Maritime Groups Appeal for Blockade and Naval Action in the Gulf of Aden

Pirates having serious effect on maritime commerce.

Fears that the surge of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia will have a serious effect on world trade maritime groups are urging the United Nations to take immediate action.

At a maritime safety conference on Monday the INTERTANKO recommended the UN impose a naval blockade with established rules of engagement, which would allow foreign navies to intercept and take appropriate actions against pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden.

The recent rash of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has caused great concern for the safety of seafarers as well as international commerce. Despite the deployment of more than a dozen warships to protect the shipping lanes in these dangerous waters, the attacks have continued because the region is simply too large to patrol effectively. NATO warships will be escorting ships through the region as an anti-pirate operation. Meanwhile, European Union is set to begin its patrols of the Gulf of Aden on December 8th.