Rear Adm. Terence "Terry" McKnight (USN, Ret.), past commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) and veteran of joint anti-piracy operations, has criticized the media for dramatizing piracy at the expense of other world-wide naval operations, including those associated with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He further suggests, correctly, that shipping companies need to do more to protect their vessels against pirate attacks. The Military.com article is available here. Based on my own experience and research, Somali piracy is at the moment a nuisance which can be largely held at bay by appropriate security measures, which in many instances should include armed security. However, the situation could grow worse with an increase in Somali pirate training and equipment, although this is unlikely on a significant scale.
The British foreign secretary recently warned that the shipping industry must defend itself against Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. Currently, navies are spread too thin to provide protection in this region. (Source: BBC)
According to the BBC, the Philippine government has ordered all of its merchant seamen to undergo anti-piracy training. The sailors will not receive firearms training. Filipinos comprise nearly a third of the world’s merchant seafarers.
A leading Indian seafarers union is threatening an international boycott if nations do not take a more active stance against Somali piracy. Seafarers bear the brunt of piracy, and many observers believe that shipping companies are not doing enough to protect the men and women who sail their ships. (Sources: Lloyd’s List, author’s)
A two to three-fold increase Nairobi, Kenya property prices is being blamed on the purchase of property as a means of laundering the proceeds of piracy. (Source: AP)
Somali pirates captured four ships, including to British-flagged vessels, over a five day period surrounding the New Year.
Benerson Little
"The trident of Neptune is the scepter of the world."*
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* By Antoine Marin Lemierre, from his poem "Commerce."
“They are always as vagabonds, and in continual exile, without any rest; agitated by the Winds, Rain, Hail, Snow, at the mercy of Pyrats and Rovers, Rocks and Tempests, in continual hazard of being intomb’d in the bellies of fishes...” —Jeremias Heraclitus Christianus, writing of the merchant seaman in The Man of Sorrow, 1677.
“Some the Sea swallowes, but that which most grieves, Some turne Sea-monsters, Pirates, roaving theeves...” —John Taylor, An Apologie for Sea-men, 1615. Archives
(Tags are listed at the foot of the page in this column.)
Boarding party from the USS McFaul aboard pirate mothership Faize Osamani, a captured Indian dhow, on April 5, 2010. (US Department of Defense photograph)
USS Farragut sinking a captured Somali pirate "mother ship" in April, 2010. (US Navy photograph)
Dutch marines from the HNMLSTromp fastrope onto the MV Taipan and capture it from pirates on April 5, 2010. (Dutch Navy photograph)
French pirate hunting frigate Nivose, a "frégate de surveillance." (French navy photograph)
Pirates captured by the French naval vessel Somme in October 2009. (EU NAVFOR Somalia photo)
Boarding team from the frigate HMS Portland captures suspected Somali pirates in June 2009. (Royal Navy photograph)
Dutch commandos capture seven pirates and free twenty fishermen who had been forced to work the mother ship. Unfortunately, the pirates were soon themselves freed due to constraints of Dutch law and of NATO. (Royal Navy photograph)
Small pirate "mother ship" (bateau mère) intercepted by French frigate Nivôse in April 2009. The vessel was loaded with fuel. (French Ministry of Defense photograph)
7.62 mm exit holes in the stern of the Maersk Alabama lifeboat. The holes were plugged with silicone. (Author's photo, taken at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, Ft. Pierce, Florida.)
Captain Richard Phillips (on right) aboard the USS Bainbridge after being rescued from pirates by the US Navy. His captors were shot dead by Navy SEAL snipers. (US Navy photograph)
French commandos aboard the yacht Tanit. (AFP)
Liberation of the yacht Tanit by the French Navy, including members of the Commando Hubert. (French Ministry of Defense photograph)
Captured Somali pirates. (US Navy photograph)
MV Sirius Star ransomed by air drop. (US Navy photograph)
A few of the pirates who captured the arms ship MV Faina. (US Navy photograph)
Thai fishing trawler destroyed by Indian frigate INS Tabar. The trawler was under attack by pirates. The frigate, which came under fire from pirates aboard the trawler, believed the vessel was a pirate "mother ship." (India Defense Ministry photograph)
French commandos capture several of the pirates who held the luxury yacht Le Ponant for ransom. (French Ministry of Defense photograph)
Pirate skiff destroyed by the USS Porter in 2007. (US Navy photograph)
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