Somali pirates switch focus from Gulf of Aden - IMB

26 March 2009 18:03  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS News)--Somali pirates have changed their focus from the Gulf of Aden and are now targeting vessels off the east coast of Somalia, an area which is far more difficult to patrol, a spokesman from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said on Thursday.

Two chemical tankers, which were understood to be the Bow Asir and the MV Nipayia, were hijacked 300 miles from Mogadishu, while there were reports that three more vessels had been attacked over a period of 24 hours.

One broker said that the MV Nipayia would be carrying a shipment of lubes with a probable destination in the Middle East. The cargo on the Bow Asir was unknown.

“The MV Nipayia is on a time charter to Galana, [which is a trader] based in the Middle East,” the broker said.

The vast waters off the east coast of Somalia present opportunities to the Somali pirates that no longer exist in the Gulf of Aden, sources said.

“The pirates are opportunists, and they have seen that the transit corridor in the Gulf of Aden has made the act of piracy very difficult. And, as a result, they are changing tactics,” said the IMB’s Pottengal Mukundan.

According to the Royal Navy’s Commander Gerry Northwood, the shipping community would have to be aware of increasing pirate activity over the coming months due to the improving weather conditions.

However, the IMB’s Mukundan disputed that the weather had played a part in the recent spate of pirate activity.

“Weather plays a role in the Gulf of Aden, however it has very little effect on the waters off the east coast of Somalia,” Mukundan said.

NATO reported five piracy incidents over the last 24 hours, while several unsuccessful attacks were heard on 25 March.

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By: Dan Horlock
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