed-
boat opened fire on a bulk carrier underway. USS Gonzalez,
a US naval ship in the area responded to a distress call
from the master and came close to assist. USS Gonzalez fired
parachute flares and directed searchlights to illuminate the
area and escorted the bulk carrier to a safer location away
from Somali coast. No injuries to crew but gunfire by pirates
caused 10 bullet holes on starboard side near bridge.