Somali hijack update and background

by The Independent/Sail-World Cruising on 10 Nov 2010 More details of the recent Somali hijacking of a yacht are emerging. Bruno Pelizzari, a South African citizen of Italian descent and his South African girlfriend known only as Deborah, who were first described as 'a woman and a boy' because of Pelizzari's small stature, are in the hands of Somali pirates.

The couple, who had lived in Durban until they set sail for Madagascar a year ago, were on board the Coizil assisting its owner deliver the boat, and headed back to Richards Bay from Dar es Salaam on 21st October. They were kidnapped on 1st November.

The skipper/owner, whose name is Peter Eldridge, was rescued by jumping off the yacht to be picked up by a Dutch naval ship and is now in South African hands.

Pelizzari’s family, distraught at the news and fearing for his safety, confirmed yesterday that the two were still captive in Somalia. They and authorities from the Department of International Relations and Co-operation say Peter, a South African, who refused to disembark the yacht during the hijacking, was safe in custody in Nairobi.

International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane confirmed two South Africans were abducted and a third was under the protection of officials of the SA High Commission in Nairobi.

'The Department is rendering consular assistance. We conveyed our thoughts and prayers to the families during this trying time,' she said.

The family is frustrated at not being able to get detailed information on Pelizzari’s welfare, and is deeply concerned for his safety.

Vera Pelizzari, Bruno’s sister, was emotional last night as she feared releasing information which could jeopardise his safety. But she was also worried about information being stifled and her brother’s plight then not being properly attended to.

Although there has not been any talk yet of ransom or negotiation proceedings, the family is bracing themselves for the possibility. Until then, they are desperately trying to assist the department in ensuring Bruno is released.

Barry Turner, commodore at the Bluff Yacht Club where the couple were members before heading off on their voyage, said both were 'quiet' people. He described Bruno as 'an IT boff' and a member of the club for five or six years.

Karl Otto of the Maritime Rescue Co-ordinating Centre in Cape Town said yesterday that the Department of International Relations and Co-operation was handling the hostage situation.

'They’ve got a couple of people who may be negotiating. We’ve been told to pass on any information to them,' Otto said.

Asked if the pirates were demanding ransom, Otto said: 'I’ve not heard of a figure yet, but that’s the name of the game.'

There has been no further word of the person who was shot dead, which was claimed by residents and pirates. One possibility was that the person shot dead was one of the pirates.

In recent years Somali pirates have captured yachts from Germany, France and the UK. The British case involved Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were hijacked more than a year ago off Seychelles. They remain captive, along with several hundred other foreign sailors.

The pirates’ aim is to extract ransoms, which can be huge. On Saturday, a pirate gang claimed to have received a record $9.5m (R65m) to release the Samho Dream, a South Korean oil supertanker captured in April.