Including the expected trends
EU NAVFOR issues report containing an assessment of Somali piracy activity for the period July to December 2011.
The basic attack tactic of skiffs with large outboard motors, carrying 4-6 armed SPs, utilising a ladder (or other crude climbing gear) to board an MV is unlikely to change.
The number of skiffs in a Pirate Action Group (PAG) may change in response to factors employed by industry (such as armed security) and the method of getting those skiffs to the vicinity of shipping is evolving (use of dhows as pirate mother-ships), but the basic attack tactic is unlikely to change in a significant manner in the next six months; pirates will continue to reply on small high speed skiffs to actually board their target vessels.
Vessels under attack will continue to witness the firing of small arms (assault rifles such as AK 47s) and limited use of Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs).
The pirate intention in the use of these weapons is always to stop and slow the vessel rather than kill the crew or cause catastrophic damage. We do not expect major changes in this approach in the next six months.
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Source: EU NAVFOR
