Enough’s enough - world shipping organizations call for action against Somalia piracy

Via American Shipper:

Meeting at the International Maritime Organization at the invitation of IMO Secretary General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, members of the so-called Shipping Round Table — BIMCO, ICS/ISF, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO — and the International Transport Workers’ Federation said there has been an “alarming deterioration of the situation — both in the number of attacks, hijackings and hostage takings off Somalia, and the ferocity with which they are carried out.” An estimated 13 vessels and more than 200 seafarers are reportedly in the hands of pirates.
There were reports Friday morning that Somali pirates hijacked another merchant ship carrying cement in the Indian Ocean bound for Oman.
IMO said 12 percent of world crude oil passes through the Gulf of Aden.
There is a need for clear rules of engagement that would enable military assets to intervene effectively to protect shipping; and for an extension, for an adequate duration, of the mandate given in United Nations Security Council resolution 1816 (2008) enabling states co-operating with the transitional federal government of Somalia to enter the country’s territorial waters and use all necessary means to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, consistent with relevant international law, IMO said. That mandate is due to expire in December, six months after the adoption of the resolution on June 2.

At least one British naval officer says that merchant ships should simply hire mercenaries to protect against pirate attacks:

The newspaper reported Tuesday that Commodore Keith Winstanley said the situation has gotten so dire in the waters off of Somalia that commercial vessels should be armed. Among the visual deterrents he suggested were mounted heavy machine guns.
“This coalition headquarters is advocating that as an option,” he said. “There is a very active debate at the moment about whether or not the international shipping community employs armed security detachments. It is a measure we are encouraging people to at least consider. This has got to be a business decision and its going to cost money.”

More from Eagle Speak, who links to this Middle East Times article.

Pirates use modern technologies and spies to gather intelligence, select targets, coordinate attacks and conduct negotiations. While many pirates are still small bands using only a few boats launched from a coastline, more sophisticated and well-organized pirates have numerous speedboats launched from a larger “mother ship” that can overwhelm a victim with their number of vessels, or cut off avenues of escape. There are reports that pirates operate a number of “mother ships” simultaneously, making tracking and interdiction even more difficult.

Importantly, the pirate tactical doctrine – speed, surprise and stealth, combined with overwhelming force of violence, is the key to a successful raid or hijacking. Pirate gangs are generally armed with intelligence about the target ships, including destinations, cargo and ownership. A sophisticated piracy support structure exists in Somalia and the neighboring African countries, providing arms, trade in captured goods, liaison for the negotiation of ransom payment, and other services.

Somalia’s Islamist Courts promise end to piracy

Danish warships supply security for Somalia bound food aid shipments

Forbes profile on sea piracy

Strategy Page on Somali Piracy