Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the beginning of the Somali Civil War in the early 1990s.[1] Since 2005, many international organizations have expressed concern over the rise in acts of piracy.[2][3] Piracy impeded the delivery of shipments and increased shipping expenses, costing an estimated $6.6-$6.9 billion a year in global trade according to Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP).[4] According to the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), a veritable industry of profiteers also arose around the piracy. Insurance companies significantly increased their profits from the pirate attacks as insurance companies hiked premium rates in response.[5]
Combined Task Force 150, a multinational coalition task force, took on the role of fighting the piracy by establishing a Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) within the Gulf of Aden and Socotra Passage.[6] According to the International Maritime Bureau, pirate attacks had by October 2012 dropped to a six-year low, with only one ship attacked in the third quarter compared to thirty-six during the same period in 2011.[7] By December 2013, the US Office of Naval Intelligence reported that only 9 vessels had been attacked during the year by pirates, with zero successful hijackings.[8]Control Risks attributed this 90% decline in pirate activity from the corresponding period in 2012 to the adoption of better management practices by vessel owners and crews, armed private security on board ships, a significant naval presence, and the development of onshore security forces.[9]
List of ships captured or attacked off the Somali coast
MV Feisty Gas, a liquefied petroleum gas tanker, was seized by Somali pirates. A Hong Kong-based company that owns the vessel reportedly paid $315,000 to a representative of the Somali pirates in Mombasa, Kenya, according to a recent UN report.[10]
MV Semlow, carrying UN food supplies for tsunami victims, was seized by pirates en route from Mombasa, Kenya to Bosasso, Somalia. They held the ship for 100 days until a Somali business man convinced them to leave without payment.[11]
MV Panagia, a 22b,046 GRT bulk carrier with coal from South Africa to Turkey, was seized by Somali pirates some 90 nautical miles (170 km) off the east coast. A Ukrainian-based company that owns the vessel reportedly paid $700,000 to a representative of the Somali pirates in Mombasa, Kenya.[citation needed]
Pirates hijacked the India-registered MV Safina al-Birsarat along with its crew of 16 Indians. On January 22, USS Winston S. Churchill, an Arleigh Burke-classdestroyer, intercepted the vessel. After warning shots were fired, the pirates surrendered and all ten on board were taken into custody. The ten were transported to Mombasa, Kenya, where they were sentenced to seven years in prison by a court.[14][15][16]
Somali pirates with automatic weapons captured the ship, carrying six Kenyans and six Sri Lankans.[17] On February 27, members of the Somali coast guard attempted to take back the ship but failed, and two coast guardsmen were killed.
The Taiwanese fishing vessel was hijacked on May 28, 2007. The surviving crew of ten Chinese, two Taiwanese and two Filipino crew members was released on November 5 after spending more than six months in captivity. One Chinese crew member was killed by the pirates on May 28 because the ship's owners failed to meet their ransom demands.[18]
Two Tanzanian-registered ships belonging to Korea's Daechang Fishing were seized about 210 nautical miles (390 km) off the Somali capital of Mogadishu. Their 25 crew members (including ten Chinese, four South Koreans, three Vietnamese, four Indonesians and four Indians) were released six months later.[19]
The Danish-owned cargo ship MV Danica White was hijacked and maneuvered into Somali waters. On June 3, USS Carter Hall, a Harpers Ferry-classlanding ship dockengaged the pirates, firing machine-gun bursts at the skiffs in tow behind the Danish ship, but failed to stop them.[23] Following 83 days in captivity, the crew of five and the ship were released after the owner, H. Folmer & Co, paid a ransom of US$723,000, which was negotiated down from $1.5 million.[24][25]
A Japanese chemical tanker, MV Golden Nori was hijacked off the coast of Somalia. USS Porter, an Arleigh Burke-classdestroyer, sank the skiffs used by the pirates, but they still controlled the tanker. US and German naval vessels shadowed the captured vessel and blockaded the port of Bosaso, where the captured tanker was taken. Eventually, after demanding a ransom, the pirates freed the ship and its crew of 21 on December 12.[27]
MV Al Marjan, owned by Biyat International, was travelling to Mombasa from Dubai when pirates hijacked it 10–20 nautical miles (19–37 km) from Mogadishu.[28]
Pirates attacked the North Korean cargo ship MV Dai Hong Dan and captured its bridge, while the crew managed to retain control of the steering and engineering spaces. On October 30, the crew regained control of their ship, killing one pirate and capturing six. Three sailors were injured in the fight, and received medical assistance from US Navy Corpman from the Arleigh Burke-classdestroyerUSS James E. Williams.[29]
On 11 October at 0918 UTC, pirates in two skiffs fired upon the tanker Island Splendor and attempted a boarding approximately 237 nautical miles (439 km) east of Hobyo, Somalia. The armed security team aboard the tanker fired flares and warning shots, whereupon the pirates returned fire with an automatic weapons. The security team engaged the pirates which resulted in the skiffs aborting the attack.[30]
According to reports, a Spanish fishing boat was attacked on 14 October by what is suspected to be the same group of pirates who attempted to attack Island Splendor. The pirates were then traced and captured by the Australian warship HMAS Melbourne.[31]
On 13 March 2017, Aris 13, was hijacked by pirates in two skiffs a few miles off Alula, the northernmost town of Somalia in Puntland. It was the first hijacking of a large commercial vessel since 2012. The ship was taking oil from Djibouti to the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Aris 13 was boarded by about two dozen armed men, who immediately turned off its tracking system after a distress call was sent from the ship. They then anchored her off Alula.[32][33][34][35] On 16 March an intense gunfight started between the pirates and the Puntland Maritime Police Force, followed by intense negotiations between the marine force, local clan elders and the pirates, effectively ending the hijacking later that day. The crew was released unharmed. The pirates allegedly agreed to forego a ransom after learning that Somali businessmen had hired Aris 13. Pirates have traditionally been wary of tangling with Somalia's powerful businessmen. The ship had not followed the industry's Best Management Practices that might have prevented a hijacking. It travelled close to the shore at low speed.[36][37]
OS 35 was a loaded bulk carrier en route from Port Kelang to Aden with armed security guards on board. However, the latter and evasive maneuvers could not prevent three presumed Somali pirates from boarding and hijacking the ship. However, the security alert sent by the ship alerted Indian and Chinese navy ships patrolling in the vicinity, who then embarked on a joint rescue operation. 18 Chinese navy personnel subsequently boarded the hijacked ship under a security air cover provided by the Indian Navy, and rescued the hijacked ship.[38]
In February 2018 MT Leopard Sun was fired upon by two skiffs 160 nautical miles (300 km) off the coast of Somalia. The ship's security team returned fire and the ship escaped. This was believed to be the first pirate attack in the area since November 2017.[39]
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