Somalia’s Pirates, Essay Example

After the beginning of civil war in Somalia in 1990s, piracy near Somali coasts has become a deal disaster for transportation companies from all over the world. Hard economic conditions in the country, high unemployment rate, small income left no other option for these people but to get involved in this unlawful and risky activity.

The team of pirates usually consists of local fishermen, ex-militiamen, and technical experts. Typical pirate attack involves young armed men on the speedboats who monitor vessels and if necessary use automatic weapons to hijack the ship. “Pirate “mother ships” travel far out to sea and launch smaller boats to attack passing vessel” (Rice). Nowadays gangs have extended the territory of their reach “far beyond Somali waters”. The main problem observed recently is that number of ships being hijacked is rapidly growing. During the last two years there was approximately 300 attacks.

Current situation near Somali coasts becomes critical. The size of vessels does not limit or stop pirates, which shows their resourcefulness and boldness to carry on. Captured Saudi supertanker is a bright example of how prepared and heavily armed “robbers” are. “The pirates are holding about a dozen vessels hostage and more than 200 foreign crew” (Rice). Nothing seems to stop these gangs. Nato and international authorities that monitor peaceful conditions of sea shipping routes increase their control over the territories to secure safe voyage of sea carriers to their destinations.

In the situation with the Ukrainian ship Faina, countries Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that the vessel has been “surrounded by three boats of armed men” while carrying onboard heavy military hardware. “Piracy has become big business and there seems to be no concerted response to the problem” (BBC). Authorities of Somalia comment that there is nothing they can do to improve the situation leaving countries whose ships are being hijacked alone in the negotiation process with the pirates. Among countries whose vessels have been captured are France, Spain, Egypt, Ukraine, UK and it does not seem that pirates will stop or have any doubts about their power.

Pirates put in danger the lives of the sailors and focus on the negotiations with the country’s government. Usually first amount demanded for the safe release of vessel amazes and puts state authorities in difficult position. However, in the course of negotiations pirates tend to decrease the buy-out ship fee providing the countries with the ability to cover expenses. They “harm crew members as they wait for ransoms to be paid” and keep them in the unhealthy and unhygienic conditions.

“Between July and September there were 47 attacks off Somalia’s coast, the longest in Africa, and 26 were successful” (BBC). As reported in media some of the ships neglected basic security rules and left “safe waters” causing the vessel being hijacked. It is extremely important that in the current situation people pay more attention and take particular measures to secure their own safe voyage.

In the light of the world crises the situation is particularly crucial and requires urgent matters to be taken to secure safe shipping lanes. Countries of the world have numerous problems and economical recessions within their states. Piracy itself is a very complicated issue and requires complex strategy to resolve the problem. It is important that the international authorities together with the countries unite as one to fight against piracy and bring back the safe and stable situation near the Somali coast.

Works Cited

BBC News. (26 September 2008). Somalia’s pirates seize 33 tanks. 4 March, 2009.  <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7637257.stm>.

CBC News. (10 January, 2009). Somali pirates drown with ransom share. 4 March, 2009. <http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/01/10/pirates-drowning.html>.

ITAR-TASS. (2 February, 2009). Somali pirates say to release Ukraine Faina ship soon for $3 mln. 4 March, 2009. <http:/ /itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13537 613&PageNum=23>.

Rice, Xan. (18 November 2008). Somali pirates seize tanker carrying oil worth $100m. The Guardian. 4 March, 2009. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/18/piracy-somalia>.