Somali Pirates grow bolder
Somali pirates have seized a supertanker, their largest take to date. The MV Sirius Star, owned by the Saudi company Aramco, is over 1,000ft long and can carry 2 million barrels of oil, making it one of the largest tankers out there.
It was seized south of the usual pirate waters, and further out to sea.
Basically, they get on board, they hold the crew hostage, and demand $1-2 million. And it works.
"People in Garoowe, a town south of Boosaaso, describe a certain high-rolling pirate swagger. Flush with cash, the pirates drive the biggest cars, run many of the town's businesses – like hotels – and throw the best parties, residents say....
There are currently 11 ships being held hostage and waiting for payment. It is a difficult situation, as the pirates hold the ships and can destroy them, but at least for now, they cannot offload the cargo, as they do not have the equipment. The end result is that the companies involved usually end up paying the ransom.
It is incredible to me that piracy is on the rise. Like terrorists they live off of the fact that it is more costly to protect yourself completely than it is to deal with a certain level of success on the part of the pirates. It is however an unfortunate legacy of a failed US foreign involvement.
It was seized south of the usual pirate waters, and further out to sea.
Basically, they get on board, they hold the crew hostage, and demand $1-2 million. And it works.
"People in Garoowe, a town south of Boosaaso, describe a certain high-rolling pirate swagger. Flush with cash, the pirates drive the biggest cars, run many of the town's businesses – like hotels – and throw the best parties, residents say....
This is too much for many Somali men to resist, and criminals from all across this bullet-pocked land are now flocking to Boosaaso and other notorious pirate dens along the craggy Somali shore. They have turned these waters into the most dangerous shipping lanes in the world"
There are currently 11 ships being held hostage and waiting for payment. It is a difficult situation, as the pirates hold the ships and can destroy them, but at least for now, they cannot offload the cargo, as they do not have the equipment. The end result is that the companies involved usually end up paying the ransom.
It is incredible to me that piracy is on the rise. Like terrorists they live off of the fact that it is more costly to protect yourself completely than it is to deal with a certain level of success on the part of the pirates. It is however an unfortunate legacy of a failed US foreign involvement.
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