Electric fence shocks pirates

A PIRATE attack on a COSCO ship in the Red Sea has been thwarted using an electric fence, the IMB told Fairplay today.

The 52,825dwt bulker Kang Long was travelling close to the Gate of Tears (Bab-el-Mandeb) when about 30 pirates in up to four skiffs approached at the end of last week.

According to Cyrus Mody of the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre, they withdrew their attack when they saw the electric fence.

The Red Sea has seen a rising number of pirate attacks in recent weeks. Stolt Strength was attacked in the sea earlier this month.

Mody added he believes that the pirates are expoiting the reduced naval presence in the Red Sea rather than braving Gulf of Aden patrols..

Meanwhile, Reuters reported today that pirates had released seven crew members aboard the research yacht Indian Ocean Explorer, registered in the Seychelles. The condition of the crew was not known. A PIRATE attack on a COSCO ship in the Red Sea has been thwarted using an electric fence, the IMB piracy reporting centre told Fairplay today.