EU naval force register reduced attacks as Somali pirates adopt new strategies

Hiiraan Online
Friday, June 10, 2011
By Abdullahi Jamaa

Relentless attacks by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden have not subsided despite the presence
of a heavy western naval force that is manning the troubled waters, however the European Union
(EU) navy registered progress over the past three years, said Commodore Silvestre Correia,
Force Commander of the European Union Naval Force in Somalia (EU NAVFOR) — also
dubbed Operation Atlanta.

Aboard a Portuguese navy frigate NPR Vasco De Gama, currently the flagship of the EU
NAVFOR, the commander told a press conference on Thursday at the Kenyan Port city
of Mombasa that, the challenge from Somali pirates is still a huge problem as the dreaded
buccaneers continue to conduct brazen attacks against seafarers sailing through the Coast of
Somalia.

“For the last few years we can say that successful attacks by pirates have been reduced
significantly, however they are adapting new strategies by using mother ships to conduct more
hijackings” the Commander said

Commander Correia . Photo- 10-June-2011 ,
Abdullahi Jama - HOL

“The new tactics the pirates have adopted also include using human shields. We are however
not giving them chances to continue with their illegal activity and we have reduced their area of
operation”

The force commander admittedly said intercepting and attacking pirates in the Gulf of Aden
waterways has been a daunting task for the EU forces which at the moment has six to eight
warships stationed in the Gulf of Aden.

Citing catalogue of challenges including the length of Somalia’s coastline, the longest in Africa,
the commander said, the few warships currently manning the sea route cannot handle the the
piracy pressure in the dangerous vast sea.

“We are operating a handful of warships, even if we make this number double, triple or
quadruple it will not be enough still to handle pirates adequately” he said

He however affirmed that, European naval forces have successfully protected humanitarian aid
arriving to Somalia on World Food Programme (WFP) vessels, ensured supply of African Union
Mission in Somalia, and protected the 20,000 or so ships that passed annually through the Gulf
of Aden, which is among the world’s busiest trade arteries.

“Since escorts began, not a single ship carrying WFP food to Somalia has been attacked by
pirates, this is indeed a remarkable achievement and a significant progress in the war against
piracy” commander Correia added.

“The protection of humanitarian and other vulnerable shipping against piracy is a great success
for the Atlanta mission and we hope to increase our patrols to reduce attacks”