Promise of the good life keeps Somali piracy buoyant

As many ship owners continue to pay pirate ransoms in order to protect crew, cargo and vessels from harm, piracy has probably become Somalia’s most lucrative ‘profession’, netting US$150 million last year alone. What started out as rag-tag bands of seagoing robbers has become a highly sophisticated, well-coordinated industry as pirates invest their ill-gotten gains in more sophisticated weapons, navigation equipment, strike craft…even military-style camouflage dress. Johan Swart of Shepstone and Wylie Attorneys in Cape Town gave The Maritime Law Association of South Africa’s annual general meeting a fascinating insight into just where the ransom money goes. Pirates actually involved in a hijacking get to keep 30%, pirate bosses receive 20% and government officials 30%, while 20% is spent on future operations. Pirates collect an average ransom of US$2 million per hijacked vessel and are known to look well after captured crews, right down to supplying food from special kitchens if they are assured a ransom will be paid. Piracy has become “socially acceptable” in Somalia, in many ways enjoying the support of most coastal village communities and the admiration of many women who fantasise about marrying a pirate. Lavish la dolce vita lifestyles include large houses, top of the range vehicles and expensive women. “They have money, power and they are getting stronger by the day,” observes Swart. There was a total of 180 reported piracy incidents off the Somali coast in 2008, the number of actual attacks 115, of which 46 were successful hijackings. Attempted but foiled hijackings came to 69 and suspicious approaches which did not result in actual attacks to 65, for an overall success rate of 40%. Successful hijackings were at their highest level in August (70%), declining to 48% in September, 28% in October, 42% in November and 25% in December. The success rate of Somali pirates was at its highest in the Gulf of Aden, 45% in April this year, and 39% in the Indian Ocean the same month. Last year, 11 crew were killed, 32 injured, 21 declared missing and 42 kidnapped for ransom. Tankers, bulk carriers and cargo ships were initially the major targets but Somali pirates are clearly intent on richer pickings, targeting several large luxury yachts and at least six cruise liners, including MSC Melody – well-known in South African ports – over the past year. Swart says the individual results of Somali piracy makes it likely that the scourge will spread to more areas globally. He believes the increasing threat is bound to discourage seafarers from continuing their profession. The seafarer shortfall, already at 34 000, is expected to increase to 83 900 in 2012. While global awareness of Somali piracy has increased, how to successfully deal with them has yet to be defined.