by Joseph Saronge

Created on: April 16, 2009   Last Updated: April 17, 2009

A look at Pirates Incidents

The Indian ocean, Red sea and off Somali coast remain some of the piracy prone areas in the recent times.

According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) there were 239 attacks in 2008 worldwide. 15 of which resulted in murder and 188 taken hostage. In 2007 there was an increase of pirate attacks by about 10 per cent.

The piracy in the Somali coast came to the world attention late last year when the pirates seized one of the largest vessels, the Sirus Star. Said to be an equivalent of more than six football fields. The vessel was hijacked in November last year and was only released in January this year.

The pirates operating under the cover of darkness have affected not only business in the area but also affected ship operators since they have to increase costs, security, pay higher insurance premiums, ransom and extra fuel for longer routes while trying to avoid pirate infested areas.

Many naval warships from various countries have since been patrolling the vast area in search of pirates but just when piracy was being contained by the combined naval forces from France, China, India and the US, the pirates have shown their ugly heads again.

They hijacked a US vessel that led to a dramatic rescue from navy seals, rescuing a captain and killing three pirates.

The pirates are putting everyone's life at risk especially businessmen who ply the Indian ocean. Their activities are slowing down trade during these harsh economic times and they remain an eyesore in the African coast line.

African leaders must come together and condemn the acts of piracy in Somalia in the strongest terms possible since trade and relationships are directly affected by their actions. It will become difficult for the international community to assist those affected by hunger if the food meant for the poor can not reach them.

The Indian ocean has in the past been target of Somali pirates who were hijacking ships at will. Hopes are diminishing for traders who fear for their lives as pirates take over ships, harass and demanded huge ransom.

A few months before the pirates struck again, arrests had been made and patrols increased thanks to the combined naval forces.

Somali pirates, armed with AK47 assault rifles, rocket launchers and semi-automatic pistols have been terrorizing traders and threatening trade and transportation of goods.

Piracy off the Somali coast has been a threat to international shipping since the beginning of Somalia's civil war in the early 1990s. 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.

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. In September 2008, Russia announced that it too will soon join international efforts to combat piracy.

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