Bulletin 262 - 9/02
Piracy/Ransom - Somalia
A recent hijacking of a 14,921 gt bulk carrier off the Northern Somalian Coast has highlighted the increasing threat of piracy to commercial shipping in this area of the Gulf of Aden. The bulk carrier developed engine problems in the Gulf of Aden, and due to adverse weather was forced to find the nearest suitable anchorage point to undertake some relatively minor repair work about 6nm off the Somalian Coast. Within a few hours the ship was boarded by gunmen who overwhelmed the crew and there followed twenty-two days of tense negotiations. The ship was eventually released but only after a payment was made to the local warlord and the German Navy provided an escort back to International Waters. Experienced commentators have suggested that the owners were extremely fortunate to get the ship out this quickly without any of the crew being harmed. It is their view that most incidents of this type would take far longer to resolve with a real threat of some loss of life.
It is the first time that a ship of this size is known to have been seized and is an indication that the pirates will no longer limit themselves to yachts and brown water craft. To this extent, the IMB has now warned that the risk of an attack to vessels straying near to Somalia's coast has increased from "one of possibility to a certainty". The threat is particularly acute in the North Eastern region of Somalia called Puntland, which has unilaterally declared independence from the Government in Mogadishu. A recent spate of attacks on ships, has been concentrated near the town of Bossaso where competing warlords have been engaged in a civil war for the past two years. This area is perhaps the poorest and most lawless in Somalia and kidnap and ransom demands have clearly become an easy and lucrative means of obtaining much needed US dollars to fund their war chests.
It is therefore the recommendation of the Club that all masters passing through the Gulf of Aden are instructed to keep at least 50nm from the coast of Somalia otherwise they face a very real threat of being hijacked. They should be made fully aware of the risks that are associated with sailing any closer.
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