Historical Facts
Whilst piracy on the seas has been in existence for centuries in many parts of the world, it has been established through detailed research that piracy in the 21st century is ever increasing. It now comprises of modern up to date manpower, highly trained and fearless in their quest to plunder ships, capture hostages and demand excruciatingly high sums of ransom for the safe return of crew, passengers and vessels.
In addition, modern day pirates are equipped with ultra fast vessels with state of the art communications and weapons enabling them to be more successful than ever in reaching their aims.
Around 20,000 oil tankers, freighters and merchant vessels alone pass along the crucial shipping route of Somalia each year. Around 50,000 vessels pass through the Malacca Straits per year carrying a third of world trade and half its oil supplies.
These are only two key areas where piracy is rampant, not to mention the coasts of South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, parts of the Pacific, Yemen in the Red Sea and the South China Seas. According to official statistics it has been observed that in 2008 alone, 293 commercial vessels worldwide were attacked by pirates, of which 111 incidents took place off the Somali coast. Out of this total, 42 vessels were actually hijacked and 815 crew members were taken hostage.
As of 31st December 2008, 13 vessels with a compliment of 242 crew members were still being held to ransom. The highest level of attacks off the Somali coast during the year 2008 took place in September where 19 vessels were attacked, some of which were a great distance from the coast. Around 140 further incidents of piracy occurred off the Nigerian coast, with 27 vessels boarded, five hijacked and 39 crew members were kidnapped.
So far in 2008 according to official reports, it is estimated that ransom payments made to pirates for release of vessels and crew may be as high as US$ 150 Million with a typical demand per ship ranging between US$ 1 Million to US$ 3.5 Mllion. In 2008, piracy is estimated to have cost the world between US$ 60 Million and US$ 70 Million.
The main differences between the East and West African pirate activities is that almost all the incidents in Nigeria are conducted within its territorial waters whereas most of the incidents along the East coast of Africa and the Gulf of Aden occur on the high seas.
