No Way Out: A First-Hand Account of a Somali Pirate Attack
- Palaemon Maritime
- Nov 19
- 4 min read
A veteran seafarer recounts the day routine work turned into a life-or-death struggle off the coast of Somalia.
Life at sea can seem predictable, with endless horizons and routine work. For most sailors, the greatest dangers are storms or equipment failures, not armed attackers. But for Karol Edmund Sobczak, a veteran who spent nearly twenty years on deck, the calm of routine was shattered in a single, unforgettable incident. Palaemon spoke with Sobczak about his years at sea, from the quiet monotony of long voyages to the day he faced Somali pirates.
Read the full article for an inside look at the lives of those who have faced pirates firsthand.
The Usual Routine
Karol Sobczak worked in various roles, mostly on deck, and his last position was as a painter and decorator. Most of his voyages took him through the northern waters of Scandinavia, Scotland, North America, and sometimes southern Europe. Boredom was part of life on the ship, especially during long dry-dock periods.
When talking to us, he remembered a winter in Denmark where the vessel was undergoing repairs “When I came back home, I was so tan that my girls couldn’t believe I’d spent the whole winter in Scandinavia” he said. “We were all so bored on the vessel after work that, to pass the time, we just used a tanning booth to catch some rays.”
That kind of routine was typical. But the monotony didn’t last forever.
Minimal Protection in High-Risk Waters
At the beginning of 2011, just after New Year’s, Sobczak was on a UK-flagged chemical tanker transporting crude oil. The ship was over 300 miles from Oman, moving toward Somalia, an area known for piracy. The closer they got to the Somali coast, the higher the risk.
Security measures on the vessel were minimal. “Some flares, I believe. A megaphone, some alarms. Nothing proper to save us from a pirate attack, to be honest,” he said. There were no guards or even razor wire. From today’s perspective, he believes additional barriers would have been essential. Back then, crews didn’t dwell on the risk; piracy wasn’t something they thought about until it actually happened.
FIND THIS INTERESTING?
GET WEEKLY MARITIME SECURITY REPORTS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
The Attack
The incident began suddenly. “On the day of the incident the crew was doing their daily tasks when we heard some shots,” he recalled. “We noticed a few small vessels approaching our ship. The guys on the small boats had lots of guns.”
In those first moments, Sobczak focused on acting quickly and following orders, while also thinking about his family and hoping he would have the chance to contact them safely. The master sent distress calls to local coastal guards and ordered the twenty-member crew to hide in the citadel.
From there, they maintained control of the vessel while the pirates attempted to board. “Pirates were not able to access our secured room from the outside, so they just left frustrated,” he said. Hours later, an Australian naval unit arrived and inspected the vessel. The pirates were gone, the ship was undamaged, and no one had been hurt. “Hiding was truly the only option we had,” he told us.
Palaemon anti-piracy barrier rentals - available for short or long-term voyages.
RENT ANTI-PIRACY BARRIERS
The Aftermath
Sobczak stayed at sea for a few more years but avoided that region afterward. “My wife forbade me to work on vessels around that area,” he said. “A few years later, I just made the decision that working on ships was not for me anymore. I prefer to sleep in my own bed every night.”
Looking back, he has a pragmatic view on safety. Any measure that prevents pirates from boarding — razor wire, armed security and especially reinforced barriers — is worthwhile. He emphasizes that companies often fail to invest enough in crew safety, costing lives, experienced crew, and billions in losses every year.
The Lesson
When asked how often crews worry about piracy, Sobczak said most do not until it actually happens. It’s a risk that feels distant until you hear gunfire yourself. And his message for readers is clear:
“All the pirates care is money, but truly it’s the people who are suffering the most. Companies should definitely invest in security equipment. I can bet our day back in 2011 would unfold differently if we would have anti-pirate barriers or at least razor wires.”
Don't let your vessels become the next target in these compromised waters. While traditional security measures failed to detect this decade-long operation, Palaemon's anti-piracy barriers are used by international majors, major container shipping lines, reefers, tankers and many others. You can join them. Protect your cargo, crew, and reputation with proven solutions.
Available to rent for short or long-term transits.
WHAT RENTAL OPTION WORKS FOR YOU?
or
Contact us today.
Comments