Vicious pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia have become more forceful over that last few weeks. Five vessels have reportedly been hijacked in the past week, including Saudi-owned supertanker Sirius Star which is the largest vessel ever seized at sea.
The hijacking of Sirius Star was shocking because it expressed the vulnerability of even very large ships and pointed to widening ambitions and capabilities among ransom-hungry pirates, not to mention making injured international travelers seem helpless.
The Somali coast connects Europe to Asia and to the Middle East. It is one of the world’s most dangerous seas due to the havoc pirates have been causing to passing vessels, which has resulted in millions of dollars in ransom, raised insurance costs, and threats on humanitarian supplies.
At the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern at new acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia, urging coordinated international efforts to fight the tormenters.
"The secretary-general expresses his concern at new acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia in recent days and reiterates his condemnation of all acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea wherever they occur," the spokesperson's office of the UN chief said in a statement.
Ban Ki-Moon is working with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, the IMO (International Maritime Organization), NATO, the European Union, and other member states to ensure a coordinated effort to fight piracy.
The efforts of the Secretary-General appear to be working. Many groups of the United Nations and around the globe have been increasingly becoming involved.
The European Union has recently agreed to deploy an air and naval force off the coast of Somalia to guard sea-lanes against piracy. The naval mission, set to be in place by next month, is expected to protect vulnerable vessels off the Somali coast and to help ensure the delivery of aid.
NATO, on the other hand, has already sent a fleet to protect food shipments to Somalia.
The South Korean government also plans to dispatch a 4,500-ton destroyer loaded with SM-2 Block IIIA missiles and other cutting-edge weaponry, as well as Navy special forces, to the waters off Somalia.
Piracy has been a constant global problem for centuries. Nowadays, with the evolution of technology and the birth of satellites, it seems that it would be less of a burden. Today, cruise line workers are given a “Pirate Drill” in case they are invaded at sea. This should not happen in the 21st century.
Moving forward, the world can hope for a safer future when traveling on the ocean.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of piracy, contact the lawyers of V&B for free information.
Category: International Maritime Injury Claims
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