And this is just one of the headlines:
Admiral's 'Urgent' Plea: Pirate-Fighting Sonic Blasters
Inside Pirate Central
Somali Pirates Hit Another Seven Ships
Russia to U.S.: Let's Team up, to Fight Pirates
Could Mercenaries Return as Pirate Foes?
Pirates Hit Six More Ships Off of Somalia
Somalia Pirate Crisis: A Little Law and Order, Please
Pirates to NYT: "We Just Want the Money"
Sonic Blasters, Mercs vs. Somali Pirates
Somali Pirate Vessels vs. Navy Tech
U.S. Navy: Pirates Not Our Problem
Somali Pirates Seize Ship-Load of Tanks
French Troops Snatch Pirate Hostages
Pirate Attacks Up 75%; Nearly One Raid Per Day
Secret Weapon of the French Anti-Pirate Raid?
Behind the French Anti-Pirate Raid
Old-School Counterinsurgency in Somalia
Somali Pirates At It Again
Argh! Nigeria Pirates Recycle Gov't Guns
France Raids Pirates!
Arrrr! Warships vs. Somali Pirates
Somali Pirate Map Found!
"They are armed to the teeth, ruthless and desperate, but claim to adhere to their own code of conduct. They have grown so powerful that they threaten to cut a vital trade route, and fearful merchants are crying out for naval escorts. In the seas off Somalia, it seems as if the so-called heyday of piracy at the turn of the 18th century has returned, with an estimated 1,000 pirates organised into five main fleets stalking a latter-day Barbary Coast."
"Seizing a ship is surprisingly easy. Under darkness, fast boats pull alongside slow-moving ships, and the pirates scramble aboard. The small crews are unprepared and easily overwhelmed. The bandits raid the ship's safe and then focus on their main prize: ransom for the ship and crew. Along with the human risk go higher shipping costs, financial uncertainty and the potential for serious environmental peril if a captured oil tanker is damaged."
Pirates by numbers
£9bn estimated annual losses due to piracy worldwide.
90-95 percentage of world trade carried by ship.
300 approximate number of sailors currently held hostage by pirates worldwide.
198 the number of pirate attacks so far this year.
$1m average ransom for a ship taken by pirates.
1,000 estimated number of pirates in Somalia.
There are still perks:
x
JAG
1 comment:
Yea I was surprised when I heard about them the first time.. I wanted to tell you something about them, somewhat close to what you have in your post, but ay, looks like you got it all figured out. Dad's into shipping, so when our ships go there, the pirates go on , weapons and all, take control of the ship, then get off when they know they cant get anything out of it.
Sometimes they can be helpful, when there's another 'gang' around that's harming, the one that's on the boat, could do the owner some good.
xx
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