Shipping warned to steer clear of pirate-infested Somali coast
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| Tensions between rival warlords make everyday life difficult in Mogadishu |
London, 24 July 2002 - Ships unlucky enough to develop engine trouble after straying too close to the shores of Somalia are virtually certain to fall victim to armed gangs who will extort a stiff ransom from the owners.
The latest six-monthly piracy report by ICC's crime and piracy-fighting International Maritime Bureau highlights the dangers facing ships whose masters set a course less than 50 nautical miles from the coast of war-ravaged Somalia. To be safe, IMB advises ships to keep 100 nautical miles from the shore.
The report advised shipping: "This is a high risk area for hijackings. Armed pirates in speedboats and gunboats open fire on ships and rob or hijack them. The use of radio, including VHF, in these waters should be kept to a minimum.
"Ships anchoring near the Somali coast should note that they will be seized by one of the warring factions from shore, who have extorted substantial sums from owners for the return of the vessel and crew." The IMB said ransom demands could be for as much as half a million dollars.
Captain Jayant Abhyankar, IMB Deputy Director. said: "With weapons and ammunition openly flowing into the country, despite a United Nations arms embargo, Somalia's national waters are among the most dangerous in the world."
Somalia has been in the grip of armed factions and warlords since the collapse of Mohammed Siad Barre's regime in January 1991. Foreigners visiting the capital, Mogadishu, are in peril of kidnapping and need the protection of armed escorts.
In the most recent attack in Somali waters, a Cyprus-flag freighter, the Panagia Tinou, carrying a multi-million dollar cargo of fertilizers, was fought over by rival gangs, one of which mounted a 50 mm gun on the ship.
Worldwide, the piracy statistics are on the increase, with 171 incidents reported so far for the first six months of this year, compared with 165 for the same period in 2001. Indonesia continues to record the highest number of attacks, with 44 reported incidents. There were 12 attacks in Indian waters and 11 off Bangladesh.
IMB is a specialized bureau of ICC Commercial Crime Services, a division of the International Chamber of Commerce. Since 1992, IMB has operated a Pirac
y Reporting Centre at its Far East Regional Office in Kuala Lumpur, financed by voluntary contributions from shipping and insurance companies.
The centre beams daily piracy reports and alerts by satellite to ships at sea. The reports are combined in a weekly piracy report published on the CCS website at icc-ccs.org.
For further information, or to arrange an interview with Captain Mukundan, please contact ICC Director of Communications, Bryce Corbett in Paris on tel: +33 1 49 53 2987 [Click here to send a mail]
Click here to see regional piracy maps
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