Call for more warship patrols to halt Somali pirate hijackings
Experts have called for an increased presence of warships in high-risk waters, as a crucial deterrent against a resurgence in Somali piracy.
Pirates hijacked the Malta-registered cargo vessel MV Ruen on December 14, in the first successful case of hostage-taking off the coast of Somalia in six years.
Seventeen crew members were taken captive in the attack, which sparked calls for sustained vigilance from bodies such as Atalanta, a counter-piracy military operation in the region led by the EU Naval Force (Eunavfor).
Days after the seizure of the MV Ruen, Somali pirates hijacked a commercial dhow in the waters off the Yemeni island of Socotra.
“Atalanta continues to monitor the situation intensively together with the Somali police forces,” an EU Naval Force representative told The
National, referring to the crew being held captive on board the MV Ruen.
Nearly 20 nations are part of Operation Atalanta, providing maritime security in the Red Sea and north-western parts of the Indian Ocean.
The hijackings by Somali pirates came after a surge in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on ships passing through the Red Sea.
The Houthis, who are supported by Iran and aligned with Hamas, have vowed to keep up the attacks until Israel stops its war in Gaza.
This has led to the US and European nations sending warships to the region to protect one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
“Co-operation between international naval forces together with the forces of the coastal countries in the area of operations, in this case Somalia, is essential to tackle any piracy threat,” the EU Naval Force representative said.
The role of regional maritime security centres, such as those in the Seychelles, Oman and Madagascar, should also be highlighted, the representative added.
“Co-operation with them ensures a much more complete and effective awareness of the maritime security situation,” the official said.
Marine monitoring groups have urged caution and do not view the hijacking of the MV Ruen as an isolated attack.
They warn that the threat of Somali piracy persists. “Somali
pirates continue to possess the capability to carry out incidents far from the Somali coast,” said Michael Howlett, director of the ICC International Maritime Bureau.
“Every successful hijacking increases the probability of more incidents being initiated. A continued and increased naval presence will be a contributing deterrent factor.”
Somali pirates have caused chaos in vital shipping lanes, especially since a surge of activity in 2008, taking dozens of crew members hostage and demanding millions of dollars in ransom.
Following sustained efforts to tackle the pirates for more than a decade, there was a reduction in naval patrols amid a decrease in armed attacks from 2018.
But with recent militant and pirate attacks, the naval presence in the region looks set to build up in coming months.
“Naval patrolling and interventions have been the most successful of deterrent actions
Nearly 20 nations are part of an operation providing security in parts of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean
in all cases of piracy and armed robbery globally,” Mr Howlett said.
“The international navies have contributed significantly to the decline of Somali piracy.
“Their continued presence in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and off the east coast of Somalia is a necessity. An increase in their presence will certainly give seafarers greater confidence while transiting these waters.”
Maritime authorities have also warned that merchant vessels need to strengthen measures on board to keep Somali pirates at bay.
Armed security guards, high-pressure water cannon and razor wire across ships to make boarding difficult are among measures that have been used to secure vessels.
“Operation Atalanta remains firmly committed to maintaining maritime security in the area and allowing freedom of navigation,” the EU Naval Force representative told The National.
“Eunavfor’s mandate has kept the fight against piracy at the centre of its tasks.”