MV Almezaan
Encyclopedia
The MV Almezaan is a general cargo vessel active off the Horn of Africa
. Originally built as the Tarcau, she was re-named in November 2001. The name can be translated from Arabic
as "the balance" or "the scale
s" as well as justice and equity.
, was captured and taken to Harardhere
. It was released on 6 May 2009, reportedly without a ransom being paid and after it was confirmed that it had been hired by a local trader.
The second attack was 8 November 2009. The ship was held off Garacad
and released on 19 November 2009, after a ransom of $15,000 was paid. The ship was believed to be carrying small arms, ammunition, rockets, and rocket-propelled grenades, as well as armoured vehicles, but this was later denied by the owners.
The ship was again attacked on 20 March 2010, while on its way to Mogadishu. The attack was repelled by a private security guard convoy, and one pirate was killed. Six suspected pirates were captured by Navfor the same day, but released after the master and crew of the Almezaan refused to testify.
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
. Originally built as the Tarcau, she was re-named in November 2001. The name can be translated from Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
as "the balance" or "the scale
Weighing scale
A weighing scale is a measuring instrument for determining the weight or mass of an object. A spring scale measures weight by the distance a spring deflects under its load...
s" as well as justice and equity.
Pirate attacks
The vessel has been attacked three times by Somali pirates. The first attack and capture was 1 May 2009, when the vessel, said to be taking wheat and used vehicles to MogadishuMogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, was captured and taken to Harardhere
Harardhere
Harardhere is a town in the Mudug province of central Somalia, also spelled Harardheere and Xarardhere or Xarard-heere. It has become notorious in recent times as a base for piracy in Somalia. A pirate cooperative exchange opened here in 2009 to finance pirate activities.In May of 2010, members of...
. It was released on 6 May 2009, reportedly without a ransom being paid and after it was confirmed that it had been hired by a local trader.
The second attack was 8 November 2009. The ship was held off Garacad
Garacad
-References:*...
and released on 19 November 2009, after a ransom of $15,000 was paid. The ship was believed to be carrying small arms, ammunition, rockets, and rocket-propelled grenades, as well as armoured vehicles, but this was later denied by the owners.
The ship was again attacked on 20 March 2010, while on its way to Mogadishu. The attack was repelled by a private security guard convoy, and one pirate was killed. Six suspected pirates were captured by Navfor the same day, but released after the master and crew of the Almezaan refused to testify.