Numerious acts of piracy were recorded over the years. And these attacks according to reports have increased. One thing
to bear in mind is that pirates or rather a large number of them are highly trained well organised criminals using most
sophisticated methods, speedboats and modern weapons.
Known acts of modern day piracy and where they occured:
Rise in Somali pirate attacks:
"We prefer hijacking ships to being on land because that way we can feed ourselves," pirate Abdulahi Hasan Afdhub told
AFP by satellite phone from a hijacked Taiwanese ship in Somali waters....Read more
Somali pirates - Latest news
It is interesting that the regions where pirates go for commercial vessels are totally different from those where they attack
yachts. In my book and on this website I only concentrate on sailing yachts.
I distinguish between piracy with a traditional background of hundreds of years and recent piracy due to reasons of poverty.
Regions with a traditional background are the Sulu Sea (Philippines), the China Sea, especially the South China Sea around
Indonesia, the coastline of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden including the Bab-el-Mandeb.
Areas where piracy developed because of poverty are Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Ecuador.
Klaus Hympendahl. Yacht Piracy
A luxury cruise liner
According to an expert "Worldwide, 400 known incidents of pirate attacks have occurred
this year ( 2005) alone." The waters off the east coast of Africa, especially along the coast of
Somalia, which is Africa's longest, are now known to be some of the most dangerous sea
routes on the globe.
Achille Lauro
On 7 October 1985 PLO terrorists hijacked the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro and threatened
to kill the passengers and
crew unless 50 imprisoned Palestinians were released by Israel. Abul Abbas was the master-
mind behind the Achille Laurohijacking.
Seabourn Spirit
Passengers on board the 440-foot-long, 10,000-ton luxury cruise liner Seabourn Spirit experienced such an attack.
Fortunately for them the ship escaped the pirates in their speedboats armed with grenade launchers and machine guns.
From here we move to Malacca Strait between Indonesia and Malaysia that is wellknown for it's pirate activities.
MV Rozen
Pirates off the coast of Somalia have hijacked a cargo ship conducting a humanitarian mission for the United Nations.
The United States is reported to have dispatched a war ship to protect other humanitarian vessels after this latest pirate
attack.Sea pirates hijacked the freighter, MV Rozen, Sunday morning.....Read more
In 2006 pirates attacked and robbed two UN-chartered ships while on their way to Aceh from Sumatra.
A great number of known acts of piracy were recorded around the Malacca Strait. In another incident pirates sabotage
an Indonesian-owned oil tanker and kidnapped the captain and a crew member.
Gulf of Aden, a western arm of the Arabian sea between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The gulf is bordered by South
Yemen on the north, French Somaliland on the west and Somalia on the south.Not only is it connected with the Red sea
by Bab el Mandeb, it's also part of the shipping route between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The yacht Narena while sailing in a convoy with four other yachts through the gulf were attacked by Pirates.
Other piracy hotspots
Iraq - Basrah oil terminal and Umm Qasr. 10 Attacks were reported in 2005.
In South and Central America and the Caribbean waters - Peru – Callao
Bangladesh : Chittagong anchorage - Twenty five incidents have been reported since 28.01.2006
It's said that there were 276 acts of piracy in 2005, 329 in 2004, 445 in 2003, 370 in 2002, 335 in 2001, and 469 in 2000.
In order to establish a better picture of the piracy and armed robbery problem, IMB encourages more attacks and
attempted attacks to be reported to the PRC
For information:
Captain Pottengal Mukundan
Director, IMB
Tel: +44 208 591 3000
Email: p.mukundan@icc-ccs.org.uk
The 2005 report shows an increase of pirate activity in other areas – most notably Somalia, Tanzania and Vietnam.
Somalia reported 35 attacks in 2005. The increased attacks declare the Somali waters the most dangerous in Africa.
Attacks in the Malacca Straits fell from 38 in 2004 to 12 attacks in 2005. Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Venezuela,
Colombia, Haiti, Nigeria and Guinea also all recorded a fall in the number of reported piracy and armed robbery attacks.
Piracy and Armed Robbery. Attacks around the world. Jan - Des 2005/Jan - Jun 2006. Source:
ICC International Maritime Bureau ( IMB)
In Nigeria, pirates tend to attack vessels involved in the oil business, while in South East Asia,
mainly small tankers, tugs and barges are seized.
Cargo is often stolen from barges and crew members are kidnapped and held for ransom.
In Somalia, any merchant ship is a potential target and they are advised to stay at least 200
miles off the Somali coast.
