'Pirate' Ship Sunk by Indian Navy Was Thai Trawler

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov. 25, 2008 -- Last week's dramatic reports of an Indian navy vessel sinking a Somali pirate ship now appears to be a case of authorities mistakenly destroying a ship that the pirates had hijacked.

Updated media reports indicate that the sunken ship was actually from Thailand and had just been hijacked when the Indian warship, the INS Tabar, returned fire from what it believed was a "mother vessel," the large ships pirates use to launch their attacks.

The Indian navy said the Tabar encountered the vessel in the Gulf of Aden during an anti-piracy mission. When the Tabar asked the vessel to stop for further investigation, the pirates issued a message that they would "blow up the naval warship if it closed her."

According to a statement from the Indian navy, pirates could be seen roaming the upper deck with guns and rocket-propelled grenades. After the pirates fired on the warship, the Indian navy fired back, blowing up the vessel. Two breakaway boats sped away. One was recovered but abandoned, while the other escaped.

The Indian navy said its actions were necessary "to protect our seaborne trade, instill confidence in our seafaring community as well as function as a deterrent for pirates."

But according to media reports out of Somalia, including from the BBC, the sunken ship might have had more crew members on it than pirates. At least 15 crew members were aboard when it went down. A Cambodian-born crewman escaped and was saved by life jacket. He reportedly floated for several days before being rescued off the coast of Yemen. The other crew members are still missing.

There has been increasing pressure by the shipping community and by states whose commerce depends on the Gulf of Aden, such as Egypt, for the Combined Maritime Forces and the United Nations and NATO to do more.

A naval blockade has been proposed, as well as sanctions on Somalis found to be benefiting financially from the piracy. It's estimated that at least $30 million has been paid to pirates in the past year, and that with the capture of such high-profile ships as a Saudi oil tanker, the Sirius Star, and a Ukranian weapons-laden ship, the MV Faina, ransom payments could go well beyond $50 million this year.