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Somali pirates hijacking fewer merchant ships Somali pirates hijacking fewer merchant ships
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Somali piracy has fallen to a three-year low because of co-ordinated action by international navies and the enlistment of armed security guards by shipping companies, according to a maritime watchdog.Somali piracy has fallen to a three-year low because of co-ordinated action by international navies and the enlistment of armed security guards by shipping companies, according to a maritime watchdog.
Seventy attacks were reported by ships in the first nine months of this year, compared with 199 incidents in the first nine months of 2011, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said.Seventy attacks were reported by ships in the first nine months of this year, compared with 199 incidents in the first nine months of 2011, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said.
From July to September only one ship reported an attempted attack by Somali pirates, as opposed to 36 incidents in the same three months last year.From July to September only one ship reported an attempted attack by Somali pirates, as opposed to 36 incidents in the same three months last year.
Pottengal Mukundan, director of the IMB, said: "We welcome the successful robust targeting of pirate action groups by international navies in the high-risk waters off Somalia, ensuring these criminals are removed before they can threaten ships.Pottengal Mukundan, director of the IMB, said: "We welcome the successful robust targeting of pirate action groups by international navies in the high-risk waters off Somalia, ensuring these criminals are removed before they can threaten ships.
"It's good news that hijackings are down, but there can be no room for complacency: these waters are still extremely high-risk and the naval presence must be maintained.""It's good news that hijackings are down, but there can be no room for complacency: these waters are still extremely high-risk and the naval presence must be maintained."
International navies have stepped up pre-emptive action against pirates, including strikes on their bases on the Somali coast. Shipping firms have also bolstered their defences with armed guards, razor wire, water cannon and safe rooms. The IMB says no vessel with armed guards has ever been hijacked.International navies have stepped up pre-emptive action against pirates, including strikes on their bases on the Somali coast. Shipping firms have also bolstered their defences with armed guards, razor wire, water cannon and safe rooms. The IMB says no vessel with armed guards has ever been hijacked.
A recent report by the Associated Press from Hobyo on central Somalia's Indian Ocean coastline painted a vivid picture of a criminal industry in decline. "The empty whiskey bottles and overturned, sand-filled skiffs that litter this once-bustling shoreline are signs that the heyday of Somali piracy may be over," it noted. "Most of the prostitutes are gone, the luxury cars repossessed. Pirates talk more about catching lobsters than seizing cargo ships."A recent report by the Associated Press from Hobyo on central Somalia's Indian Ocean coastline painted a vivid picture of a criminal industry in decline. "The empty whiskey bottles and overturned, sand-filled skiffs that litter this once-bustling shoreline are signs that the heyday of Somali piracy may be over," it noted. "Most of the prostitutes are gone, the luxury cars repossessed. Pirates talk more about catching lobsters than seizing cargo ships."
AP interviewed Abdirizaq Saleh, a pirate who had fallen on hard times, having "once had bodyguards and maids and the attention of beautiful women. When ransoms came in, a party was thrown, with blaring music, bottles of wine, the stimulant called khat and women for every man. Now Saleh is hiding from creditors in a dirty room filled with the dust-covered TVs and high-end clothes he acquired when flush."AP interviewed Abdirizaq Saleh, a pirate who had fallen on hard times, having "once had bodyguards and maids and the attention of beautiful women. When ransoms came in, a party was thrown, with blaring music, bottles of wine, the stimulant called khat and women for every man. Now Saleh is hiding from creditors in a dirty room filled with the dust-covered TVs and high-end clothes he acquired when flush."
Last year Somali piracy in the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden and the north-western Indian Ocean netted $160m (£100m), and cost the world economy some $7bn (£4.39bn), figures from the American One Earth Future foundation show.Last year Somali piracy in the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden and the north-western Indian Ocean netted $160m (£100m), and cost the world economy some $7bn (£4.39bn), figures from the American One Earth Future foundation show.
Timo Lange, a spokesman for the European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU Navfor), a mission to protect humanitarian shipping, attributed the decline in attacks to a number of factors including monsoon season. He said the efforts of counterpiracy forces – including EU Navfor, Nato, Russia and China – had contributed and there was better co-operation between the forces.Timo Lange, a spokesman for the European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU Navfor), a mission to protect humanitarian shipping, attributed the decline in attacks to a number of factors including monsoon season. He said the efforts of counterpiracy forces – including EU Navfor, Nato, Russia and China – had contributed and there was better co-operation between the forces.
"Our operations are more and more intelligence-led," he said. "We react to events and we can get a report from a merchant vessel and close in on that region and actively look for those pirates.""Our operations are more and more intelligence-led," he said. "We react to events and we can get a report from a merchant vessel and close in on that region and actively look for those pirates."
There are also signs that Somalis are resenting the pirates and placing their hopes in a new central government. "The communities are getting fed up with the pirates, and expel them from their communities so they have to look for other places to hide," he said. But he added that, without substantial change in Somalia, "the danger of piracy is always there".There are also signs that Somalis are resenting the pirates and placing their hopes in a new central government. "The communities are getting fed up with the pirates, and expel them from their communities so they have to look for other places to hide," he said. But he added that, without substantial change in Somalia, "the danger of piracy is always there".
The decline comes as a new president and parliament attempt to bring stability to Somalia for the first time in 20 years. Rory Lamrock, an intelligence analyst with the security firm AKE, said piracy was a less attractive enterprise for gangs but this depended on security being maintained.The decline comes as a new president and parliament attempt to bring stability to Somalia for the first time in 20 years. Rory Lamrock, an intelligence analyst with the security firm AKE, said piracy was a less attractive enterprise for gangs but this depended on security being maintained.
"The gains are all reversible, because the main conditions on the land, such as poverty, insecurity, the distribution of firearms and a lack of institutional development, remain largely unchanged," he told Reuters. "If security measures are rescinded it would be very easy for pirate syndicates to resume their activity to similar levels of recent years.""The gains are all reversible, because the main conditions on the land, such as poverty, insecurity, the distribution of firearms and a lack of institutional development, remain largely unchanged," he told Reuters. "If security measures are rescinded it would be very easy for pirate syndicates to resume their activity to similar levels of recent years."
His sentiment was echoed within Somalia by the Ifiso Independent Vetting Coalition, a civil society group. Bashir Yusuf, its legal officer, said: "The piracy problem is still happening because the conditions that Rory Lamrock describes are still in place.His sentiment was echoed within Somalia by the Ifiso Independent Vetting Coalition, a civil society group. Bashir Yusuf, its legal officer, said: "The piracy problem is still happening because the conditions that Rory Lamrock describes are still in place.
"I am afraid that the problem is not yet over. As long as these conditions are not positively addressed and as soon as existing security measures are relaxed, piracy will bounce back.""I am afraid that the problem is not yet over. As long as these conditions are not positively addressed and as soon as existing security measures are relaxed, piracy will bounce back."
Pirates off Somalia are still holding 11 vessels for ransom with 167 crew members as hostages on board. Twenty-one more kidnapped crew members are being held on land.Pirates off Somalia are still holding 11 vessels for ransom with 167 crew members as hostages on board. Twenty-one more kidnapped crew members are being held on land.
Meanwhile piracy is on the increase on the other side of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. The IMB said there had been 34 incidents between January and September, rising from 30 in the same period last year.Meanwhile piracy is on the increase on the other side of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. The IMB said there had been 34 incidents between January and September, rising from 30 in the same period last year.
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