Piracy off the Coast of Somalia: No Easy Answers

The maritime version of Iraq & Afghanistan.

It was only a matter of time; you just knew it. Overstating the obvious, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos last week called for a coordinated and cohesive response, both internationally and nationally, to combat the scourge of piracy off the coast of Somalia. The situation off the coast of this chaotic African country has, of course, reached a critical stage. And while various nations and coalitions have already responded with some measure of force in the region, that hasn’t appreciably stopped the problem, nor is it likely to do so in the near future. Like the situation ashore in places like Iraq and/or Afghanistan, the hit and run, guerrilla-style methods of the pirates present no easy target to a protection force better suited to swat flies with a baseball bat. And I’ll make an easy prediction here: Neither the UN, nor its “specialized agency,” the International Maritime Organization, will be part of the ultimate solution.

According to the IMO’s own WEB site, “the Convention establishing the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was adopted in Geneva in 1948 and IMO first met in 1959. IMO's main task has been to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit today includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping.” Now, if that doesn’t sound like the perfect organization to tackle “the scourge of piracy,” then I don’t know what other body would be more appropriate. The UK-based IMO, with about 300 international staff, should in theory, play a big role in eliminating the threat to shipping in this region. But, it won’t.

A myriad of ideas have been brought to the table in pursuit of ending the lawless and sometimes violent acts of these seaborne predators. These proposed solutions take the form of arming the merchant crews themselves, placing security teams on board, using high-pitched sound broadcasts to ward off the pirates, using various Naval patrols, the “convoy” method and a hundred other solutions. Most of these solutions will not be cheap, some are not in the best interests of the merchant vessels themselves and all of them will add considerable burden to nations and businesses alike at a time when the world’s economy can least afford it. And the ultimate question to be answered involves deciding who is responsible for protecting maritime commerce that includes ships owned, flagged and operated from dozens of countries, manned by a similar cast of seafarers, in international waters, off the coast of a virtual anarchy. Sounds like a job for the UN.

So far, the IMO’s best efforts include “increasing awareness of the problem and, in co-operation with the shipping industry, to advise ships on practicable measures they can take in the event of an attack.” Swell. This has produced, by their own count, an increase in both the frequency and the ferocity of reported attacks. A total of 440 acts of piracy and armed robbery have taken place off the coast of Somalia since IMO started compiling relevant statistics; more than 120 attacks during this year alone. Of the 35 ships and 600 seafarers seized by pirates and held for ransom, at least 14 ships and some 280 seafarers from 25 nations are still being held hostage in Somalia. Two deaths have been reported. It is at times like this, quite frankly, that the inadequacy of the ongoing International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) is most painfully apparent.

The United Nations, and by default, the IMO, should play a huge role in eliminating the problems catalogued above. But there is no reason to believe that they will, especially given the UN’s tepid response to world crises in a dozen other places around the globe. From Darfur to the Koreas, on to Russia and Georgia, and yes – Iraq and Afghanistan – the UN continues to be an impotent, but bloated and well-financed organization that finds it difficult to do much of anything. And while the situation of the coast of Somalia is arguably as grave as any in the world today, the ultimate solution will probably be found in loosely based alliances by individual states who would do anything to avoid a unilateral response but will eventually be forced to do just that in the absence of anything better.

The IMO’s Mitropoulos today applauds the efforts of members of the international community, alliances of States and regional organizations, NATO and the European Union in particular. The United Nations Security Council’s (most) recent edict “expressing its grave concern over the recent increase in acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea against vessels off the coast of Somalia,” is particularly reassuring, don’t you think? But, anyone waiting for anything more substantial from the United Nations should stop holding their breath. It just isn’t coming.

In the end, assuring maritime safety in this region – and others like it – will involve individual member states who have the intestinal fortitude to say, “Enough is enough.” I’ll leave the details to the security experts, but eventually, this will involve some sort of largely unilateral action where others hover in the background, wringing their hands and issuing alarming platitudes. It won’t be a perfect solution and mistakes will be made. And then, the criticism will come, loud and indignant, from the sidelines. Sounds a little like Iraq and Afghanistan – or a hundred other places – to me. In other words; business as usual. I hope that I am wrong. – MarEx.

Joseph Keefe is the Managing Editor of THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE. He can be reached with comments or questions on this or any other aspect of this newsletter. He wishes everyone a restful, safe and happy holiday weekend.