Category Archives: Merchant Marine

The World's Most Violent Pirates

The World’s Most Violent Pirates

An undated photo of West African pirates.

An undated photo of West African pirates.

West Africa is home to the world’s most violent pirates—who are now capable of overwhelming armed guards. Last month pirates killed a crewmember during an attack on German-owned oil tanker. Instead of fighting off the pirates, the embarked security team retreated to the ship’s citadel safe room. Read More

Panamanian Official: North Korea ‘Paid Fine in Cash’ to Free Secret Arms Ship

Panamanian Official: North Korea ‘Paid Fine in Cash’ to Free Secret Arms Ship

Panamaniain investigators inspect a Cuban MiG 21 found hidden on a North Korean merchant vessel on July 21, 2013. REUTERS Photo

Panamaniain investigators inspect a Cuban MiG 21 found hidden on a North Korean merchant vessel on July 21, 2013. REUTERS Photo

North Korean officials have settled up a fine set by Panamanian authorities incurred after a North Korean ship attempted to transit the Panama Canal with containers full of illicit — but badly dated — weapons from Cuba, canal officials said on Saturday. Read More

Report: Kidnapped American Sailors Released After Ransom Paid

Report: Kidnapped American Sailors Released After Ransom Paid

C-Escort, owned by Edison Chouest Offshore of Cut Off, La., is a sistership to the C-Retriever. American crew from the C-Retriever were kidnapped by Nigerian pirates on Oct. 23, 2013.

C-Escort, owned by Edison Chouest Offshore of Cut Off, La., is a sistership to the C-Retriever. American crew from the C-Retriever were kidnapped by Nigerian pirates on Oct. 23, 2013.

The two American sailors that were kidnapped on Oct. 23 off the coast of Nigeria have been returned, according several news reports. Read More

Updated: Keel Laid for First Dedicated Afloat Forward Staging Base

Updated: Keel Laid for First Dedicated Afloat Forward Staging Base

An artist's conception of the Afloat Forward Staging Base. USMC Photo

An artist’s conception of the Afloat Forward Staging Base. USMC Photo

Clarification: A previous version of this post included an out-of-date artist’s conception of the Lewis B. Puller.

General Dynamics NASSCO laid the keel for the U.S. Navy’s first dedicated design for an afloat forward staging base (AFSB) on Tuesday in the company’s San Diego, Calif. shipyard, according to the company. Read More

Video: Terrorists Launch Rocket Attack at Commercial Ship in Suez Canal

Video: Terrorists Launch Rocket Attack at Commercial Ship in Suez Canal

Image captured from a Sept. 4 video alleged to show members of the group Al-Furqan firing a rocket propelled grenade at a merchant ship in the Suez Canal

Image captured from a Sept. 4 video alleged to show memebers of the group Al-Furqan firing a rocket propelled grenade at a merchant ship in the Suez Canal

An Islamist terror group has taken responsibility for a Saturday rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attack on a merchant ship transiting the Suez Canal, USNI News has learned.

A video posted on YouTube Wednesday — alleged to have been issued by the group Al-Furqan along with a letter of responsibility — show two men with rocket propelled grenades fire at least one RPG round into the side of a cargo ship bearing the markings of the Chinese merchant shipper Cosco. Read More