Pirate Attacks Up 75%; Nearly One Raid Per Day

Somewhere on the world’s waterways, a pirate will try to strike today. Another will tomorrow. And another the day after that. Piracy is on the rise, across the globe —up nearly 75%, from last decade to this one, according to a new report from theRAND Corporation. There’s now at least an attempt at a pirate attack nearly every day. 

Why?  Mainly, the RAND report says, because there are now more targets to loot. "First and most fundamentally, there has been a massive increase in commercial maritime traffic. Combined with the large number of ports around the world, this growth has provided pirates with an almost limitless range of tempting, high-payoff targets."

And while some governments (and some reporters) have worries about pirates and terrorists teaming up, "the presumed convergence between maritime terrorism and piracy remains highly questionable, however. To date, there has been no credible evidence to support speculation about such a nexus emerging."

 

There were "a total of 2,463 actual or attempted acts of piracy were registered around the world between 2000 and the end of 2006. This represents an annual average incident rate of 352, a substantial increase over the mean of 209 recorded for the period of 1994–1999," the report notes. "The concentration of pirate attacks continues to be greatest in Southeast Asia, especially in the waters around the Indonesian archipelago… which accounted for roughly 25 percent of all global incidents during 2006."

The post-9/11 environment has also made some shipping lanes more vulnerable.  Since then, governments have been pressured to "to invest in expensive, land-based homeland security initiatives" — often ignoring maritime security, as a result. In addition:

…lax coastal and port-side security have played an important role in enabling low-level piratical activity, especially harbor thefts of goods from ships at anchor.

…corruption and emergent voids of judicial prerogative have encouraged official complicity in high-level pirate rings, which has impacted directly on the “phantom ship” phenomenon.

…the global proliferation of small arms has provided pirates (as well as terrorists and other criminal elements) with an enhanced means to operate on a more destructive and sophisticated level.

Piracy in the Gulf of Aden

There have been more than 70 acts of piracy or attempted piracy against yachts and cargo ships in Gulf of Aden this year
(Badri Media/EPA)

Jenny Booth
Nov 17: A Saudi-owned supertanker loaded with crude oil, with two Britons among its 25 crew, is boarded off the Kenyan coast - the largest ship to be seized so far by Somali pirates, and the farthest away from Somali territorial waters

Nov 12: A Turkish chemical tanker hijacked off the coast of Yemen

Nov 11: Three pirates killed and others captured in firefight with Royal Marines from HMS Cumberland, after attempted hijack of Danish-registered MV Powerful 60 miles off Yemen coast

Oct 28: A Spanish military patrol plane thwarts attempts to hijack an oil tanker by buzzing the pirate vessel repeatedly and dropping smoke canisters

Related Links
Pictures: Somali pirates
Pirates made mistake in capturing tanks
Royal Navy in firefight with Somali pirates
Oct 2: Ten EU countries pledge to contribute ships, helicopters and personnel to an anti-piracy taskforce off east Africa

Sept 26: Greek chemical tanker seized off the coast of Somalia

Sept 25: Pirates demand $35 million ransom after seizing the Ukrainian cargo ship Faina, which was laden with Russian tanks, and its crew

Sept 18: Insurance premiums for ships using the Gulf of Aden are reported to have increased tenfold in one year, on the same day that pirates seize a Greek ship carrying salt, with 25 Filipino crew, and a Hong Kong-registered vessel en route for Tunisia with 24 Chinese and one Sri Lankan crew aboard

Sept 5: Somali gunmen demand $1 million ransom for a retired French couple aboard a yacht that was seized in the Gulf of Aden and sailed to a remote buccaneer hideout. The couple are rescued on Sept 16 when the yacht is stormed by an underwater combat unit of French special forces

Aug 22: Somali pirates seize three ships in one day. An Iranian bulk carrier with 29 crew and a Japanese-operated chemical tanker with 19 hands aboard are hijacked within an hour of one another on the Gulf of Aden, followed a few hours later by a German-operated cargo ship with nine crew

Aug 20: A Malaysian palm oil tanker is seized

Aug 14: Thai cargo ship and the 28 people on board taken hostage off Northern Somalia

July: A Japanese-owned ship carrying 20 Philippine sailors is hijacked in the Gulf of Aden

June: UN Security Council votes to allow countries to send warships into Somali waters to tackle piracy

April 21: Pirates fire rocket-propelled grenades at a Japanese oil tanker, leaving a hole that allowed several hundred gallons of fuel to leak out

April 11: In a daring helicopter raid, French marine commandos free the 30 crew of the luxury yacht Le Ponant a week after it was seized by pirates described as local Somali fishermen.

Piracy Prone Areas and Warnings

Mariners are warned to be extra cautious and to take necessary precautionary measures when transiting the following areas:

South East Asia and Indian Sub Continent

Bangladesh:
Although the number of attacks has fallen, the area is still listed as very high risk. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Most attacks reported at Chittagong anchorages and approaches.

Indonesia:
Anambas / Natuna island area, Belawan, Jakarta/Tg. Priok. Pirates normally armed with guns / knives / machete. Generally be vigilant in other areas. Many attacks may have gone unreported.

Malacca Straits:
Although the number of attacks have dropped due to the increase and aggressive patrols by the littoral states Authorities since July 2005, ships are advised to continue maintaining a strict anti piracy watch when transiting the straits. Currently, there are no indications for how long the patrols will continue.

Malaysia:
off Tioman Island / South China Sea

Philippines:
Manila – Pirates target ships at anchor and surrounding waters.

Singapore Straits:
Vessels are advised to continue to be vigilant and maintain anti piracy watches. Pirates attack ships while underway or while anchored at OPL.

Vietnam:
Vung Tau

Africa and Gulf of Aden

Africa:

Tema (Ghana):
Most attacks occurred while ship at anchor.

Lagos & Bonny River (Nigeria):
Pirates are violent and have attacked and robbed vessels / kidnapped crews along the coast and rivers, anchorages ports and surrounding waters. Vessels advised to be also vigilant in other parts in Nigeria.

Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania):
Pirates continue to target ships in port, anchorages and surrounding waters.

Gulf of Aden:
Somali pirates are attacking vessels in the northern Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden. These pirates are firing automatic weapons and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) in an attempt to board and hijack vessels. Once the attack is successful and the vessel hijacked, the pirates sail the vessel to the Somali coast and thereafter demand a ransom for the safe release of the vessel and crew. All vessels transiting the area are advised to take additional precautionary measures and maintain strict 24 hours visual and radar anti piracy watch using all available means. Watch keeping crews should look out for small suspicious boats converging to own vessel. Early sightings/detection and accurate assessment will allow Master to increase speed and take evasive manoeuvres to escape from pirates and at the same time request for assistance from various Authorities/Agencies including the IMB PRC.

Since 1 February 2009, MSCHOA (www.mschoa.org) has established the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor (IRTC). Military assets (Naval and Air) will be strategically deployed within the area to best provide protection and support to merchant ships.

Masters using the IRTC are not relieved of their obligation and should continue to maintain a strict 24 hour lookout using all available means to get an early warning of an approaching threat. Some vessels have been attacked/hijacked in the corridor.

Ships/Owners are advised to register their details on the MSCHOA website www.mschoa.org and obtain further information regarding the close support protection details for ships transiting the Gulf of Aden. Ships are encouraged to conduct their passage through the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor (IRTC) in groups based on their transit speed.

Group Transits
From 0001Z Sun 01 Feb a new Group Transit programme will be brought into force.
This will have Group Transits for vessels proceeding at the following speeds: 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 kts.

Master are also advise to maintain a listening watch on VHF Channels 16 and 72 in order to hear the Maritime Advisory Calls from the warships in the area who will make general security broadcasts to announce their location and in turn will also listen for merchant ships calling them.

Somalia:
Recent attacks indicate that the pirates have resumed attacking vessels in the eastern and southern coast of Somalia. Some attacks have spread and taken place as far as off the Kenyan and Tanzanian coast. The Somali pirates are dangerous and are prepared to fire their automatic weapons and RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) at ships in order to stop them. Pirates are believed to be using “mother vessels” to launch attacks further away from the coast. These “mother vessels” are able to proceed far out to sea and launch smaller boats to attack and hijack passing ships. Some of these attacks have taken place almost 500nm from the coast. The IMB in cooperation with the MSCHOA advices that vessels not making scheduled calls to ports in Somalia should keep as far away as possible from the Somali coast, preferably more than 600 nautical miles from the coast line and when routing north / south consider keeping east of 60E longitude until east of Seychelles.

Mariners are advised to report any suspicious boats to the Centre. A 24hour visual and radar watch must be maintained as early sightings / detection and accurate assessment will allow Masters to take evasive actions and increase speed and at the same time request for assistance and escape.

South and Central America and the Carribbean waters

Brazil:
Although the number of reported attacks has dropped in Santos. Ships are advised to continue to be vigilant.

Rest of the world

Arabian Sea
Sightings and calls from suspicious small boats. In some cases, boatschased ships with unknown intent.

Israeli teams are becoming the anti-pirate heroes of the world

Pirates attacked the Italian cruise ship Melody, carrying more than 1,500 passengers and crew, 1,000 kilometers off Somalia last Saturday, but were repelled by Israeli security guards on board. The security guards fired over the pirates' heads, forcing them to retreat.

This was the first time that a ship's crew fought back after being attacked in the pirate-infested waters between Somalia and the Seychelles, rather than giving in to the robbers. In the unclarity surrounding the incident, more than one party tried to claim the success, and one unconfirmed report said that Israeli "commando units" were involved in the incident.

The truth, as usual, was far less heroic. The "heroes" were members of the ship's Israeli security team, employed by Mano International Security, an Israeli company specializing in maritime security services.

Company owner Mano Nik (Nikfahama) returned from Italy yesterday, where he participated in a preliminary investigation of the incident. "The guys acted exactly according to the regulations and I'm proud of them," Nik told Haaretz on Thursday.

He refused to give more details, however. "The company has been working for 22 years covertly, and has no interest in exposure," he said.

Six pirates in a boat reportedly approached the Melody at night and opened fire, throwing ladders onto the ship's hull with the intention of hijacking it. But the Israeli security guards fired back and after a 10-minute gunfire exchange drove the marauders off.

The ship's captain, Ciro Pinto, said the guards fired in the air to drive off the pirates, but a member of one of the pirate gangs operating in the area was cited saying that one pirate had been hit. "It was the first time we have encountered resistance," the Somali bandit was quoted as saying.

After the attack the Melody continued its cruise accompanied by a Spanish warship. It may dock at Aqaba port tomorrow on its way to the ship's home base in Genoa in northern Italy. A Spanish fleet ship this week reportedly intercepted the boat carrying the pirates suspected of attacking the Melody, but this has not been verified.

According to some sources, Mano Nik served as a major in the Israel Air Force, where he dealt with air security. After his release he began his civilian career as a ship's security guard, eventually becoming the owner of an international company registered in Europe. The Petah Tikva-based company's Web site says its clients include MSC Cruises, the Italian company that owns the Melody cruise ship. A picture of the Melody appears on the Web site.

The security guards who saved the Melody, like those on many passenger ships worldwide, are mostly young Israelis after their military service, for whom this is a well-paid temporary job. Many of them are not former navy men, and certainly not naval commandos. "The job requirements include combatant military service but it doesn't matter what kind," a source who worked in the field and wishes to remain anonymous told Haaretz.

The Israeli security guards' tasks on cruise ships are varied. They must protect the ship from pirates or terrorists, but also act as security officers against thieves and keep the order, especially if there is a casino on board.

Mano security guards won praise already 15 years ago after extracting passengers of the Italian ship Achille Lauro, which was hijacked in 1985 by Palestinian terrorists and set alight.

Due to the complexity of international law, ship security guards do not always carry weapons. Sometimes the weapons are kept in the captain's safe until it is necessary to take them out. The quantities and types of weapons are determined by the company's policy and the risks facing the ship. Nobody wants to speak about the legal aspects. The most dangerous shipping lanes for piracy are in West Africa off Nigeria, the Malacca Straits in Southeast Asia, and the seas off the Somali-Yemeni coasts. Mano International Security's clients include Greek and Italian cruise companies. Israeli security guards and experts are in high demand in maritime security due to their experience, reputation and military training. Large shipping companies like Royal Caribbean, in which the Ofer brothers are partners, or the Arison family's Carnival Cruise Line and the Italian Costa Cruises have their own security departments.

However, they employ many Israelis as security guards, especially as team leaders. Other Israeli companies specializing in maritime security include Eli Leffler's Hashita and former Navy commander Micha Ram's Spike. International awareness of the importance of maritime security increased in the past year after pirates hijacked some 400 boats, ships and yachts, says Leffler.