Somali piracy attacks are becoming a massive problem for international shipping companies lately. Maritime security agencies just reported that armed groups tried to climb onto a big cargo ship called Greta Star while it was moving near the southern coast of Yemen on June 15. The ship was flying the flag of Panama when a small boat filled with gunmen rushed toward it. The attackers opened heavy fire from their weapons only about 14 nautical miles away from the coast. Luckily the crew managed to increase the speed of the huge vessel and used defensive moves to stop the attackers from getting onboard. No injuries were reported from this scary situation but it shows how active the criminals are now.
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How the Crew Fought Back Against Somali Piracy Attacks
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations which is also known as UKMTO confirmed they are actively investigating this serious event near Yemen. They quickly warned all ships traveling in the area to be extremely careful and report any suspicious movements immediately. But this was not the only scary event because another of the Somali piracy attacks happened around 32 nautical miles south of the Hafun region in Somalia. This time two boats carrying 12 heavily armed men approached a general cargo ship flying the flag of Palau.
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Security companies reported that the gunmen started shooting at the slow vessel and ordered the captain to stop the ship completely. The ship was moving very slowly at less than five miles per hour which made it an easy target. However there were armed security guards on the cargo ship who started trading fire with the attackers. This intense gun battle lasted for about 30 minutes before the two pirate boats finally gave up and turned around. The ship then changed its direction and went faster to escape the area safely without any injuries to the crew.
- Greta Star ship escaped after gunmen opened heavy fire near the coast of Yemen
- Palau flagged ship survived a 30 minute gun battle with 12 armed pirates near Hafun
- Security guards on ships are becoming necessary to stop these violent hijackings
Why Security Groups Worry About Somali Piracy Attacks
The dangerous area near Hafun is the exact same place where maritime experts noticed a big rise in Somali piracy attacks earlier this year in April. During that time criminals actually managed to hijack two separate ships successfully. These new incidents are creating deep fears for global trade because the Gulf of Aden is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the entire world. If Somali piracy attacks continue to happen more frequently shipping companies will have to pay much higher insurance costs or change their routes completely.
“When pirates start shooting at cargo ships again it means the old security measures are no longer working well enough to scare them away.”
Many experts believe that local political instability and a lack of coastal patrolling are allowing these gangs to organize their operations again. The criminals wait in small fishing villages and use high speed boats to surprise large commercial ships that look vulnerable. Without stronger naval presence from international forces the frequency of Somali piracy attacks will definitely keep rising.
Stopping the Rise of Somali Piracy Attacks
To protect the brave sailors who work on these merchant ships countries need to work together more closely. Right now private security guards seem to be the most effective way to stop these ocean robberies. If the Palau ship did not have armed guards onboard the pirates would have easily taken control of the vessel and demanded millions of dollars in ransom.
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The international community cannot ignore the threat of Somali piracy attacks before the situation gets completely out of control like it did over a decade ago. Shipping companies are demanding better protection from international navies that patrol the region. Everyone agrees that keeping the Gulf of Aden safe is essential for the global economy. If these Somali piracy attacks are not stopped right now the waters around East Africa will become too dangerous for ordinary cargo ships to pass through.
