Persons involved in threat and risk assessments for piracy in the Red Sea, have begun an informal betting pool regarding the Chinese vessel Tien Hau. This vessel was reported to have been hijacked (Chinese Embassy) / followed for tracking (Yemen) or rescued after heavy clashes with the pirates (Iran Navy).
The confusion in reporting illustrates what can only be described as the politicization of the reporting process. For this particular vessel seems to have covered all the bases except MAYBE Alien abduction or the widely reported and controversial Star Gate reported in the science fiction community that may have replaced the attacked vessel with a safe vessel from a parallel universe.
On a more serious note, this event provides a clear example as to the importance of following sound information gathering and reporting practices.
Iranian Navy Fleet Foils Pirate Attack on Chinese Vessel in Red Sea TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Navy fleet deployed in the Gulf of Aden thwarted a pirate attack on a Chinese trade ship with timely action. |  | |
According to a statement issued by the Navy's Public Relations Office on Saturday, the Navy's 12th fleet of warships initiated timely action after it received an alert message from the Hong Kong vessel and managed to thwart the pirates' attack after heavy clashes.
The trade vessel, namely VRYK3, with 32 crews onboard had started its journey from Italy to Australia.
In December, Iran dispatched its 12th fleet of warships to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Last week, Commander of the Navy's second naval zone, Rear Admiral Hossein Ashrafi said that Iranian forces had foiled more than 60 attempts against Iran's commercial ships by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.
According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the pirates and even with prior notice to Somali government enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit of Somali sea pirates.
The Gulf of Aden - which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea - is an important energy corridor, particularly because Persian Gulf oil is shipped to the West via the Suez Canal.
Good observation. This is a classical example from the area. EU NAVFOR, CMF and NATO are just as politicised, but slightly more in agreement on the course of events usually :)
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