Tag: maritime piracy

EU Beefs Up Anti-Piracy Mission in Horn of Africa

Decline in the activities of Somali pirates Sea piracy worldwide fell by 54 percent in the first half of 2012, led by a dramatic drop in Somali piracy, an international maritime watchdog said Monday.The International Maritime Bureau attributed the sharp drop to "pre-emptive and disruptive counter piracy tactics" by international navies patrolling in seas off Somalia as well as increased vigilance by ships including hiring private armed personnel on board.The bureau said 177 attacks were reported worldwide from January to June, down from 266 in the same period last year. It said 20 vessels were hijacked worldwide, with 334 crew members taken hostage and at least four crew members killed.Attacks off Somalia's coast plunged to 69 in the first six months, down from 163 over the same period a year ago, it said. Somali pirates also hijacked fewer vessels with 13 seized, down from 21."The naval actions play an essential role in frustrating the pirates. There is no alternative to their continued presence," said IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan. He warned that Somali pirates remained a serious threat, with 11 vessels and 218 crew members still in their hands as of late June.The bureau said the decline in Somali piracy was ...

CSIR boat loading technology to help in fight against piracy

Cyprus: Anti-piracy law enters into force

UN Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia

Come out with strategies to deal with maritime piracy , GMA boss says

Suspected pirates demand new mattresses in jail

The killing of two Indian fishermen has raised questions on armed protection In the last couple of years, merchant shipping has witnessed the introduction of armed guards on ships, especially those transiting the high risk areas affected by Somalian piracy. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and various national governments advised the shipping community to follow 'best management practices'.Countries deployed naval ships to protect merchant ships in vulnerable regions. Unfortunately, piracy continued unabated. Navies had to intensify their efforts and monitor and co-ordinate more effectively.somalian piracyThe current scenario is that Somalian piracy has been slightly reduced, but is nowhere near eradication.The debate on the use of arms on board merchant ships is not new. The urgency created by the Somalian pirates, however, paved way for a quick decision in the matter, although the international community is still divided on the issue.Several countries have now allowed merchant ships to engage armed guards, either from the navy or from private sources. Increasingly, this was seen as an easy solution to the scourge of piracy; and the experience so far proves that pirates have not abducted any ship with armed guards on board. However, the move towards complacency about the success of the system ...

Rooting Out Somali Piracy Starts On-Shore

While the latest footage purportedly showing seven Pakistanis among 22 sailors held hostage by Somali pirates for ransom might have upset the families who have been waiting for their release for the past 18 months, the authorities engaged in the process of getting them released against ransom payment were on Monday confident about 'good news' within the next few days.