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Jones Act and Maritime News

Warships did not slow down Somali pirate attacks in ‘09

Even with the presence of the newly deployed European Naval Force (“EUNAVFOR”) off the Horn of Africa this year, pirate attacks almost doubled. In 2008 there were 111 attacks and in 2009 there have been 209 through the last week of December.

The fleet of warships from the European Union, NATO, and several countries has cut the percentage of successful attacks from 37 percent to 20 percent. However, pirates have responded in more daring fashion, using captured vessels as “mother ships” to venture out up to 1,000 miles offshore, more than double their previous range.

One of the obstacles at sea is the naval force policy of “disrupt and deter,” with military interdiction generally going no further than confiscation of equipment while releasing the assailants with enough fuel to return to Somalia. Only when pirates are actually caught red handed in an attack are they detained.

"It's not going to be solved by racing around the Indian Ocean with warships, capturing pirates," said Rear Adm. Peter Hudson, the commander of the EU Naval Force's counter-piracy efforts.

Source: Associated Press

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