Latest Piracy Information - October 2013

The combined threat assessment of International Naval Counter Piracy Forces is and remains that:

All sailing yachts under their own passage should remain out of the High Risk Area (HRA) or face the risk of being hijacked and held hostage for ransom.

• The root cause of piracy has NOT been eradicated. This is due to limited progress establishing an effective law enforcement capacity within the towns and regions associated with piracy. The root causes of piracy are the focus of the longer term strategy which remains in its early stages.
• Extreme poverty and lack of employment prospects remain in coastal communities, contributing to a large numbers of disaffected youths looking for any opportunities. The motive for piracy therefore remains.
• As of September 2013 approximately US$20 million in ransom has been paid to Somali pirates for the release of vessels and/or crews in the hands of pirates. Pirates are now cash rich but asset poor, and keen to seize any vessel which might provide a financial return.
• Members of the local maritime community, such as traders in dhows and fishermen in skiffs, carry assault weapons to protect themselves from attacks by both pirates and competitors. This prevalence of weapons manifests itself in shots being fired at merchant vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden and increases the risk posed to yachts transiting the area.
• Statistics show a decline in the number of successful attacks on Merchant Vessels. The reason for this decline is NOT due to a lack of intent on the pirate’s part or a break in the piracy business model. This reduction is as a direct result of the employment of Private Armed Security Teams (PAST) and the full implementation of onboard defensive measures (Best Management Practice 4 - BMP4) by industry and the merchant shipping community.
• International Naval Counter Piracy Forces are not deployed to the HRA to protect transiting sailing vessels.
• Attacks have become more desperate. Pirates Action Groups (PAGs) have deployed from beaches in reckless, risk averse and hostile missions, and are actively hunting ‘soft’ targets of opportunity. Any perceived weakness will be identified and exploited.

Full details of the latest advice can be found in the attachment below.

To read the Cruising Association Press Release regarding the latest warning, please click here.