Gulf states must beef up coastal security against pirate attacks
The problem soon will get worse as the Monsoon season is due to end Gulf states including the GCC and Oman must ramp up measures to fend off the growing problem of marine pirate attacks, or risk becoming a hotbed for hijackings, analysts said.Oman in August saw two attacks on ships near the port of Salalah, with one tanker and crew snatched from inside the port in front of the coast guard, and experts warn these attacks may be the tip of the iceberg."The problem will only worsen in the short-term as the Monsoon season is due to end in mid-September. The Gulf of Oman might be a new area of focus, which will pose a concern for Emirati shipping interests which must pass through the area," said John Drake, a senior risk consultant at AKE Group.Piracy is a well-organised and highly lucrative business and has expanded into a vast area off the coast of Somalia. An estimated $150m was paid in ransoms for ships, cargoes and crews to pirate gangs last year, while a record 1,181 seafarers were kidnapped, according to consultancy Dryad Maritime Intelligence."For the UAE, the problem must be carefully monitored and ensure that it does not ...
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