Piracy at sea reached record levels in first quarter of 2003

BBC News On-Line ^ | Thursday, 1 May, 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Thursday, 1 May, 2003

High seas piracy hits record level

Piracy at sea reached record levels in the first quarter of 2003, with more than 100 incidents reported for the first time in a decade.

There were 103 pirate attacks in the first quarter of the year, up from 87 in the same period last year.

The International Maritime Bureau, which compiles the statistics, warned that Indonesia was by far the greatest piracy risk. The country had more incidents than the next three countries combined.

Last year 25 ships were hijacked

But the IMB praised India and China for handing down long prison sentences to pirates.

India in February sentenced 14 Indonesian pirates to seven years in prison with hard labour, while China the same month sentenced a group of Indonesian pirates to terms of up to 15 years.

"Both the Indian and Chinese authorities should be congratulated for having taken these difficult cases through to prosecution," the director of the IMB, Captain Pottengal Mukundan, said.

Indonesia has the most dangerous waters for international shipping, a global watchdog has reported.

Indonesia danger

"In contrast, the Indonesian authorities recently sentenced the hijackers of Inabukwa [a ship seized in March 2001] to between two and four years imprisonment," he said.

Areas of concern Indonesia: Anambas Islands, Gelasa Straits Bangladesh: Chittaging, Mongla India: Chennai, Chochin, Haldia Malaysia: Bintulu, Sandakan Somalia: Red Sea Indonesia reported 28 incidents of piracy in the first quarter of the year. The next three worst-affected countries - Bangladesh, India and Nigeria - had nine each.

The IMB said Indonesia's Anambas Islands and Gelasa Straits were areas of special concern.

Captain Mukundan did credit Jakarta's move to introduce new patrols of dangerous areas, which did bring down the number of incidents.

The IMB also addressed the problem of terrorism, noting that countries such as Japan have reportedly increased security of oil shipments in connection with the war in Iraq.

Pirates use guns and knives to overpower crews

Malaysia - where the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre is based - has taken similar action.

A French oil tanker was attacked by a boat filled with explosives in the Yemeni port of Aden in October of last year.

One crew member was killed and 90,000 barrels of oil were spilled into the Gulf of Aden.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Arrrr, me hearties!

[Asclepius]

Pirates use guns and knives to overpower crews

You don't say.

[Joan912]

Thanx for the post. Are you aware if the big ships/freighters normally have armed personnel on board to prevent piracy? Please don't tell me that hijacked ships are subject to the whims of their captors...

[Senator Pardek]

"Avast ye, matey"? What the hell does that mean? "20 degrees off the starboard bow, it's a Spanish galleon." There's no comeback for that!

[El Sordo]

I AM THE PIIIRAAAAAATTEEE KIIIIIIIIIINGG!

[onedoug]

"Oui, Uncle Jacque."

[anniegetyourgun]

"A French oil tanker was attacked by a boat filled with explosives in the Yemeni port of Aden in October of last year. One crew member was killed and 90,000 barrels of oil were spilled into the Gulf of Aden."

Note to the French: Contrary to your idiotic notions, terrorism happens.

[justshutupandtakeit]

75% Islamaniacs? 85%? 99%? 100%?

[ArcLight]

Pieces of eight!

[ThanhPhero]

seven years in prison with hard labour, while China the same month sentenced a group of Indonesian pirates to terms of up to 15 years.

These are severe sentences? I thought pirates were supposed to be hung! They are getting their wrists severely slapped.

[ThanhPhero]

There are no armed men on board these ships because the shipping companies fear shootouts morethan they fear successful hijackings.

[ThanhPhero]

"A French oil tanker was attacked by a boat filled with explosives in the Yemeni port of Aden in October of last year

That incident was not, properly speaking, piracy as the aim was not to seize the ship for profit. It was in the category of terrorism as we currently define the term.

[Paul Ross]

This article is way too fulsom with praise for the Chinese authorities. What this article fails to note is that a lot of the principle 'safe harbors' for the hijacked ships...are in China! And they are also one of the principle 'customers' for the stolen cargoes. And we have no idea of the 'prison sentances' for pirates are legit or merely for show...to maintain plausible deniability. Piracy is one of the PRC's profit centers.

[dark_lord]

It is much too bad that the US no longer issues "Letters of Marque". If this was done then anti-piracy would be quite profitable. I can see all kinds of money making opportunities to someone who could secure a letter of marque. Unfortunately, the US eventually signed the Treaty of Paris (although not until many years later -- and also note there are several treaties labeled "Treaty of Paris") and so no longer issues letters of marque even though Congress is granted that right in the Constitution (Section 8, paragraph 11.)

[rmlew]

1. Perhaps it is time to start arming America merchantment traveling through these areas. A .50 caliber machine gun should work nicely against small boats.
2. Either the US or our ANZAC allies should permanently post some frigates, armed with helicopters, in these areas.
3. Letters of Reprisal, anyone?

[FierceDraka]

It is much too bad that the US no longer issues "Letters of Marque". If this was done then anti-piracy would be quite profitable. I can see all kinds of money making opportunities to someone who could secure a letter of marque. Unfortunately, the US eventually signed the Treaty of Paris (although not until many years later -- and also note there are several treaties labeled "Treaty of Paris") and so no longer issues letters of marque even though Congress is granted that right in the Constitution (Section 8, paragraph 11.)

I was thinking of something along those lines while reading the article. A couple .50 cals per ship, plus a few anti-tank missiles for good measure.

[Travis McGee]

Exactly right. Occasionally when they are busted red handed they execute the pirates, but the beat goes on.

[AdmSmith]

Yes, you are right, for several years the local mobsters in China and PLA have been cooperating at "safe harbors". However, it seems that this has been reduced the last years.

But, a lack of cooperation among nations along the littoral areas of the South China Sea has hampered anti-pirate operations. The maritime police of one nation cannot pursue pirates into the territorial waters of another nation.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, has been unable to adopt a common strategy to deal with the menace.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!