Piracy in the Horn of Africa

Somali Piracy Update - Sept 2010

NATO UNCLASSIFIED
Roots of the Piracy Problem
Pirates take advantage of
Somalia Instability
• No effective central
Daarood
government
• No effective rule of law
Garacad
• Civil War since 1991
• Ruled by War Lords and
Hawiye
Hobyo

Harardheere
Elders
• Al Shabaab “AQ”-inspired
Galmudug
Coast Insurgency
• Clan vice State loyalties
• Poverty / Famine
• Pirates operate in space
between anarchy and
established rule of law
 GoA Backdrop: Fishing & Local Commerce
Legitimate Fishing Activity

Human Migrant Ferry Human Migrants & Smuggling

Migrant Smuggling Yemeni-type skiff

Twin outboards
one in use
 Fishing Activity from Yemeni skiff

Flag markers Flag markers

for fishing net for fishing net

Twin outboards
one in use
 How They Target: Pirate Attack Skiffs
(Puntland, Darod)
Fibre-glass Somali-type
Length 6-8 m Yemeni-type
Boarding ladder

Yemeni-type
length 12-14 m
Wooden construction
Sleek with pointed bow
How They Target: Pirate Equipment / Weapons

01 Oct 08
What They Target: Damage from Small Arms/RPG
 Who They Target
High Risk Vessel
• Max speed less than 15 knots
• Freeboard lower than 6 meters
• Day time transit
• Complacent & Compliant crew
• No Defensive Measures taken

Low Risk Vessel

• Max Speed greater than 15 knots
• Freeboard higher than 6 meters
• Night time transit
• Vigilant crew
• Defensive Measures taken

Rules are Different in Somali Basin

& where CP Forces are Thin
 Pirate Tactics: Darood Clan
 Operate mostly in Gulf of Aden,
Arabian Sea & Northern Basin
 3-4 day ops unless using pirated
dhow, then 3-4 weeks possible
 Typically 1-2 Skiffs leave north
Puntland coast with 5-9 armed
pirates
 Drift & wait for targets of
opportunity – initially in IRTC, may
continue north towards Yemen
 Pirates take advantage of vessels not
following best management practice
 If successful, take vessel to east coast
anchorage (Garacad)
 Darood clan pirates also take dhows
IVO Kismayo
 Some use of Whalers for range
extension reported
 Piracy Incidents Gulf of Aden/Arabian Sea
Feb 2008 - July 2010
50E 60E

15N

10N

Legend

Pirated
Attacked

Areas of Expansion in Somali Pirate Activity: Late-2009 - July 2010

Growing Piracy Incidents in Red Sea/Bab el Mandeb

STOLT STRENGTH
31 MAY 09

ESG EXPLORER
03 AUG 09 AL MASILAH
24 APR 10

ELLENITA
21 JUN 10

MOTIVATOR
BUM YOUNG 04 JUL10
07 JUN 10

BSLE TERESA
A ELEPHANT
18 JUN 10
13 JUL 09
 BAM SRS Backdrop
OSCAR AUSTIN July 2010
Southern Red Sea

Florescent Lighting
PARRAMATA July 2010
Southern Red Sea

Generator
 Pirate Tactics: Hawiye Clan
 Operate in larger area for longer
periods (3-4 weeks)
 Travel out 900+ NM

 Now rely on large open Anchorage areas

Hobyo
Mother-Skiffs (whalers) rather Harardheere
than mother-ships as floating
logistics base; tow 2 x Attack Mogadishu

Skiffs in trail to conduct attack

 Can maintain attacks for hours

 Ops launched primarily from

central coast bases but also out of
Mogadishu & possibly further
Recent
south to Kismayo Attacks/Pirating

 Primary bases – Hobyo &

Harardheere
 Reduced coalition presence allows
for longer attacks
 Pirated ships taken to central east
coast Anchorages
 Piracy Incidents Horn of Africa – Somali Basin
Feb 2008 - July 2010
50E 65E

Areas of
Expansion in
Somali Pirate 05N
Activity:
Somali Basin,
Arabian Sea &
Indian Ocean
(Late-09–Jul 10)
05S

Legend

Pirated
Attacked
Location of Pirated Vessels July 2010
MOTIVATOR
GOLDEN
Xabo/ Bargaal
Caluula
BLESSING

Boosaaso
Las Koreh/
Cape Gacaan
50E 51E

10N

Bender Beila AL NISR AL SAUDI

JIH CHUN TSAI 68
MARIDA MARGUERITE
PANEGA
PRANTALAY 11
PRANTALAY 12
PRANTALAY 14
Eyl FRIGIA
VOC DAISY
ELENI P
Daarood Clan Pirate Network ICEBERG 1
Garacad TAI YUAN 227

6N
Hawiye Clan Pirate Network

Hobyo SAMHO DREAM

Harardheere RAK AFRIKANA

Border according to Puntland
Border according to Somaliland
Disputed Area
 Vessels Held for Ransom – Sept 2010
AL NISR AL SAUDI ICEBERG 1 RAK AFRICANA

JIH CHUN TSAI No. 68 FRIGIA

PANEGA

MARIDA MARGUERITE PRANTALAY 11,12,14

ELENI P

SAMHO DREAM
TAI YUAN 227 VOC DAISY