| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
Somali Pirates Having Tough Time: 70 Percent Less Attacks This Year
Thursday, April 26, 2012 21:32
% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.
The Pirate's Lament
April 26, 2012: The Somali pirates are having a much more difficult time this year, due to better tactics by the anti-piracy patrol. This has mainly to do with more aggressive treatment of mother ships. These vessels, which can operate far from the coast, are sought out and destroyed. As a result, so far this year there have only been 27 attacks in the Indian Ocean, compared to 91 in the same period last year. That's a 70 percent reduction. The success rate of pirate attacks is about a third of what it was three years ago. Large ships are better prepared for possible attacks and the anti-piracy patrol has developed more effective techniques for getting to ships under attack, in time to defeat the pirates. So far this year, Somali pirates have attacked 102 ships. This resulted in the capture of nine ships, the death of two sailors and the capture of 152. Currently, pirates are holding 15 ships, but only nine are large vessels likely to bring a big ransom. About 240 sailors are being held. Smaller cargo and fishing vessels are taken for use as mother ships, and usually released, with their crews, after a few months. readmore
