Pirate hijackings off East African coast hit 15-month high

10 April 2012 15:50  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS)--Pirate hijackings off the Somalian coast increased significantly throughout March, reaching highs previously seen in December 2010 because of improving weather conditions in the region, an analyst with risk mitigation firm AKE Group said on Tuesday.

A report released on Thursday, from Dubai-based logistics firm GAC Protective Solutions and UK-headquarted AKE Group, said that a total of eight vessels were successfully hijacked off the horn of Africa during March.

It reported a total of 23 pirate attacks taking place off the East African coast, up by 5 from February.

“This resulted in the acquisition of four new motherships and one large commercial vessel to be ransomed,” the report said.

“Pirates will aim to capitalise on the improving weather conditions over the coming month,” said Rory Lamrock, intelligence analyst for AKE.

“For this they require more motherships in order to maximise their areas of operations, allowing them to take full advantage of calmer seas expected,” he added.

AKE Group has predicted that attempted attacks and suspicious approaches will be likely in all areas, expecting the highest risk to be in the northern Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The report also showed that global pirate activity in March was down slightly from February’s total of 36, with 33 reported attacks.

By: Neha Popat
+44 208 652 3214

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