Somali pirates strike again

After a period of suppression by international naval forces, Somali pirates have been active again in recent months.

The Indian Navy rescued a merchant ship from pirates off the coast of Somalia over the weekend. The naval force arrested 35 pirates and rescued 17 crew members of the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen. There were no reports of casualties in the incident.

The Bangladeshi-owned cargo ship Abdullah was recently attacked and seized by Somali pirates. The ship was brought back to anchor off the coast of Somalia a week later, but Bangladeshi authorities are trying to contact the pirates to rescue the ship’s 23 crew members. They are the latest victims of a recent resurgence in piracy.

Members of a Somali pirate group say they are taking advantage of the situation, resuming operations after being “hidden” for nearly 10 years, as international naval forces off the Somali coast focus on repelling Houthi attacks several hundred kilometers to the north.

According to shipping industry representatives, Somali pirates have carried out more than 20 attacks on cargo ships since November last year. Data from the European Union Anti-Piracy Task Force (EUNAVFOR) shows that pirates have seized at least two cargo ships and 12 fishing boats since November 2023. As of February, EUNAVFOR had identified five pirate groups operating in the Gulf of Aden and the eastern waters of Somalia. EUNAVFOR warned that the rainy season ending this month could lead to an increase in pirate activity.

Attacks by Somali pirates have prompted insurers to expand the range of waters they cover with additional war risk premiums for cargo ships. The cost of insuring a typical seven-day voyage through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea has increased by hundreds of thousands of dollars compared to the past.

MV Ruen was rescued by the Indian Navy. Photo: Indian Navy

The growing demand for private armed guards has also driven up costs. Maritime security sources said that in February, the cost of hiring a three-day guard team to accompany a ship ranged from $4,000 to $15,000, up about 50 percent from January.

Maritime risk management experts and insurers say the number of attacks by Somali pirates is now significantly lower than in previous periods. The group mainly targets small vessels in less patrolled waters. While the current Somali piracy threat is not as severe as it was in 2008-2014, regional officials and industry sources fear the problem could escalate.

“If we do not stop piracy when it first arises, the situation could become as serious as before,” warned Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The key to curbing the piracy threat is to strengthen Somalia’s law enforcement capabilities at sea and on land, not to send more foreign warships to its waters, Mohamud said.

MINH CHAU

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