In the corresponding first half last year, there were 163 incidents involving Somali pirates, according to the International Maritime Bureau data but in the first half of 2012, there were just 69 incidents. Commodore Bruce Belliveau, NATO’s Deputy Chief of Operations said: “We are expecting the activity rate to be lower than last year at this time…that is based on the lack of activity in the past six months”. The fall in the incidents of Somali piracy are attributed to aggressive navy action, armed private security and the defensive measures the ships take to defeat the piracy attacks. An Intelligence Analyst with a security firm AKE, Mr. Rory Lamrock observed that ships are so well defended by naval operations that the chances of hijacking are very slight compared with the past. “This has made Somali piracy an increasingly unattractive criminal enterprise”. The Commodore cautions that the defensive measures so far taken against the piracy should not be let down. He said: “If we let down our guard, if we reduce the level of forces… then we will create a new opportunity for entrepreneurial pirates”. It is also pointed out that the poverty and anarchy are so rampant in Somalia that the prospects of million-dollar ransoms will still drive the pirates to brave the risks.
Friday, 14 September 2012
Somali piracy at a lower level this year, NATO Officer
In the corresponding first half last year, there were 163 incidents involving Somali pirates, according to the International Maritime Bureau data but in the first half of 2012, there were just 69 incidents. Commodore Bruce Belliveau, NATO’s Deputy Chief of Operations said: “We are expecting the activity rate to be lower than last year at this time…that is based on the lack of activity in the past six months”. The fall in the incidents of Somali piracy are attributed to aggressive navy action, armed private security and the defensive measures the ships take to defeat the piracy attacks. An Intelligence Analyst with a security firm AKE, Mr. Rory Lamrock observed that ships are so well defended by naval operations that the chances of hijacking are very slight compared with the past. “This has made Somali piracy an increasingly unattractive criminal enterprise”. The Commodore cautions that the defensive measures so far taken against the piracy should not be let down. He said: “If we let down our guard, if we reduce the level of forces… then we will create a new opportunity for entrepreneurial pirates”. It is also pointed out that the poverty and anarchy are so rampant in Somalia that the prospects of million-dollar ransoms will still drive the pirates to brave the risks.
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