Thursday, January 20, 2011
Pirates and Captives (photo: Jason R. Zalasky, U.S. Navy)
While U.S. media coverage of pirate attacks has subsided, acts of piracy continue to rise. Last year, in fact, was the worst ever, with a record number 1,181 people abducted from 53 ships. Eight were killed.
As has been the case for some time, pirates from Somalia accounted for nearly all attacks (92%). Somali pirates currently are holding 31 vessels and 707 hostages.
But Somali pirates are not limiting themselves to ships sailing by their country. Vessels were overtaken in 2010 as far south as the Mozambique Channel and as far east as 72° East longitude in the Indian Ocean, more than 1,100 miles away.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Hostage Taking at Sea Rises to Record Levels, Says IMB (ICC Commercial Crime Services)
Piracy News & Figures (ICC Commercial Crime Services)
First Piracy Trial in 150 Years Set to Open in Virginia (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)
Ship Captains Sue ExxonMobil over Pirate Attack off Nigeria (by David Wallechinsky, AllGov)
Pirates Currently Hold 260 Hostages (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)
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