A Good Pirate is a Dead Pirate

The economic costs of piracy in the Indian Ocean were as high as US$12 billion last year, according to an analysis by World Bank and International Maritime Board (IMB). The total costs – including ransoms, insurance cover, naval operations, prosecutions and the rerouting of ships to avoid piracy danger zones – were estimated to be between $7 billion and $12 billion in 2010 alone. Some analysts predict that the costs of piracy could rise even higher to $15 billion by 2015.

A further study suggests that Somali pirates earn up to $79,000 a year, 150 times the average annual income in Somalia.

As at 28 April, Somali pirates continued to hold 26 vessels and 518 hostages, according to figures compiled by IMB. Hostages include the seven Indian seafarers from the Asphalt Venture who pirates continue to hold despite the payment of a ransom to free the ship and rest of the crew last month.

Recent incidents reported to the IMB’s worldwide Piracy Reporting Centre include:

* Pirates armed with rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and guns chased and fired on a tanker 220 nautical miles south of Oman on 11 May. The captain raised the alarm, took evasive manoeuvres and instructed the crew to proceed into the citadel. The pirates abandoned their attack after the armed onboard security team took measures to deter them boarding.

* Two pirate skiffs approached a containership off Somalia on 10 May but abandoned their pursuit after the vessel altered course, increased speed, raised the alarm and the crew went into the citadel.

* Pirates armed with RPG and guns chased and fired on a bulk carrier 235 nautical miles off Salalah, Oman on 10 May but abandoned their attack after the captain raised the alarm and took evasive manoeuvres.

* Five pirates armed with RPG and automatic weapons fired on a bulk carrier 280 nautical miles east of Socotra island, Yemen on 8 May. The vessel raised the alarm, increased speed, made evasive manoeuvres, deployed the onboard security team and contacted the military authorities, who deployed a military aircraft. The pirates abandoned their attack after the onboard security team fired warning shots.

* Armed robbers boarded a chemical tanker anchored at Cotonou, Benin on 8 May, assaulted some crewmembers and escaped with ship’s and crew property. That evening, six armed pirates boarded a tanker 20 nautical miles off Cotonou, opened fire on the bridge and accommodation, and escaped with ship’s cash and crew personal belongings. Two crew members were injured during the raid.

* Twelve robbers armed with guns boarded a containership anchored at Guayaquil, Ecuador on 7 May. The crew locked all the accommodation doors but the robbers stole cargo from three containers and escaped.

* Armed pirates chased and fired on a tanker 115 nautical miles off Salalah on 6 May but abandoned their attack after the vessel took evasive manoeuvres and navies in the area responded to the distress call.

* Four armed pirates approached and fired on a cargo ship 190 nautical miles off Salalah on 6 May but abandoned their attack after the vessel took evasive manoeuvres and the onboard armed security team returned fire with warning shots.

* Seven robbers armed with knives approached a vessel anchored at Takoradi, Ghana on 6 May. Two robbers boarded and stole ship’s property.

References

1. International Maritime Board

2. IISS

3. Lloyds Bank

4. World Bank

5. Wikipedia

6. Save our Seaferers