Piracy in the Gulf of Aden Continues to Rise

(Photo: U.S. Navy/D. Keith Simmons Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class)

Figures released by the Combined Task Force 151 indicate the problem of piracy continues to rise at an alarming rate.

Attacks are already nearing the number recorded in 2008, as of the 28th May totaling 115.

The task force commander Turkish Navy Rear Admiral Caner Bener noted "A major contributor to our success against piracy is our ability to coordinate our actions and operations with other professional navies, with more than one million square miles to patrol, synchronizing our collective efforts is essential to ensure we're protecting sea lines of communication as effectively and efficiently as possible."

This is borne out by the number of pirates encountered, totaling 443 since 26th August 2008 and 28 vessels confiscated or destroyed.

Those figures in full:

International Response: August 26, 2008 to May 28, 2009:
• 443 pirates encountered
• 212 released; 184 turned over for prosecution; 8 killed; 39 pending
• 26 pirate vessels destroyed; 12 pirate vessels confiscated
• 189 small arms, 39 RPGs, 80 RPG projectiles confiscated

2009 Piracy Statistics, as of May 28:
• 115 piracy events: 27 successful attacks, 85 unsuccessful attacks
• 14 ships and more than 200 merchant mariners currently held hostage by pirates

2008 Piracy Statistics:
• 122 piracy events: 0.37 percent of overall traffic
• 42 successful attacks, 80 unsuccessful attacks