Piracy in Somalia

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Pirates holding the crew of the Chinese fishing vessel Tianyu No. 8 guard the crew on the bow.

Piracy off the Somali coast has been a threat to international shipping since the beginning of Somalia's civil war in the early 1990s.[1] Since 2005, many international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization and the World Food Programme, have expressed concern over the rise in acts of piracy.[2] Piracy has contributed to a rise in shipping costs and impeded the delivery of food aid shipments. Ninety percent of the World Food Programme's shipments arrive by sea, and ships have required a military escort.[3]

In May 2008, Islamist fighters, who are opposed to the Transitional Federal Government, also attacked pirates.[4] In August 2008, Combined Task Force 150, a multinational coalition task force, took on the role of fighting Somali piracy by establishing a Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) within the Gulf of Aden.[5] The increasing threat posed by piracy also caused significant concerns in India since most of its shipping trade routes pass through the Gulf of Aden. The Indian Navy responded to these concerns by deploying a warship in the region on October 23, 2008.[6][7] In September 2008, Russia announced that it too will soon join international efforts to combat piracy. However, the Russian Navy's warships will conduct operations independently.[8]

On October 7, 2008, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 1838[9] calling on nations with vessels in the area to apply military force to repress the acts of piracy.[10] At the 101st council of the International Maritime Organization, India called for a United Nations peacekeeping force under unified command to tackle piracy off Somalia.[11]

In November 2008, Somali pirates began hijacking ships well outside the Gulf of Aden, perhaps targeting ships headed for the port of Mombasa, Kenya.[12] On November 19, 2008, the Indian Navy reported that the warship INS Tabar destroyed a pirate vessel after the pirates threatened to attack the warship. [13]

Armed suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean near Somalia. After the picture was taken, the vessel’s crew members opened fire on the U.S. Navy ships and the ship's crew members returned fire. One suspected pirate was killed and 12 were taken into custody.
See also: Somali Civil War

With the chaotic state of Somalia and the lack of a central government, combined with Somalia's location at the Horn of Africa, conditions were ripe for the growth of piracy in the early 1990s. Since the collapse of the state, boats illegally fishing in Somali waters were a common sight. Pirates at first were interested in securing the waters before businessmen and militias became involved. Acts of piracy temporarily subsided following the rise of the Islamic Courts Union in 2006. However, pirate activity began to increase after Ethiopia invaded Somalia in December 2006.

Some pirates are former fishermen, who argue that foreign ships are threatening their livelihood by fishing in Somali waters. After seeing the profitability of piracy, since ransoms are usually paid, warlords began to facilitate pirate activities, splitting the profits with the pirates.[14] In most of the hijackings, the bandits have not harmed their prisoners, hoping instead to be rewarded with ransoms.[15]

The Transitional Federal Government has made some efforts to combat piracy, occasionally allowing foreign naval vessels into Somali territorial waters.[citation needed] However, more often than not, foreign naval vessels chasing pirates were forced to break off when the pirates entered Somali territorial waters.[16][17] The government of Puntland has made more progress in combating piracy, evident in recent interventions.[18]

In June 2008, following the letter of the Transitional Federal Government to the President of the Council asking for assistance from the international community in its efforts to address acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a declaration authorizing nations that have the agreement of the Transitional Federal Government to enter Somali territorial waters to deal with pirates.[19] The measure, which was sponsored by France, the United States and Panama, will last six months. France initially wanted the resolution to include other regions with pirate problems, such as West Africa, but were opposed by Vietnam, Libya and most importantly by veto-holding China, who wanted the sovereignty infringement limited to Somalia.[20]

Ships of the multinational fleet Combined Task Force 150

Several NATO nations and other countries have sent naval ships to the region in order to serve as escorts and a deterrent against piracy.

Puntland area in Somalia

Most pirates are aged 20-35 years old and come from the region of Puntland, a region in northeastern Somalia. The East African Seafarers' Association estimates that there are at least five pirate gangs and a total of 1,000 armed men.[30] According to a BBC report, the pirates can be divided into three main categories:

  • Local fishermen, considered the brains of the pirates' operations due to their skill and knowledge of the sea.
  • Ex-militiamen who used to fight for the local clan warlords, used as the muscle.
  • Technical experts who operate high-tech equipment such as the GPS systems.[31]

The high profit available from piracy is what attracts young men into pirate gangs. In a country where many people are short of food, the pirates lead a very lavish lifestyle with cars and big houses. It is common for pirates to take on a second or third wife from nomadic tribes once they have made their fortune. In a country where bloody clan wars are still common, the pirates rarely fight amongst themselves. Many have become part of the local social elite, lending money to local businesses.[31]

There have been negative impacts of the pirates' economic success. Residents of some communities where the pirates live have complained that the presence of so many armed men makes them feel insecure, and that their freespending ways cause wild fluctuations in the local exchange rate. Others fault them for excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and khat.[31]

Somali pirates get most of their weapons from Yemen, but a significant amount comes from Mogadishu, the capital. Weapons dealers in the capital receive a deposit from a hawala dealer on behalf of the pirates and the weapons are then driven to Puntland where the pirates pay the balance.[31]

Main article: List of ships captured by Somali pirates

Somali pirates have attacked dozens of vessels with a fraction of those attacks resulting in a successful hijacking. Between the beginning of 2008 and November 19, 2008 there have been 95 attacks which includes 39 successful hijackings. Most of these attacks occur in the Gulf of Aden but the Somali pirates have been increasing their range and have started attacking ships as far south as off the coast of Kenya in the Indian Ocean.[32][33] These include:

Remains of an RPG that struck the MV Seabourn Spirit.
A sinking pirate skiff burns after taking fire from USS Porter in October 2007
The Golden Nori being refueled following its release.
MV Dai Hong Dan
MY Le Ponant was hijacked by pirates April 4, 2008
Somali pirates in small boats along the side of MV Faina from USS Howard
On November 11, 2008, pirates onboard a dhow (center) fired at Royal Marines, after the Marines circled the ship in an attempt to stop it. The Marines returned fire, killing Somali pirates, and forcing the rest of the dhow's crew to surrender.
Date Country of Origin of Ship Attacked Incident
March 18, 2006 The USS Cape St. George, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, and the USS Gonzalez, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, engaged pirate vessels after receiving fire from them.
June 3, 2008 One of Canada's Sea King helicopters, embarked in HMCS Calgary, intervened in an ongoing piracy attack on a commercial vessel transiting the Gulf of Aden, approximately 65 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia. The Halifax class frigate Calgary, one of three Canadian warships currently assigned to Operation ALTAIR, Canada's maritime contribution to the campaign against terrorism, was operating in the area when a broken call for assistance was heard from a vessel apparently under attack by small arms fire. Calgary immediately altered course and increased speed to close the scene. Her airborne Sea King was promptly redirected towards the area and tasked to gather information on the situation. The helicopter's arrival in the vicinity of the attack did not go unnoticed by the perpetrators. Two small boats, commonly referred to as skiffs, were observed in the area and appeared to be armed. "I am convinced that the presence of our aircraft drove them away from the traffic lanes and prevented any further attack today on merchant shipping in the area," said Commander Kelly Larkin, commanding officer of the multi-purpose frigate. "We continued to monitor those two skiffs and their crew as they were heading back towards Somalia territorial waters." [34]
July 20, 2008 Japan Pirates seize the MV Stella Maris, a Japanese bulk carrier, flying the flag of Panama along with its 21 crew members. The ship was released along with its crew on September 26 after a ransom of US$2 million was paid.[35]
August 8, 2008 Singapore The Singaporean cargo ship, the MV Gem of Kilakarai, is attacked by pirates in two vessels who fired grenades at it, but the attack was thwarted by the arrival of helicopters from the USS Peleliu.[36]
August 12, 2008 Thailand The MV Thor Star, a Thai cargo ship with a 28-member crew is seized. It was released in October after a ransom was paid.[37] The Nigerian tug boat the MT Yenegoa Ocean is also hijacked.[38]
August 19, 2008 Malaysia The MV Bunga Melati Dua, a Malaysian palm oil tanker owned by MISC Berhad, and its crew of 29 Malaysians and ten Filipinos is hijacked by pirates. One Filipino crew member is killed during the boarding.[39]
August 21, 2008 Germany The German-owned, Antigua and Barbuda-flagged MV BBC Trinidad is hijacked. It is released on September 11, along with its 13-person crew consisting of a Slovakian captain, ten Filipinos, and two Russians, after a ransom of US$1.1 million is paid.[40] The MT Irene, a Japanese-owned with a crew of three Croatians and 16 Filipinos is also seized on the same day. It is released around the same time as the MV BBC Trinidad for US$1.5 million. Both were held near the town of Eyl.[41] The MV Iran Deyanat was also hijacked and brought to Eyl on the same day. The Iranian-owned ship and its crew of 14 Iranians, three Indians, two Filipinos, and 10 Eastern Europeans, possibly Croatian, is being held for ransom. Pirates have suffered health problems including hair loss and even death, suggesting that could be carrying chemical munitions or radioactive materials.[42]
August 25, 2008 Malaysia The MV Bunga Melati 5, a Malaysian tanker owned by MISC Berhad is captured. The vessel and crew of its 36 Malaysians and five Filipinos is released on September 27 after a ransom of US$2 million is paid.[43][44]
September 2, 2008 France The Carré d'As, a 50-foot yacht, was hijacked and its two occupants, a French couple, were taken captive. The pirates demanded a million euros in ransom, and the liberation of six Somalis captured during the Le Ponant incident. On September 16, French commando frogmen from the Commando Hubert unit, operating from the frigate Courbet, stormed the yacht as it was being taken to Eyl. The two captives were freed, while one pirate was killed and six captured.[45]
September 15, 2008 The Stolt Valor, a cargo vessel carrying 24,000-tonnes of oil products was enroute from Mumbai to Suez when hijacked at 5:12 PM. Its 22-member, mostly Indian crew were taken hostage. The vessel, its contents, and crew were released on 16 November 2008 in return for a reported $2.5 million US following negotiations involving the ships owners, managers, and international maritime bodies..[46]
October 10, 2008 A chemical tanker with a crew of 20, initially reported to be a Greek ship flying under a Panamanian flag, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden.[47] Greek authorities did not confirm affiliation with the ship.[48]
October 15, 2008 The MT African Sanderling carrying a crew of 21 Filipinos and unknown cargo was hijacked.[49]
November 14, 2008 The British private security service Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions claimed to have repulsed an attack on an unidentified chemical tanker using water hoses and a magneto-acoustic device.[50]
November 18, 2008 Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Tabar spotted a pirate ship accompanied by speedboats and intercepted it. After the pirates threatened to attack, the frigate opened fire at and sank the main ship. There were no casualties reported on the Indian side and the number of pirates killed in this operation is unclear.[51] After the "mother ship" was destroyed, the pirates tried to flee in the two accompanying speedboats. The Indian Navy chased the boats and found one abandoned while the other escaped into darkness.[52] Though the Indian Navy did not specifically mention, the U.S. Department of State said that the Indian Navy did capture some of the pirates.[53] This was the third time the INS Tabar fought pirates in a week.[54]

  1. ^ Khan, Sana Aftab. "Tackling Piracy in Somali Waters: Rising attacks impede delivery of humanitarian assistance", UN Chronicle, United Nations Department of Public Information, Outreach Division. 
  2. ^ "Piracy in waters off the coast of Somalia". International Maritime Organization.
  3. ^ Wadhams, Nick (10 October 2008). "Pirates in Standoff Threaten Food Aid, Global Shipping", National Geographic, National Geographic News. Retrieved on 11 October, 2008. 
  4. ^ "Six killed in clashes between Somali pirates and Islamists", Agence France-Presse via Google News (2008-05-24). Retrieved on 26 May 2008. 
  5. ^ Commander, Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs (2008-09-29). "Combined Task Force 150 Thwarts Criminal Activities". US Africa Command. Retrieved on 2008-11-17.
  6. ^ Indian navy showcases rising might
  7. ^ Chemical tanker hijacked off lawless Somalia
  8. ^ "Russia to fight piracy off Somalia coast". RIA Novosti (2008-09-23). Retrieved on 2008-09-23.
  9. ^ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1838 S-RES-1838(2008) on 2008-10-07 (retrieved 2008-11-19)
  10. ^ "New Somalia piracy resolution adopted at UN", Agence France-Presse, Google News (8 October 2008). Retrieved on 10 October 2008. 
  11. ^ India calls for UN force to deter pirates off Somalia
  12. ^ Associated Press (2008-11-14). "Chinese fishing boat reported hijacked off Kenya", The International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 17 November 2008. 
  13. ^ "Indian Navy destroys 'pirate' ship". Aljazeera.net. Retrieved on 2008-11-19.
  14. ^ Westcott, Kathryn (2008-04-23). "Somalia's pirates face battles at sea", BBC News. Retrieved on 2 May 2008. 
  15. ^ Somali Pirates Seize Two Ships, Sky News, August 15, 2008
  16. ^ Starr, Barbara. "U.S. destroyer pursuing hijacked ship in Somali waters, military says", CNN. 
  17. ^ Rankin, Nick. "No vessel is safe from modern pirates", BBC News. 
  18. ^ Hassan, Abdiqani (2008-04-23). "Crew say lucky to be alive after Somali hijack", Reuters Africa. Retrieved on 25 April 2008. 
  19. ^ United Nations Security Council Verbatim Report meeting 5902 on 2 June 2008 (retrieved 2008-06-03)
  20. ^ " Navies to tackle Somali pirates", BBC News, 2 June 2008
  21. ^ Four pirate attacks in Gulf of Aden retrieved 2008-11-12
  22. ^ NATO Naval Task Group en route to escort duties off Somali coast retrieved 2008-11-12
  23. ^ NATO Naval Task Group en route to escort duties off Somali coast retrieved 2008-11-12
  24. ^ Royal Netherlands Navy website: Deployment off Somalia retrieved 2008-11-18
  25. ^ NATO Naval Task Group en route to escort duties off Somali coast retrieved 2008-11-12
  26. ^ 2008-11-11Indian Navy repulses pirate attack in Gulf of Aden retrieved 2008-11-12
  27. ^ Malaysia withdraws navy vessels from Gulf of Aden retrieved 2008-11-12
  28. ^ "NATO escorts shipload of supplies to Somalia", Associated Press, Google News (2008-10-27). Retrieved on 27 October 2008. 
  29. ^ 2008-11-11[http://http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/artikel_1329369.svd
  30. ^ Rice, Xan; Glendinning, Lee (2008-11-18). "Pirates anchor hijacked supertanker off Somalia coast", The Guardian. Retrieved on 19 November 2008. 
  31. ^ a b c d Hunter, Robyn (October 28, 2008). "Somali pirates living the high life", BBC. Retrieved on 20 November 2008. 
  32. ^ "Seized tanker anchors off Somalia", BBC News, 18 November 2008
  33. ^ "India: Pirate 'mother ship' left in flames", CNN (2008-11-19). Retrieved on 19 November 2008. 
  34. ^ Sea King scares off pirates, Canadian Navy
  35. ^ "Somali pirates release Japanese ship", Reuters (2008-09-26). Retrieved on 27 September 2008. 
  36. ^ Parish, Timothy T. (2008-08-08). "Marine, Navy team thwarts pirates", Marine Corps News. Retrieved on 27 September 2008. 
  37. ^ Wallis, Keith (2008-10-16). "Pirates free Thor Star and crew", Lloyd's Register. Retrieved on 19 October 2008. 
  38. ^ "FACTBOX-Piracy increases on the high seas", Reuters (2008-09-04). Retrieved on 27 September 2008. 
  39. ^ "MISC Informed Of Casualty On Bunga Melati Dua", Bernama (2008-08-22). Retrieved on 27 September 2008. 
  40. ^ "German-owned ship paid 1.1 mln USD ransom to Somali pirates", Xinhua News Agency (2008-09-12). Retrieved on 27 September 2008. 
  41. ^ "Somali pirates release German, Japanese ships: maritime group", AFP via Google News (2008-09-11). Retrieved on 27 September 2008. 
  42. ^ Ali, Abdiweli Ph.D; Grace, Nick (2008-09-22). "Mystery surrounds hijacked Iranian ship", The Long War Journal. Retrieved on 27 September 2008. 
  43. ^ "Somali pirates seize Malaysian chemical tanker 'Bunga Melati 5'", plastemart.com (2008-09-01). Retrieved on 27 September 2008. 
  44. ^ Omar, Hamsa (2008-09-27). "Somali Pirates Free Malaysian Chemical Tanker After Ransom Paid", Bloomberg. Retrieved on 27 September 2008. 
  45. ^ Bremner, Charles (2008-09-17). "French commandos storm yacht to free couple held hostage by Somali pirates", The Times. Retrieved on 19 September 2008. 
  46. ^ Indo-Asian News Service (2008-10-16). "Hijacked Stolt Valor freed", The Statesman, Kolkata. Retrieved on 17 October 2008. 
  47. ^ "UK Navy to Tackle Gulf Pirates", The Guardian (2008-10-12). Retrieved on 12 October 2008. 
  48. ^ "Ship seized off Somalia not Greek, says Athens", Agence France-Presse, ABS-CBN News (2008-10-11). Retrieved on 12 October 2008. 
  49. ^ Abrams, Joseph (2008-11-18). "Somali Pirates Keep Hundreds of Hostages in Pirate City of Eyl", FOX News. Retrieved on 18 November 2008. 
  50. ^ David Osler (2008-11=14). "Private guards ward off Somali pirate attack", Lloyd's List. Retrieved on 17 November 2008. 
  51. ^ Times of India (2008-11-18). "Indian navy foils another attack by Somali pirates", Times of India. Retrieved on 18 November 2008. 
  52. ^ SAM DOLNICK (2008-11-19). "Indian navy sinks suspected pirate "mother" ship", AFP. Retrieved on 19 November 2008. 
  53. ^ Sean McCormack (2008-11-19). "Daily Press Briefing", US Dept. of State. Retrieved on 19 November 2008. 
  54. ^ ET (2008-11-20). "INS Tabar sinks pirate mother ship", ET. Retrieved on 20 November 2008. 

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