IMB Issues Fresh Piracy Warning to Vessels in Gulf of Aden

20 August 2008: Following a three month period that has seen nine vessels attacked in the region, the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has issued a fresh piracy warning to all vessels sailing in the Gulf of Aden.

The most recent attack took place yesterday (19 August), when a tanker and her 28 crew were hijacked and taken to Somali waters. Attempts to contact the vessel have been unsuccessful. The incident was reported to the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) via another vessel that received its distress call.

This follows on from the attack which took place on 12 August 2008, when a general cargo ship was hijacked whilst underway in the busy shipping lane. The vessel was taken to Somali waters and anchored near the South Puntland border. Demands for a payment of ransom for the return of the 28 crew and the vessel have been made.

In addition to this most recent activity there have been four further hijackings since the beginning of June, one of which has been successful. Three more vessels have also been fired upon since that time.

IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan stated: "The situation in this region is grave. We are seeing at least one attack every couple of weeks. These pirates are not afraid to use significant firepower in attempts to bring vessels under their control. Unless further action is taken, seafarers remain in serious danger whilst navigating the Gulf of Aden."

In all reported instances, vessels have been approached by speedboats containing men armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers. In their attempts to slow down and board the vessels, the pirates have opened fire against the unarmed merchant ships.

It is understood that coalition warships have intervened and helped prevent two of the attacks. This is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1816 (2008) that allows states cooperating with Somalia to enter its territorial waters in order to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery "by all necessary means".

Mr. Mukundan continued: "Whilst the intervention of coalition navies has helped in isolated cases, it is by no means a long-term solution. It is clear that the threat or presence of coalition navies has done little to stem the tide of attacks in this region."

Somalia, without a central government since 1991, does not have the capacity to interdict pirates or patrol its coastline. Recently, in 2007, there was a spate of attacks off the Horn of Africa, where it is understood that pirates were using a mother-ship from which to launch attacks on vessels up to 200nm off the coast. In 2008 it would appear that the pirate gangs are operating more off the northern coast in the Gulf of Aden where there is a greater proximity to shore and quick access to the many vessels passing south through the Suez canal.

The IMB advises that Masters maintain strict 24-hour piracy watches and be especially wary of any approaching smaller craft. The IMB urges the reporting of all actual or attempted attacks, as well as any suspicious vessel movements, to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC).

•About IMB

The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is a specialised division of the International Chamber Of Commerce (ICC). The IMB is a non-profit making organisation, established in 1981 to act as a focal point in the fight against all types of maritime crime and malpractice. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) in it's resolution A 504 (XII) (5) and (9) adopted on 20 November 1981, has inter alia, urged governments, all interests and organizations to cooperate and exchange information with each other and the IMB with a view to maintaining and developing a co-ordinated action in combating maritime fraud. The IMB has a MOU with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and has an observer status with Interpol (ICPO).

As well as helping to prevent crime, the IMB also has a duty to educate both the shipping community and a wider audience that comprises just about every entity engaged in trade. To this end, the IMB runs a regular series of courses and training programmes that have a wide-ranging syllabus and many proven benefits. It also offers bespoke consultancy services in areas such as ship and port security.

One of the IMB's principal areas of expertise is in the suppression of piracy. Concerned at the alarming growth in the phenomenon, this led to the creation of the IMB Piracy Reporting Center in 1992. The Centre is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It maintains a round-the-clock watch on the world's shipping lanes, reporting pirate attacks to local law enforcement and issuing warnings about piracy hotspots to shipping.
With its multi-lingual and multi-disciplined staff, experience, unique structure, industry support and well-placed contacts, the IMB can rightly claim to be the world's premier independent crime-fighting watchdog for international trade.


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