Piracy off the coast of Somalia

2008 saw a sharp increase in the number of reported piracy attacks off the coast of East Africa. Figures compiled by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) show that in the first quarter of 2008 there were 11 piracy attacks in that region, rising to 23 in the second quarter and rocketing to 50 in the third and 51 in the fourth quarters, making a total of 135 attacks during 2008. In 2009 there were 164 attacks in the first 9 months alone. Since the end of the monsoon season, the pirates have diversified their attacks across the area, extending their reach and often striking out of range of the Coalition warships.

The IMO rightly believes that any act of piracy and armed robbery can impact on human life, the safety of navigation and the environment. Piracy is a criminal act, which not only affects the victims but also has severe financial repercussions.

It is for this reason there are three areas of concern for the IMO that are particularly relevant to the situation off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.  These are:

• The need to protect seafarers, fishermen and passengers;
• The need to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia effected by ships chartered by the World Food Programme;
• The need to preserve the integrity of the Gulf of Aden - a lane of strategic importance and significance to international shipping and trade, both east and west of the Suez Canal, which is used by some 22,000 vessels annually, carrying around 8% of the world's trade, including more than 12% of the total volume of oil transported by sea, as well as raw materials and finished goods.

The IMO also believes that regional cooperation amongst states is key to solving the problems of piracy and armed robbery against ships.   The achievement of The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia (RECAAP) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore is proof of such successful collaboration.

In the longer term the IMO are looking for an international response to the increase of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. However until this time the IMO is requesting all organisations to work together to combat the rise in illegal piracy.