Somali pirates are back on the rise.

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

Over the weekend, the Indian Navy rescued a commercial vessel from pirates off the coast of Somalia. Naval forces apprehended 35 pirates and rescued 17 crew members of the MV Ruen, a Maltese-flagged vessel. There were no reports of casualties in the incident.

Recently, the Bangladeshi-owned cargo ship Abdullah was attacked and seized by Somali pirates. The ship was brought ashore 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. These are the latest victims of a recent resurgence of piracy.

Some members of a Somali pirate group said the group is taking advantage of the situation, resuming operations after nearly 10 years of lying low, as international naval forces off the coast of Somalia 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 to seize cargo ships since last November. Data from the European Union Anti-Piracy Task Force (EUNAVFOR) indicates that pirates have seized at least two cargo ships and 12 fishing vessels since November 2023. As of February, EUNAVFOR had identified five pirate groups operating in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off eastern Somalia. EUNAVFOR warns that the end of the monsoon season this month could lead to an expansion of pirate activity.

Somali pirate attacks have prompted insurance companies to expand the scope of sea areas where additional war risk insurance premiums apply to cargo ships. Insurance costs for a typical seven-day voyage through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea have increased by hundreds of thousands of dollars compared to before.

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

The increasing demand for private armed security services has also driven up hiring fees. Maritime security sources say that in February, the cost of hiring a security team to accompany a ship for three days ranged from $4,000 to $15,000, an increase of about 50% compared to January.

Maritime risk management experts and insurance companies say the number of Somali pirate attacks has decreased significantly compared to previous periods. The group primarily targets smaller vessels in less patrolled waters. While the current Somali piracy threat is not as severe as it was between 2008 and 2014, regional officials and industry sources fear the issue could escalate.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned: “If we do not stop this new wave of piracy, the situation could become as serious as before.” Mohamud argued that the key to curbing the piracy threat is strengthening Somalia’s law enforcement capabilities at sea and on land, rather than sending more foreign warships to its waters.

MINH CHAU

Source