Who should pay to fight the pirates?

The problem with the piracy near Somalia is foremost because there is no government in Somalia to fight the pirates, let alone fight them and try the ones which are captured.

The international shipping community is content to pay ransoms for ships which are captured, because this is cheaper than arming their ships, and probably even cheaper than even doing the basic things against pirates, such as 24 hour watchmen.

Now that the issue is heating up, it's all coming to a head, to make the users pay for protection.

There has been experience fighting pirates in the Straits of Malacca.

Most controversially, however, Mr Sasakawa advocated copying the user-pays framework he has advocated to fund maritime safety in the Malacca Strait to help fund anti-piracy operations.

“While it is critical for the international community to cooperate in dealing with piracy, I think the time has come to expect the private sector to also make various contributions,” he said.

And, can the navies really cover the big oceans?

Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also told the media after the conference that he did not support putting arms on commercial ships and that it was up to merchant ships to pay for their own protection.

“I am not a proponent of putting arms on anything,” Adm Mullen said, adding commercial shippers could hire private security, but did not want to “because it costs them too much money”.

He pointed out that less than 1% of the ships transiting the Gulf of Aden fall victim to attack, and combating piracy was therefore not his top priority.

He said one analysis had shown it would take 1,000 ships to effectively fight piracy, more than the entire US Navy fleet. “I’ve got a big globe. I don’t have 1,000 ships that I can devote to that,” he said. -

Sailing through Pirate Alley

Back in December, after the hijacking of the Sirius Star, the High Risk Area for seafarers was expanded to include all of the Gulf of Aden. This area is larger than the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA).

The Europe-based International Maritime Employers' Committee, which represents over 100 companies, operates more than 5,500 ships, and employs more than 145,000 seafarers worldwide, said the decision of ship owners and seafarers alike for a bigger high-risk zone was due to "the attacks that have occurred outside the previously agreed zone, including the 'Sirius Star' which had been hijacked off the coast of Kenya."

Although this does not guarantee their safety, at least the crews will be getting a lot more money for sailing into this risky area.

"Wage bonus and other benefits" -- P100 percent bonus in wage and double death and disability compensation -- for those who pass by the area.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration announced that Filipino seafarers who passed by the specified zone would get double pay and could even refuse to board the ship at the last port if they so wish.

There hasn't been much in the news lately about the Somali Pirates. Of course, other types of Pirates have been occupying our news as of late.

Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA)

Despite the outcry from shipowners, apparently the navies of the world are doing something to stem the piracy problem in the Gulf of Aden. However, I am guessing the Somali pirates have taken their business a bit south of this zone.


The U.S. Navy issued a press release outlining the international response to piracy.

"BAHRAIN, Manama (NNS) -- Since the inception of the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA), Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 has helped deter more than a dozen attacks in the Gulf of Aden. However, criminals have still successfully targeted several vessels in the region.

The Maritime Security Patrol Area was established Aug. 22 in support of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) call for international assistance to discourage attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden.

The MSPA is a geographic area in the Gulf of Aden utilized by Combined Maritime Forces to focus their efforts against destabilizing activities. These activities include, but are not limited to: criminal activities, drug smuggling operations that support terrorist and violent extremist organizations and human smuggling. Coalition forces patrol the MSPA, which is not marked or defined by visual navigational means, on a routine basis.

Initially under Canadian Commodore Bob Davidson's leadership, CTF 150 ships are now commanded by Danish Royal Navy Commodore Per Bigum Christensen.

"Coalition maritime efforts will give the IMO time to work international efforts that will ultimately lead to a long-term solution," said Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, Combined Maritime Forces."


Following are suggestions for ships.

"Mariners must remain vigilant," said Christensen, CTF-150's commander. "A ship's master and her crew are the first line of defense for their own ship."

This fact has been highlighted by merchant mariners who have been able to take effective proactive measures to defend their vessels. Such measures have included deterring attacks simply by keeping a sharp lookout for suspicious small boats operating in the vicinity of their ships, increasing speed and maneuvering to avoid small craft, and even repelling would-be boarders with water from fire hoses.

Gortney also suggested that the shipping industry must consider hiring security teams for their vessels."
"The coalition does not have the resources to provide 24-hour protection for the vast number of merchant vessels in the region. The shipping companies must take measures to defend their vessels and their crews."