Coalition Efforts Forcing Piracy Farther From Home Waters

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

04.05.2010

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

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MANAMA, Bahrain - Recent attacks have shown that Coalition efforts in the Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden are forcing would-be pirates farther out to sea and farther from their home waters, revealing their desperation to find easier commercial targets. The combined efforts of the Combined Maritime Forces, European Union, and NATO, along with greater use of "best management practices" within the commercial shipping industry, are having the intended effect, as witnessed by several unsuccessful piracy attempts this past week.

Late March to early April typically marks the beginning of a surge in pirate activity for the months of April and May due to the calming seas off the east coast of Africa, and this year has not been any different. Over the last week there have been 12 unsuccessful attacks and three successful attacks carried out by pirate action groups (a mother ship and associated attack skiffs) across an area of ocean nearly the size of the continent of Australia. These groups of pirates have attacked merchant vessels as far away from Somalia as the eastern coast of Oman and the southern coast of Tanzania.

Two of these recent attacks show just how much danger these pirates are willing to place themselves in for the chance of coming across an unprepared or unsuspecting commercial vessel.

The first of these occurred when the Flagship of Combined Task Force 151, USS Farragut, intercepted suspected pirates in the Somali Basin on March 31. The Sierra Leone-flagged tanker M/V Evita came under attack 500 km north-west of the Seychelles by three suspected pirate skiffs.

During the attack, the pirates fired rifles and aimed rocket propelled grenades at the vessel in an attempt to force it to stop. The M/V Evita was able to evade capture by following industry recommended 'best management practices'; increasing its speed, firing flares at the pirates to warn them off and contacting both the International Maritime Bureau based in Kuala Lumpur and the UK Maritime Trade Organisation office in Dubai.

As a result of M/V Evita following these best management practices guidelines, enough time was allowed for the coalition to come to their aid. A Swedish Maritime Patrol Aircraft from EUNAVFOR was able to make contact with the M/V Evita and subsequently locate the suspected pirate skiffs. An SH-60B Seahawk helicopter from Farragut was immediately dispatched to monitor the pirates while a boarding team from USS Farragut successfully boarded the pirate skiffs. After ensuring the suspected pirates had no means to conduct any more attacks, all 11 were released on the two small skiffs, while the mother skiff was destroyed, ending that vessel's ability to engage in any other illegal activity.

The second event that reveals the careless nature of the pirates occurred, April 1, when a group made a late night attempt on a United States Navy frigate. USS Nicholas currently supporting Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa/Commander, Sixth Fleet was operating in international waters west of the Seychelles, when they reported coming under fire from a suspected pirate skiff at 12:27 a.m. local time. Crew members aboard Nicholas returned fire and quickly began a pursuit of the attacking vessel until the skiff was stopped and subsequently boarded. In addition to the drums of fuel and ammunition, three pirates were captured on this small skiff. An additional two suspected pirates were subsequently captured on a nearby mother ship that had been supporting the attack skiff.

The pirates involved in these and other recent attacks are emboldened by the lucrative payouts from recent ransom payments. Every day, more young Somali men are taking the risk of life at sea as a pirate. The idea of getting their share of a ransom payment also leads them to become more desperate to achieve the goal of capturing a merchant vessel to bring back to the pirate anchorages off the coast of Somalia to await further ransom payments. It's the same desperation that now leads to numerous pirate action groups spread out all over the Arabian Sea. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that all vessels plying these waters understand that the adoption of best management practices is vital for them to be able to protect themselves.

The message about adopting best management practice is getting through thanks to the co-ordinated work of bodies such as the UK Maritime Trade Organization and International Maritime Bureau, resulting in the success of piracy attempts reducing, despite the number of actual attacks increasing. More vessels are keeping within the International Recommended Transit Corridor and proving that best management practices work.

The coordinated multinational effort, comprised of vessels from CMF, EU, NATO and several independent nations, is having a positive effect. However, merchant vessels cannot rely solely on military presence; masters and crews must remain vigilant and adhere to best management practices while transiting this dangerous region.

None of the merchant vessels currently held for ransom followed the industry recommended best management practices.