Piracy group: Make sure Somali pirates aren’t paid
Worldwide, Daily news | ankakh | December 12, 2012 22:25
A U.K.-led Piracy Ransom Task Force says the shipping industry must adopt additional measures to ensure that payments aren’t made to pirates after a successful attack.
The task force’s final recommendations noted that more than $300 million in ransoms has been paid to Somali pirates since 2008.
The success of piracy attacks off Somalia has dropped markedly over the last year, mainly because of increased coordination from international navies and because ships are increasing their defenses, including the use of armed guards.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said international action is beating back piracy.
“The dramatic reduction in pirate activity in the past year shows how important collective action is, and the recommendations of the Task Force should make it harder for pirates to receive, and to profit from, ransom payments,” Cameron said as the task force’s findings were released late Tuesday. Somali pirates hijacked 46 ships in 2009 and 47 in 2010, the European Union Naval Force said. In 2011, pirates launched a record number of attacks — 176 — but commandeered only 25 ships, an indication that new on-board defenses were working.
Facebook
Tweet This
RSS Feed
Email This Post
Loading ...
