CHAPTER VI - MARITIME SECURITY AND PIRACY

Summary

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted unanimously on 30 November 2009 to extend the mandate for member countries to conduct anti-piracy operations off Somalia. A review is needed to boost the effectiveness of the multi-national effort.

Naval ships from as many as 20 countries have been deployed in anti-piracy patrols off Somalia since 2009. Despite this presence and the measures taken till now, the International Maritime Bureau has reported that there were 445 acts of piracy during 2010 and 410 during 2009 as against 293 in 2008.

Effects of Increasing Piracy

The Somali pirates have been proving to be tactically ingenious. After the arrival of warships in the Gulf of Aden, the pirates have extended their hunting ground up to 800 nautical miles into the Indian Ocean. This means that virtually any vessel sailing between Europe and East Africa or the Persian Gulf/South Asia, is potentially at risk of attack. At risk are not only the vessels sailing through the Suez Canal, but also those that go via the Cape of Good Hope.

In the meantime, oil transportation costs are beginning to go up on account of increased insurance cover of up to US$1 million for a medium-sized tanker, as well as due to re-routing of vessels to avoid the Somali coast. The disruption caused to the shipping industry by piracy is dramatic, but the outcome in human terms is also considerable. In 2010, Somali pirates held 1,181 seafarers hostage, eight of whom were killed and 13 injured.

Making Anti-Piracy Efforts More Effective

Unified response for optimum utilisation of resources

Naval ships from a large number of countries and groupings are deployed in anti-piracy patrols in the area. These include at least 20 countries and represent a wide variety of political, economic and individual interests, signifying the absolute necessity of weeding out the piracy menace. There is, therefore, definitely a common meeting ground and purpose, which is also mandated by the UNSC resolution.