Somali waters most dangerous for piracy - analyst

07 May 2008 16:34  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--The Somali coast and the Gulf of Aden is the most dangerous stretch of water in the world for piracy, a shipping analyst said on Wednesday.

 

“Somalia and the Gulf of Aden is the number one place for piracy attacks and hijack attempts right now,” said International Maritime Bureau (IMB) representative Cyrus Mody.

 

The statement follows another attack by Somali pirates last week on a chemical tanker heading to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates from Durban, South Africa.

 

The attack in the waters adjacent to the East African nation was noted for taking place 150 miles outside of what is regarded traditional pirate territory. However, Mody said this was not a recent phenomenon.

 

“There have been multiple incidents where ships have not only been attacked but also hijacked more than 200 miles off the coast. The pirates use ‘mother’ vessels (larger fishing vessels) to co-ordinate the attacks further from the coast,” he said.

 

To combat the increase in attacks, the French and US governments have approached the UN Security Council, asking it to allow international warships to pursue pirates in Somali waters.

 

Meanwhile, Somali authorities are in the process of prosecuting the hijackers of a French yacht last month.

 

“Steps are being taken to curb these illegal activities and pirates are being sentenced,” Mody said.

 

Despite a recent report, which branded Nigeria the number one hotspot for piracy last quarter, Mody expected Somalia to surpass its African neighbour in next quarter’s statistics.

By: Dan Horlock
44 20 8652 3214

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