November 2012 According to a senior United States official, Somali pirates have recently expanded their sphere of operation to include the west coast of India. Piracy remains an issue at the forefront of the diplomatic relations between world powers and nations in the Indian Ocean region. There is now a seemingly permanent detachment of naval vessels […]
Hostages Still Held
September 2012 As of the end of this month, Somali pirates have hijacked and captured 11 foreign vessels for ransom, and currently hold 167 crew members as hostages. These statistics come even amidst a significant drop in pirate attacks, as the number falls to its lowest since 2009. But clearly, the problem is not yet […]
Nine Suspected Pirates Apprehended
February 2013 On February 19th, a Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate, the HNLMS De Ruyter successfully captured a group of pirates. The group of nine suspected pirates was apprehended by the ship approximately 120 nautical miles off the town of Eyl on the coast of of Somalia. Eyl continues to be a hotbed for piracy, causing […]
Violence Escalates
September 2012 The One Earth Future Foundation, the umbrella organization behind Oceans Beyond Piracy, an international piracy watchdog, has released some shocking statistics on piracy. According to a recent report, 1 out of every 10 hostages involved in piracy incidents experienced extreme torture, including starvation, physical abuse and even simulated drowning. Overall, of the 1,200 […]