What is the most effective way to put an end to Somali piracy?

Thursday 09th April, 07:35 AM JST

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dpurcell84 at 07:51 PM JST - 9th April

"Lousy excuse for condoning piracy. Do the pirates distribute their newly acquired wealth to those affected by the alleged 'stealing of fish and dumping nuclear waste"? Pirates = Somali nation? Give me a break. These are thugs of the high seas."

While I don't condone it, I can understand it. I would not lower them to the level of thugs. These are professionals who kill if they have to but are manly out for money. My friend owns an international security company based out of Kuala lumpur and he provides armed security for the smaller cargo vessels against piracy.

So far, with over 20 years of operation he has not lost a boat. A mounted french version of the SAW has been a decent deterrent. He had to spray some bullets in front of a couple bows, but other then that has been OK.

Like I said before they are professionals out to make some cash, they do not want to fight, if they think the crew has noticed them and can mount a proper defense, nine times out of ten, they will leave.

From all reports the Semoli Pirates treat their prisoners very well and are out to make money from the insurance companies who pay the ransom for the shipping companies. The wealth is being spread around actually, and many of the pirates are seen as local heroes, giving their local economy a big boost.

Shipping is about money. At first the shipping companies did not see piracy as much of a threat and did not want to hire armed security (or pay for the permits, weapons etc.) However the insurance companies are now beginning to require armed security for coverage, in addition as the worlds navies begin to hone in on the problem, the threat will continue to be squeezed out.

Ultimately the solution to this problem is economic, both on the shipping companies side and on the pirates side.
oberst at 08:38 PM JST - 9th April

shoot on sight
ca1ic0cat at 09:27 PM JST - 9th April

Fixing Somalia would be a good start. If you are desperate even piracy looks like a good job. Anybody from the EU willing to step up? I thought not.
sf2k at 10:42 PM JST - 9th April

With a weak government the West's illegal fishing has decimated their fishery. We've dumped toxic waste onto their shores for years. If it costs a company $8 a tonne to dump it versus $1000 a tonne to process, which one do you think unsavoury companies have chosen? Even if they pay off the pirates from the business mind it saves money.

After a hurricane washed up toxic waste barrels on their shores, a UN panel took 4 days to figure that there was nothing that could be done since they couldn't determine either exact cause or culprits. Many have died of tumors and cancers.

At first since there is no government to speak of, the fisherman took to fending off ships. But when they turned to piracy they suddenly were making huge money, hence the continuing pirate boom with no end in sight.

We may blame the result but we should look in a mirror before babbling on with typical American solutions.
jacqueshellacque at 04:55 AM JST - 10th April

It's ironic how int'l shipping, the industry that's gone the furthest to divest itself of modernity, is beset by a pre-modern plague. That said, my solution to Somali piracy would be to blow up the mansions built by the rich ones. Satellite images could reveal them, give an hour's notice, then drop a 1000 pound bomb on it.
toguro at 09:58 AM JST - 10th April

I agree with techall, and oberst. Station armed personnel on the ships with shoot to kill orders. Kill with extreme prejudice, and they will lose the will to engage in piracy. I know fr some, it sounds barbaric, and I'm not arguing that point one way or the other, but I bet it will put the pirates out of business.
Speed at 10:16 AM JST - 10th April

Kill Somali pirates. Answer. You're welcome.
Triumvere at 12:44 PM JST - 10th April

The reason the crews aren't armed is because of wrong-headed insurance policies and the fact that many nations do not allow ships under their flags or those entering their ports to carry arms. One of the main reasons that piracy has increased dramatically in the last few years is that there is very little risk involved for the pirates. Because the crews are unarmed and becasue international naval patrols are unsure of what they can do under "international law" and their own muddy rules of engagement, the pirates can be asured that whatever happens they will come back alive. Take away that assurance and piracy will continue, but it will not be nearly as attractive.
Deguchisan at 01:03 PM JST - 10th April

Help establish order in the country.
30061015 at 03:09 PM JST - 10th April

Where guns are outlawed only outlaws have guns. We see the very real world manifestation of this off the coast of Somalia. International shipping does not allow for firearms in international waters. Do the pirates care? Yes, they love easy unarmed targets. So to hell with international law! Life liberty and dead pirates ! Arm the crews with at least M-14's, (and/or even M-60's) ...add .45 acps & feed the pirates to the sharks.
telecasterplayer at 03:10 PM JST - 10th April

napalm and rockets
Badge213 at 06:31 PM JST - 10th April

Various international laws prevent and will slow down shipping even more if crews are armed. Also we're talking about sailors not soldiers, and in most cases no one has been killed yet.

Also you have the problem with cargo, oil tankers or chemical tankers + guns = not a good combination.

The real answer is addressing the issue on the ground in Somalia. Because of disasters that have happened there in the past no international country (not even the us) is going to put or do ground operations striking where the pirates operate out of.

It is a lawless country, and if these ship companies keep paying these ransoms, then the pirates will keep going, its for the ransom money,not for what the ships are actually carrying.

I'd really like to see is a naval operation of bait ships created, make them look like harmless cargo ships, but onboard are marines waiting to surprise them. Makes the pirates start to think hard the next time they want to attack a ship.
dpurcell84 at 10:01 PM JST - 10th April

While it’s true guns are forbidden to be on board while flying on certain flags, (my friends company had that problem, when some jackass watch dog confused his international business with his small security operation based in Seattle) It is very troublesome. In addition many of the boats workers (especially) in Asia have relatives that are pirates and the boat is often captured by using Intel from the crews. Insurance does not want armed sailors, but they often want armed security personnel. Many major security companies are taking notice, and after Iraq comes to an end, I am sure Backwater will turn its services over to the shipping companies as well.

They don't want any one associated with the region to be security so Australians are often the first choice. Our company hired Canadian ex special forces for 60k for a half years work--- these guys have 8 packs and are very impressive. I was a soldier in Iraq, but after seeing these guys Never lost a ship.

the best deterrent is a show of force. Just like a granny with a shotgun is the best deterrent against thieves.

Any way that’s just a little insight into the conflict from someone who has worked with the problem.
unscrejects at 11:27 PM JST - 10th April

How do we stop piracy around Somalia? Don't just run your boats through Somali waters without paying tribute - Japan doesn't allow other ships to run freely through Japanese waters - same for the rest of the world. Pracy is a form of tax collection. I don't agree with it but it's the direct result of disrespect for Somali sovereignty. Heck ships just ran up and down the coast dumping chemical waste and other crap for twenty years... the Somali's know which ships they target based on information collected over years. The cruise ships dump their waste along the coast, oil tankers cleanout their ballast tanks along the coast. Navys test fire their weapons firing into Somalia. How can people be wondering why this pircay is there?
NuckinFutz at 02:04 PM JST - 13th April

The US Navy just gave you a clear demonstration of the best way to rid the area of pirates! 3 Shots, 3 Kills!