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Warning as pirates move into Red Sea and out to Seychelles
12 June 2009
The current monsoon season in the region means that Somali pirates are extending their operations from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea and as far out into the Indian Ocean as the Seychelles. A warning issued from the combined naval forces on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden said that seafarers in these waters should be vigilant day and night.
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre has also warned the governments of Seychelles, Mauritius, Tanzania and Kenya about the spread of piracy, and called on them to launch naval patrols against pirates.
The IMB has also advised ships to have a “citadel space” if their vessels are boarded by Somali pirates, as this has thwarted hijackings, such as the Maersk Alabama. This space should be an inside watertight location without portholes to which all crew retreat after they have disabled the vessel, if pirates have managed to board. Such a tactic allows time for a military rescue while the ship is disabled and the crew are safe.
Despite the naval presence in the Gulf of Aden, piracy continues to be a lucrative crime. Alex Kemp from Group 4 Security subsidiary NYA International, reported in Lloyd's List, said that ransom demands have increased from US$2.5-$6 million in 2008 to US$5-$15 million this year. Average settlements have also increased from US$900,000-$1.2 million in 2008 to an estimated US$1.5 to $1.7 million in 2009. The length of hijacks had also increased from 60-80 days in 2008, to an average of 50-80 days or more this year.
However, the latest vessel to be released by Somali pirates had been held for 10 months. The Nigerian-owned, Panama-flagged tugboat Yenegoa Ocean and its 10 Nigerian crew were released on 5 June, having been hijacked on 4 August 2008.
In 2009 to date, there have been 133 attacks by Somali pirates and 29 vessels hijacked. Pirates continue to hold 13 ships with 204 crew members.
All attacks and suspicious sightings should be reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Tel: +603 2031 0014 (24 hours), Email: imbkl@icc-ccs.org.
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