Potential Navy Contract (rdxm.pk)

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Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on October 2, 2009 at 6:31am

Shareholder Update Part II


Thursday, October 1, 2009, 09:05 PM
Dear Shareholders,

We are sorry for the delay in getting you an update. We have several projects we are working on and will update you as they advance forward. We have formed an advisory board made up of 5 business men and women out of the Puget Sound area. These are professional people with vast experience in the business world and a great resource for Radix Marine as we move the company forward.



It will be their responsibility to review, analyze and ultimately recommend to the board the various business opportunities presented to Radix Marine. The first meeting of the board will be October 19th 2009 in Tukwila Washington a suburb of Seattle next to Sea Tac Airport.

After the meeting, we will be posting the bio of each of the members. We want to wait until they officially accept the position. This is a non paid, volunteer position, implemented to help move the company forward with minimum costs and expense to the company. Our continued goal is to control costs and to improve shareholder value by assembling a management team with impeccable vision and leadership qualities.

We appreciate all the inquiries to the company in recent weeks. We encourage people to call or write to the company with your questions and concerns. Continue to monitor the website for updates.

We still anticipate an annual shareholder meeting in January. Notices will be sent in accordance with the rules and regulations.

Sincerely,

F.H. Lartz
President

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on October 9, 2009 at 11:39pm

C. J. Chivers

C.J. Chivers contributes to both the Foreign and Investigative desks of The Times, writing from Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia, Georgia, Chechnya and elsewhere on a wide range of assignments. He served as Moscow correspondent from June 2004 through mid 2008. He has also covered war zones in Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Israel, Central Asia and Afghanistan, and studied the Russian language to prepare for his post. From 1999 until 2001 he was a Metro reporter covering crime and law enforcement in New York City, working in a three-reporter bureau inside the police headquarters in lower Manhattan. While in this bureau, he covered the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Before joining The Times, Mr. Chivers was a staff writer at The Providence Journal in Rhode Island from 1995 until 1999, covering crime and politics, and was a contributor to several magazines, writing on wildlife, natural history and conservation. He remains a contributor to Esquire Magazine and Field & Stream.

From 1988 until 1994, Mr. Chivers was an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps, serving in the Persian Gulf War and performing peacekeeping duties as an infantry company commander during the Los Angeles riots. He was honorably discharged as a captain in 1994.

In 1996, Mr. Chivers received the Livingston Award for International Journalism for a series on the collapse of commercial fishing in the North Atlantic. Two of his stories in The Times from Afghanistan were cited in the award of The Pultizer Prize for Public Service in 2002. In 2007, his reconstruction for Esquire of the terrorist siege of a public school in Beslan, Russia won The Michael Kelly Award and National Magazine Award for Reporting. He was also part of the New York Times team that was awarded The Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 2009, for coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mr. Chivers graduated with a B.A. c** laude in English from Cornell University in January 1988. He was the 1995 valedictorian of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He also graduated from several military schools, including the U.S. Army's Ranger Course.

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on October 15, 2009 at 9:54pm

Nice day here today.

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on October 16, 2009 at 10:25pm

Article from gunweek magazine coming here soon.

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on October 17, 2009 at 7:57pm

At a time when international terrorism is becoming a real and ever-impending threat, the United States needs a pit bull at the helm. Unfortunately, we have a pink poodle and a Congress full of lap dogs.
When Semali pirates captured an American cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden a few months back and then took the captain hostage, President Barack Obama declared it an “annoying distraction” Capt. Phillips, the skipper of the vessel, may have thought otherwise, suspecting the President being cognitively challenged. Many US citizens monitoring the situation certainly did. Instead of immediately taking action to destroy the seafaring terrorists, the current administration waited just too long, and in lieu of firepower, we were stuck with FBI hostage negotiators. During the crisis, the President was himself afloat in a sea of oblivion. As Phillips was being held at gunpoint, President Obama was hosting a meeting with homeowners at the White House. When asked by reporters about the first act of piracy against a US vessel in nearly 200 years, his inane response was “Guys, were talking about housing right now.”
This scenario begs for a Ronald Reagan and a couple of armed fighter jets. But since that’s no longer possible, one might take a look at a solution lurking on the horizon.
Most people have heard the old sea chantey, “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest, yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.” Maritime Defense Systems International LLC (MDSI) (online: MCDI-Intl.com) is making it possible to end piracy on American ships and add sea terrorists to the dead man’s chest. MSDI is a privately held Florida corporation that will install a scaled down version of its Automated Counter-Piracy System on the GB-12 patrol boat produced by partner Radix Marine Inc. (2804 West Washington Ave., Yakima, WA 98903, online: Radix-Marine.com). This 12 meter craft is capable of functioning manned or unmanned and hopefully, not just the US will take advantage of it. The combination of the GB-12 and a mounted weapon system make it the ideal force multiplier for friendly nations worldwide.
Essentially, what you have on the system is a South Korean Daewoo K3 machinegun along with long range detection, range finding and automated weapons control, with features such as a Sathink for real time video transmission. This system allows a controller to maneuver and fire from a control point that is a distance away from the pirates or terrorists. This allows the main vessel to remain at a safe distance miles away from the action.
The 13-pound Daewoo K3 chambered for 5.66 mm is a gas-operated, air-cooled automatic light machinegun that can fire from a belt (700 rpm) or box magazine (1,000 rpm). It has an overall length of 40.5 inches with a barrel length of 21 inches. The gas system uses a piston, a bolt carrier and a rotating five-lug bolt, together with a three-position adjustable gas regulator. Basically, it’s a new and improved version of the FN Minimi (M249 SAW).
MDSI officer Tim Sheridan said they chose the Challenger GB-12 vessel for its reputation as a durable, high performance, highly maneuverable craft. The boat is constructed of aluminum and not composite, so that if repairs are needed, the job can be handled just about anywhere in the world. There’s no need for complicated and complex compounds for fix-its. He claims, “The Challenger’s advanced hull design and turbo-charged engines coupled to powerful water-jet pumps give it unparalleled speed and maneuverability.” This little sea wolf accelerates from 0 to 40 knots in 10 seconds; at 40 plus knots, it is capable of turning 180 degrees in 1.5 boat lengths. The craft’s shallow 1-meter draft makes it ideal for river and coastal patrol missions.
Another advantage of the GB-12 is that it can be reconfigured so that various mounts or modules can be emplaced on the front deck, depending on the mission. In other words, the GB-12 can be readily adapted to counter-piracy, counter-drug, bostage rescue and dozens of other operations. The Challenger’s drop-in modules can be installed in minutes with a simple dock-side lift that accommodates several modules.
What makes the Challenger so swift and powerful are its two 660 HP model 3196 DITA Caterpillar engines. Other features include twin 20-inch North American Marine Jet water propulsion units, direct drive; instantaneous electronic over-speed control, and SAFETM solid-cell foam sponsons impervious to punctures or abrasion. With two main and two reserve fuel tanks, it can cover some serious distance. All it takes is two guys and 30 minutes to prepare the craft for transport, whether by ground, sea or air. The Challenger GB-12 is not an untried or untested platform. The US Navy and other interested contractors have been putting the craft through its paces with exceptional results.
The only objection that some might have to using MDSI’s weapon system and GB-12 is that traditionally cargo ships and cruise ships are not armed. Company official Tim Sheridan offers the perfect solution, “It would make sense to have a US Reserve Marine or Navy officer on board to launch the craft and control the weapon system. This would relieve the civilian sea merchants from having to handle any weapons or from breaking any maritime laws.
Given the choice of 10 FBI hostage negotiators or one Automated Counter-Piracy System, I’ll take the system hands down.



http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p79/elvirbegic/imgEDITMERGEpx.jpg

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on October 18, 2009 at 10:26pm

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p79/elvirbegic/imgEDITMERGEpx.jpg

At a time when international terrorism is becoming a real and ever-impending threat, the United States needs a pit bull at the helm. Unfortunately, we have a pink poodle and a Congress full of lap dogs.
When Semali pirates captured an American cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden a few months back and then took the captain hostage, President Barack Obama declared it an “annoying distraction” Capt. Phillips, the skipper of the vessel, may have thought otherwise, suspecting the President being cognitively challenged. Many US citizens monitoring the situation certainly did. Instead of immediately taking action to destroy the seafaring terrorists, the current administration waited just too long, and in lieu of firepower, we were stuck with FBI hostage negotiators. During the crisis, the President was himself afloat in a sea of oblivion. As Phillips was being held at gunpoint, President Obama was hosting a meeting with homeowners at the White House. When asked by reporters about the first act of piracy against a US vessel in nearly 200 years, his inane response was “Guys, were talking about housing right now.”
This scenario begs for a Ronald Reagan and a couple of armed fighter jets. But since that’s no longer possible, one might take a look at a solution lurking on the horizon.
Most people have heard the old sea chantey, “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest, yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.” Maritime Defense Systems International LLC (MDSI) (online: MCDI-Intl.com) is making it possible to end piracy on American ships and add sea terrorists to the dead man’s chest. MSDI is a privately held Florida corporation that will install a scaled down version of its Automated Counter-Piracy System on the GB-12 patrol boat produced by partner Radix Marine Inc. (2804 West Washington Ave., Yakima, WA 98903, online: Radix-Marine.com). This 12 meter craft is capable of functioning manned or unmanned and hopefully, not just the US will take advantage of it. The combination of the GB-12 and a mounted weapon system make it the ideal force multiplier for friendly nations worldwide.
Essentially, what you have on the system is a South Korean Daewoo K3 machinegun along with long range detection, range finding and automated weapons control, with features such as a Sathink for real time video transmission. This system allows a controller to maneuver and fire from a control point that is a distance away from the pirates or terrorists. This allows the main vessel to remain at a safe distance miles away from the action.
The 13-pound Daewoo K3 chambered for 5.66 mm is a gas-operated, air-cooled automatic light machinegun that can fire from a belt (700 rpm) or box magazine (1,000 rpm). It has an overall length of 40.5 inches with a barrel length of 21 inches. The gas system uses a piston, a bolt carrier and a rotating five-lug bolt, together with a three-position adjustable gas regulator. Basically, it’s a new and improved version of the FN Minimi (M249 SAW).
MDSI officer Tim Sheridan said they chose the Challenger GB-12 vessel for its reputation as a durable, high performance, highly maneuverable craft. The boat is constructed of aluminum and not composite, so that if repairs are needed, the job can be handled just about anywhere in the world. There’s no need for complicated and complex compounds for fix-its. He claims, “The Challenger’s advanced hull design and turbo-charged engines coupled to powerful water-jet pumps give it unparalleled speed and maneuverability.” This little sea wolf accelerates from 0 to 40 knots in 10 seconds; at 40 plus knots, it is capable of turning 180 degrees in 1.5 boat lengths. The craft’s shallow 1-meter draft makes it ideal for river and coastal patrol missions.
Another advantage of the GB-12 is that it can be reconfigured so that various mounts or modules can be emplaced on the front deck, depending on the mission. In other words, the GB-12 can be readily adapted to counter-piracy, counter-drug, bostage rescue and dozens of other operations. The Challenger’s drop-in modules can be installed in minutes with a simple dock-side lift that accommodates several modules.
What makes the Challenger so swift and powerful are its two 660 HP model 3196 DITA Caterpillar engines. Other features include twin 20-inch North American Marine Jet water propulsion units, direct drive; instantaneous electronic over-speed control, and SAFETM solid-cell foam sponsons impervious to punctures or abrasion. With two main and two reserve fuel tanks, it can cover some serious distance. All it takes is two guys and 30 minutes to prepare the craft for transport, whether by ground, sea or air. The Challenger GB-12 is not an untried or untested platform. The US Navy and other interested contractors have been putting the craft through its paces with exceptional results.
The only objection that some might have to using MDSI’s weapon system and GB-12 is that traditionally cargo ships and cruise ships are not armed. Company official Tim Sheridan offers the perfect solution, “It would make sense to have a US Reserve Marine or Navy officer on board to launch the craft and control the weapon system. This would relieve the civilian sea merchants from having to handle any weapons or from breaking any maritime laws.
Given the choice of 10 FBI hostage negotiators or one Automated Counter-Piracy System, I’ll take the system hands down.



http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p79/elvirbegic/imgEDITMERGEpx.jpg

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on October 20, 2009 at 7:43pm

DEAR SHAREHOLDERS:

We are pleased to announce the conclusion of our first meeting of our advisory board. We feel the meeting was quite productive and everyone has accepted the position. We are in the process of having them put together bio’s on themselves so we can post them on the web site.

The meeting was presided over by Daniel Langdon. Dan will serve as the chairman of the advisory board and brings a vast history of business experience to the advisory board. Dan has also been a long time shareholder in Radix Marine. We like to say he has “skin in the game”

Dan has experience in land development, nursing home operation, publication, printing and the marina business. He operated his lo-carb business and successfully merged into a public company several years ago. He is experienced in the games that are played relative to public traded companies and strategies to curtail such activity. He attended the annual shareholders meeting in 2008 in Las Vegas with Mr. Goodspeed and has a good grasp on the operation of the company and the products.

It is anticipated that many of the advisory board members would have an interest in the board of director’s positions when the annual meeting is held in January. This will ultimately be left to the shareholders that attend the meeting. We hope to have a detailed road map for the company, and supporting plan of execution, when the annual meeting is held. Presently this is an advisory position and it has no pay and is strictly volunteer. Some of the advisory board members have had stock in Radix for several years as well.

The advisory board met for approx 2 hours and discussed the following agenda items:

1 Radix corporate history to date and future direction of the company.

2 Corporate structure of officers and shareholders.

3 Discussed the legal and financial position currently.

4 Discussed current business and opportunities presented to the company to date.

5 Discussed the potential business opportunities and funding mechanisms.

The meeting was quite productive and another meeting has been set for November 18 2009.

We continue to look at business opportunities for the company that offer good, solid, long term growth that will add further shareholder value.

We appreciate your support and interest in Radix Marine.

Frederick H. Lartz President

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on October 28, 2009 at 9:03pm

Fox news today.

This year there have been some 174 ships attacked by pirates off Somalia, 36 of which are being held. At least 587 people are being held hostage. Ransoms being paid out in recent months total in the tens of millions of dollars. The pace of hijackings is running ahead of last year.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,569747,00.html

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on November 21, 2009 at 7:07pm

http://radix-marine.com/corpstruct.htm

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on November 21, 2009 at 7:08pm

Subsidiaries > Integrated Maritime > GB-Challenger Class Craft
GB-Challenger Class is a modular-concept high-speed work craft built on an aluminum, stainless steel, and rubber platform. Powered by twin 660-HP Caterpillar diesel engines driving 20-inch impeller NOMERA water jet propulsion units, Challenger is fast, maneuverable, and competent in coastal waters, rivers, and open seas. Challenger is available in models ranging from 7 meters to 16 meters. A variety of drop-in modules allow Challenger to adapt to a wide range of military and commercial missions.

These photos show the GB-Challenger during sea trials.





Product brochure (pdf)

Additional Radix Marine Craft

40+ Knots, Extremely Maneuverable

The Challenger's advanced hull design and turbo-charged engines coupled to powerful water-jet pumps give it unparalleled speed and maneuverability.

Accelerates from 0 to 40 knots in 10 seconds
At 40+ knots, turns 180 degrees in 1.5 boat lengths
Full-thrust reverse, 40 knots to full-stop in 2 boat lengths
Shallow 1-meter draft capable of river and coastal patrol missions
Rapid Reconfigurable Modules

All of the GB-Challenger craft have been designed to be reconfigurable platforms which will accept mission modules that plug into the front deck section of the basic craft. Available mission modules range from dive salvage, drug interdiction, environmental response, and firefighting, to mine countermeasures and weapons deployment. The Challenger's drop-in modules can be installed in minutes with a simple dock-side lift.

Personnel Transport Module (PTM)
Light Freight Module (LFM)
Fire Suppression Module (FSM)
Oil Spill Recovery Module (OSM)
Search & Rescue/Harbor Security Module (SRM)
Dive Salvage Module (DSM)
Mine Countermeasures Module (MCM)
Anti-Air Warfare Module (AAM)
High Quality and Reliability

The Challenger is designed to get you there faster than anything else on the water, to complete the mission required, and to come back every time.

Two 660 HP model 3196 DITA Caterpillar engines, supported by a worldwide parts and maintenance network
Twin 20-inch North American Marine Jet (NOMERA) water propulsion units, direct drive
Instantaneous electronic overspeed control
SAFETM solid-cell foam sponsons not compromised by puncture or abrasion
Two main and two reserve fuel tanks
Transportable by Trailer and Aircraft

The Challenger is designed to be transported anywhere in the world.

Highway transportable on a triple-axle trailer (with foam sponsons removed)
Air transportable by C-130 cargo aircraft (except the 14- and 16-meter models)
Preparation for transport is a two-person, 30-minute operation
U.S. Navy Testing

The GB-12 296 Challenger has performed exceptionally well in demonstrating the capability of the product to meet the requirements of potential clients. Throughout its research and development history, the GB-Challenger Class Craft has participated in testing and trials with the U.S. Navy and major defense contractors. Interest in IMPII's capability to promote their products in the global market, and an understanding of the craft’s unique capabilities, has led several major defense contractors into strategic relationships with IMPII. The essence of these agreements is to jointly develop new technologies for integration into mission modules which meet the tactical requirements of military organizations worldwide.

The U.S. Navy’s interest in the GB-Challenger has increased over recent years resulting from the demonstrated performance capability of the GB-Challenger Class Craft. Recent performance indicators include an independent study conducted for the U.S. Navy to meet the Navy’s requirements for Survivability, Transportability, Remote Control Capability, and Cost Effectiveness, in which study, IMPII’s 12 and 16 meter craft consistently rated #1 and 2, respectively.

Back to Integrated Maritime

Radix Marine is publicly traded and fully reported on the NASDAQ OTCBB: RDXM.



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Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on November 22, 2009 at 10:05pm

Shareholder Update 11/22/2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009, 12:26 AM
Posted by Administrator
Dear Shareholders:

I am sorry for the delay of getting things updated. What started out as a 15-20 hour a week “job” for me has morphed into a 35-40 hour a week job not to mention traveling to Seattle at least 3-4 times a month.

As we move the company forward, it is our desire to diversify the company and take full advantage of the human and financial resources available to the company.

The advisory board met on November 18, 2009. We discussed present opportunities along with upcoming events.

We have been offered a loan in the amount of 60,000.00 that bears an 8.5 % interest rate. This loan would mature and come due March 1, 2011. It would provide the funding for our participation in the MDSI contract to date, do minimal upgrades to the GB 12, and bring the filings current. It was recommended that we accept the loan along with its associated terms. It will be used to cover hard costs and will not provide wages for any of the advisory board or the present management. We remain committed to keep operational costs to an absolute minimum and continue to improve shareholder value.

The location of the annual meeting was also discussed in great detail. We posted a vote on the website and until approximately 3 weeks ago, Yakima was the choice of the shareholders 2-1. Recently, with the stock activity and what we feel is the profile change of the shareholders, the location has changed from a ratio of Las Vegas 55% to 45% Yakima.

After great discussion is was recommended that we consider doing it in Seattle at Lake Union. We have located a facility we can hold the meeting at and park an operational GB 12 in the water with an operational module in the vessel. This would provide a premier opportunity for the shareholders to observe some of the products and actually see the vessel in the water.

We are going to run a short ballot question on the website through the 10th of December to see how shareholders feel. It will push the shareholder meeting back into March, but provide a more informative forum for the shareholders at the same time. They also felt it would be more cost effective for the company in the long run. We will have several presentations on present products and some of the diversification opportunities for the company.

You will notice on our web site that we have several new aspects to the company. They also recommended that we pursue some of the renewable energy opportunities as a continued effort to provide diversification for the company. We are presently exploring wind, solar, and gas turbine opportunities. We feel that with the current economic climate, the national push for renewable energy provides tremendous opportunity for the company and uses several of the human resources in place.

We have no desire to build factories or develop offices filled with paper pushers. What we desire to build is a company that takes full advantage of existing factory over capacity through sub contract, and then manage at a corporate level to include some of the other opportunities that are present in the market.

They also recommended that we continue to make the effort to bring the filings current. We have allocated the financial resources and expect to begin this process in the coming month.

We want to thank the shareholders for their patience and look forward to seeing as many as we can at the shareholder meeting. Once the final vote is in, we will tally the total and get the notices of the annual meeting in the mail.

Sincerely,


Brad Goodspeed
Director of New Products

Permalink Reply by Benjamin B on November 30, 2009 at 3:30pm

U.S.-Bound Supertanker Seized by Pirates Off Somalia (Update4)
Share Business ExchangeTwitterFacebook| Email | Print | A A A By Alaric Nightingale and Gregory Viscusi

Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The Greek-owned supertanker Maran Centaurus was seized by pirates off Somalia while heading to the U.S., as attackers venture ever farther from shore to hijack merchant ships.

It’s the second time Somali pirates have seized an oil supertanker, with the last incident a year ago leading to a record ransom and an increase in Western naval patrols.

Today’s hijacking is “probably” the farthest from shore by Somali pirates, said Cyrus Mody, a manager at the International Maritime Bureau in London. His organization has yet to verify details of the attack, he said.

The vessel, which can carry 2 million barrels of oil, was taken by Somali pirates in the Somali Basin about 600 nautical miles northeast of the Seychelles, the European Union anti- piracy naval force in the region said on its Web site today. The 28-man crew comes from Greece, Philippines, Ukraine, and Romania. The ship’s management said the vessel was fully laden with crude oil.

“We are surely getting closer to the day where nothing is safe anywhere between the Seychelles and Suez,” Jonathan Bruce, a partner and maritime law expert at Elborne Mitchell Solicitors in London, said in a telephone interview. “We’re seeing insurance companies extending their war risk zones.”

A caller from the vessel said all those on board are being well treated and the ship is heading for the area of Hobyo on Somalia’s Puntland coast, Maran Tanker Management said in a e- mailed statement. There were no armed security guards on board at the time of the attack, according to the statement.

Previous Seizure

Somali pirates last seized an oil tanker in November 2008 when they took the Saudi supertanker Sirius Star and its 2 million barrels of oil. It was released in January 2009 for a ransom that the U.S. Congressional Research Service estimated at $3 million, believed to be largest ransom paid to Somali pirates at that point. Some press reports said pirates received $3.5 million for the February 2009 release of the MV Faina, a Ukrainian ship loaded with Russian tanks and other weapons.

“We don’t really know what the most ever paid for a ship is because the pirates have a tendency to claim higher prices than what’s really paid,’ said Hans Tino Hansen, founder of Risk Intelligence, a Danish risk consultancy. ‘‘It’s in their interest to make ship owners think these are the going rates.”

The taking of the Sirius Star and Fiana spurred Western nations to increase their naval presence in the area. A year ago, there were about 15 warships off Somalia. Now there are about 25, with fleets from the European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization and a U.S.-led coalition dedicated to combating piracy.

UN Vote

In a previously scheduled vote, the United Nations Security Council voted 15-to-0 today to extend for one year its authorization for countries to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia and to chase pirates onto the territory of the African nation.

After a lull during the summer monsoon, Somali pirates have shifted their attacks to the Indian Ocean to avoid naval patrols in the Gulf of Aden, their previous focus.

Somali pirates have attacked ships 193 times this year, seizing 37 vessels, says the French Navy. With today’s hijacking, pirates are holding 12 ships and 252 seamen for ransom, the French Navy says.

In 2008, Somali pirates attacked 165 ships and seized 45, the French Navy says.

The declining success rate for pirates this year is partly due to the increased presence by warships from Europe, the U.S., and Asian countries. They’ve concentrated their patrols on the Gulf of Aden, a chokepoint to the Suez Canal used by 20,000 ships a year.

Gulf of Aden

Forced out of the narrower Gulf of Aden, Somali pirates have mastered the use of “motherships,” or converted second- hand fishing vessels that can travel hundred of miles out into the Indian Ocean to launch skiffs for the final assault on passing ships, Peter Pham, director of the African project at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, a New York- based research center, said in a telephone interview.

While the Indian Ocean has many fewer merchant ships than the Gulf of Aden, it also has fewer naval patrols, he said.

“The pirates are now operating in an area the size of Europe where the naval forces are spread thin,” said Hansen. “That means that the pirates have an interest in attacking any ship that passes because they may not see another ship for a while, and it also means they have plenty of time to keep circling their prey until they find a way to board.”

Maran Centaurus is owned by Anangel Shipping Enterprises SA, according to Lloyd’s Register-Fairlay data on Bloomberg. The vessel was bound for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, or LOOP, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Its last port of call was Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait.

Jenkins, the Simpson analyst, said the effect of the incident on the tanker market will be limited because the amount of oil being shipped west from the Middle East has already dropped, said Mark Jenkins, an analyst at Simpson, Spence & Young Ltd., the second-largest shipbroker.

To contact the reporters on this story: Alaric Nightingale in London at anightingal1@bloomberg.net; Gregory Viscusi in Paris at +33 gviscusi@Bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 30, 2009 12:38 EST

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