Piracy in the Indian Ocean on the Decline

According to a report by David Axe, piracy in the Indian Ocean is on a decline due to a number of different circumstances including ones like barbed wire hand rails and faster sailing speeds. However, despite the bizarre ones, another leading reason for the drop in piracy rests in the hands of NATO and the three states of Somalia. They’ve worked to greatly increase security in the area which has made it so that there has only been a single hijacking in the past three months.

This is great news, especially for those nations that have shipping companies that go through that area on a regular basis. As many might remember, back in April, the Maersk Alabama was hijacked and the captain was held for a few days. In the end, President Obama gave authorization for a Navy SEAL team to take out the Somali pirates and rescued the captain.

The fact that piracy in the Indian Ocean is on a decline is a great thing and really gives credit to NATO, but more importantly, gives credit to the three states of Somalia. Each has developed, with the help of the United States and NATO, a force that can handle pirates. While they don’t have a strong navy to do things at sea, what these states have developed are small, land based forces that can go in and dismantle the pirate villages. Without their villages, these pirates are homeless.

On the home front in Somalia, the attitude towards pirates has changed as well. At one time when it was socially acceptable for young men to be pirates, now it is becoming more of a bothersome to Somali people. Add the above mentioned infantry force and few want to even consider becoming pirates.

Many officials that are directly involved in dealing with the Somali pirate issue stress that this doesn’t mean the problem is over. Piracy is still an issue in the area and those that are more experienced have realized that dealing with the navies of a multi-national response isn’t rational. Therefore, they’ve gone more south and continue to raid there. So piracy isn’t over, but there are actions being taken against it.

One of the fears, according to Mr. Axe, is that nations will perceive this as a means of “getting out.” Pirates are no longer a threat; therefore, they can pull their navies back to their coastal seas. This is dangerous for the simple fact that piracy is still a problem in the area and if all of these ships were to be removed before Somalia has developed a force capable of deterring pirates, all that will come from this is a smarter pirate force that continues to raid and hijack ships.

I’d like to see this multi-national naval force stay in the area and continue to patrol the waters. As Somalia develops their own force, they can prevent pirates from gaining a foothold on the coastal beaches, but also in the sea. If we leave too early, they won’t have a chance to route the problem and the pirates will come back.

However, in the end, it will take more than just all these large destroyers and frigates in the area to protect the commercial ships. Since all of these pirate attacks have happened, the ships have added barbed wire to their hand rails to prevent people from boarding. More importantly, ships have been making the attempt to sail much faster. The assumed 25 mph makes it nearly impossible for pirates to board. The waters are simply too choppy.

In the end, it is expensive to keep these ships in the area. However, if it’s providing Somalia with the opportunity to develop a force that can keep piracy at bay, it’s an investment that will, over time, pan out nicely.