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On a lively Saturday, a flotilla of boats darted around MV Ruen during a daring Indian military raid, as captured by Ministry of Defence/PIB and relayed through CNN.
The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA)—which sounds like a cross between a secret agency and an aquatic theme park—has identified a rickety ensemble of 13 gun-brandishing pirates slipping away from Ceel Huur, not far off Hobyo’s shores. The center strongly advised vessels to be on high alert and report any conspicuous conduct, pointing to a fresh surge of ship hijackings and confrontations that could shake the maritime realm.
The preceding bout of pirate hostilities landed on June 7, 2024, when a posse of suspicious crafts ominously tailgated the Marshall Islands-flagged PACIFIC HONOR before skedaddling away harmlessly. Martin Kelly, top chieftain at EOS Risk Group, provides insights: “As the monsoon’s tantrums settle, conditions improve, giving pirates the room to ply their trade again. Clients have been forewarned about this uptick in risks,” he expressed, like a watchful sentinel observing the shifting winds.
A recent International Maritime Bureau (IMB) dossier, spanning from January to September 2024, reveals a worldwide dip in pirate episodes—the lowest since 1994, mind you. Yet, these Somali scallywags remain active. Despite a drop since their chaotic peak in the 2000s’ latter days, these pirates have revamped their shenanigans. No longer tethered to puny skiffs, they hijack dhows and fishing vessels, transforming them into ‘mother ships.’ This crafty tactic allows them to assault prey nearly 800 nautical miles adrift, frustrating international attempts at apprehension.
The past year has seen audacious escapades by these Somali buccaneers. A December 2023 hijacking of the MV Ruen snagged the limelight, gripping its crew before being dramatically liberated by Indian naval saviors after a three-month ordeal. Fast forward to March 2024, the MV Abdullah was held hostage, reluctantly freed following the drop-off of a ransom.
There’s no island of piracy here; a broader regional quandary is at play, featuring Houthi rebels throwing wrenches in the works from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Shipping companies, thwarted by these antics, reroute voyages around the Cape of Good Hope, adding absurd mileage and heftier expenses. This reshuffling leaves fewer ships available to curb piracy in the Indian Ocean, offering pirates an operational paradise. “The regional dynamics have shifted, granting pirates more latitude,” Kelly conceded, while lauding the Indian Navy’s valiant rescues.
Globally, pirate incidents are decreasing, with IMB noting 79 occurrences between January and September 2024, a nostalgic low reminiscent of 1994. Nonetheless, Somali waters remain dicey. Within these reports, 111 crew members wore the distressing label of hostage, 11 were kidnapped, and increases in crew violence indicate rough seas. IMB emphasizes that the pirates’ knack for operations far beyond Somali shores poses an ongoing menace.
Piracy’s global tab is nothing short of colossal. Back in 2020, it was pegged at a staggering $37 billion annually, a hefty price tag for the world’s economies to bear.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
