Pirates of Somalia (42 page)

Abdiwahid “Joaar” Mahamed Hersi, director general of the Puntland Ministry of Fisheries, enjoying a break from the office. (
Courtesy the author
)

The Japanese chemical tanker MV
Golden Nori
is refuelled by the USS
Whidbey Island
after being released by pirates led by Abdullahi “Boyah” Abshir, December 2008. (
US Navy
)

The destroyer USS
Bainbridge
tows the lifeboat of the
Maersk Alabama
, the first US-flagged vessel attacked by pirates in two hundred years, April 2009. (
US Navy
)

Pirates aboard a mothership, two attack skiffs in tow, surrender to US Navy forces, April 2009. (
US Navy
)

The
Maersk Alabama
’s Captain Richard Phillips poses with Commander Frank Castellano of the USS
Bainbridge
, shortly after
Bainbridge
snipers rescued Phillips from his three Somali captors. (
US Navy
)

In November 2008, the Saudi oil supertanker MV
Sirius Star
was captured by pirates belonging to Mohamed “Afweyne” Abdi Hassan’s “Somali Marines.” (
US Navy
)

A US Coast Guard detachment boards a pirate mothership, May 2009. (
US Navy
)

Abdiweli Muse, lone surviving hijacker of the
Maersk Alabama
, in New York facing trial, May 2009. In February 2011, Muse was sentenced to thirty-three years and nine months in federal prison. (
Getty Images/AFP
)

Suspected pirates surrender to the USS
Vella Gulf
, February 2009. (
US Navy
)

A pirate in Hobyo, October 2008. (
Mohamed Dahir/AFP/Getty Images
)

The destroyer USS
Farragut
sinks an attack skiff after taking eleven pirates into custody, March 2010. (
US Navy
)

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Map of Somalia