2010 was another record year for piracy in the Indian Ocean. Despite massive naval effort, there were more seizures, more ransom money, and more hostages. Here is a chart of the incidents reported in 2010.
There has been some additional innovation on the part of the pirates, in response both to the additional Naval presence and to the weather. They are using large captured ships as mother-ships to make captures far from the regular naval patrols and in areas less effected by the monsoons.
The NATO Shipping Center reports, “…a large number of hijacked merchant and fishing vessels are currently underway to conduct piracy operations. This list includes MT MOTIVATOR, which is probably returning to the northeast coast of Somalia after pirating MV EMS RIVER, and MV HANNIBAL II which probably remains underway conducting piracy in the northern Somali Basin/Arabian Sea. MV YUAN XIANG may also be underway en route piracy operations in the Arabian Sea. MV IZUMI has returned to the east coast of Somalia following a piracy mission in the Arabian Sea, while MV YORK is underway in the central Somali Basin, probably en route piracy ops east of 60 degrees east longitude in the far east, central basin. MV POLAR is most likely returning to the Somali east coast after pirating Taiwan FV SHIUH FU 1 off Madagascar on 25 December. MV POLAR is now probably located northwest of the Seychelles, while FV SHIUH FU 1 may be continuing piracy operations east of Madagascar. In addition to pirated merchant ship/fishing vessel PAGs, there are probably at least 2-3 Dhow PAGs also active in the Arabian Sea and northern Somali Basin…Pirates are obviously taking advantage of the more seaworthy ships to extend their range of operations out into regions less impacted by the NE Monsoon.”
Obviously the greater scope of Pirate activity complicates Naval countermeasures.
Many commentators have suggested that the piracy problem will never be fixed until conditions improve in Somalia, and while that might be one solution it may not be the only one. “Information Dissemination” has some opinions (“2010 Counter Piracy Churn“) on what can be done while we wait for Somalia to stabilize (or for hell to freeze over, which ever comes first).
I have a proposal but it will require a cultural shift, a new norm, perhaps an international convention, and in the case of the US, a change in export licensing requirements.
Recommended “Best Management Practices” (To download a copy of the latest version, BMP3, please click here) advise against the use of firearms, despite the fact that no armed vessel has ever been taken.
Now that the pirates are using more seaworthy pirated ships and extending their range, its clear, if you allow your ship to be taken, you are endangering not only your own ship and crew, but others as well. Vessels ought to be permitted, even encouraged, to carry minimal weapons for their own self defense. This can’t be as hard as many claim. As late as the early 19th century, it was common for merchant ships to be armed. During WWII heavily armed merchant ships visited ports all over the world.
Related Posts:
Below are pictures of some of the vessels being used by pirates as mother-ships (pictures from http://www.shipping.nato.int/):
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Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
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Arming merchant ships IS the answer, but as long as the IMO is run by the nervous nellies that are currently in charge, the status quo will remain. Several US flag companies that currently operate in the HOA have on board armed security, and have not lost a single vessel once armed security was introduced.
As you point out, it isn’t hard, and it isn’t a new concept. The dirty little secret about modern piracy off the HOA is that most of the shipping companies that operate in the region are content to play the odds, and if they get unlucky, paying a ransom is considered the cost of doing business.
I’m waiting for the pirates to arm the mother ships with crew served weapons, which will eliminate the easy cure of a few guys with scoped rifles able to protect a ship. Buying/stealing and old tank and hoisting it on deck would do the trick.
What in blazes is wrong with the MIC’s (morons in charge)? Make the act of piracy uncomfortable and very very dangerous…end of problem.
Everybody is getting into the act–even submarines:
http://nosint.blogspot.com/2011/01/submarine-to-combat-piracy.html
Yemen’s Coast Guard, largely paid for by US taxpayers, is reportedly renting out it’s units to provide security services to ships transiting pirate infested water:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204204004576049660513491614.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Isn’t this called user pays? I have mixed feelings on this. If the money is in fact going back into the Yemeni Coast Guard to fund their operation, shouldn’t we applaud their entrepreneurial spirit?
Perhaps the USCG can get in on the action–“Have cutter, will travel.”