Jetzt auch offiziell: Deutlicher Rückgang der Piraterie vor Somalia
Der jüngste Bericht des International Maritime Bureaus bestätigt einen Trend, der in den vergangenen Monaten erkennbar war: Vor allem vor Somalia nimmt die Piraterie derzeit ab. Über die Lagemeldung gibt es bislang nur Berichte internationaler Medien, den IMB-Bericht selbst bekommt man als Deutscher wohl erst mit gebührender Verzögerung. Deshalb hier aus der Meldung von Associated Press:
Sea piracy worldwide fell to its lowest level since 2008 over the first nine months of this year as navies and shipping companies cracked down on attacks off the coast of Somalia, an international maritime watchdog said Monday.
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The numbers fell because attacks off Somalia’s coast plummeted during that same period, from 199 last year to 70 this year. The bureau said only one Somali attack was reported in the entire third quarter of 2012.
Das ist ein statischer Blick auf das dritte Quartal. Entscheidend wird wohl, ob es die somalischen Piraten mit ihrem Versuch eines Comebacks ernst meinen.
Nachtrag: Über Nacht ist mir jetzt der Bericht in die Mailbox geflattert. Aus der Zusammenfassung:
The number of ships signaling attacks by Somali pirates has fallen this year to its lowest since 2009, a report from the International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau (IMB) revealed today, but IMB warns seafarers to remain vigilant in the high-risk waters around Somalia, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Meanwhile, violent attacks and hijackings are spreading in the Gulf of Guinea.
Worldwide this year, pirates have killed at least six crew and taken 448 seafarers hostage. The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre recorded that 125 vessels were boarded, 24 hijacked and 26 fired upon. In addition, 58 attempted attacks were reported.
The drop in Somali piracy has brought global figures for piracy and armed robbery at sea down to 233 incidents this year – the lowest third quarter total since 2008. In the first nine months of 2012, there were
70 Somali attacks compared with 199 for the corresponding period in 2011. And from July to September,just one ship reported an attempted attack by Somali pirates, compared with 36 incidents in the same three months last year.
IMB says policing and interventions by international navies are deterring pirates, along with ships’ employment of Best Management Practice including the use of armed guards and other onboard security measures.
“We welcome the successful robust targeting of Pirate Action Groups by international navies in the high risk waters off Somalia, ensuring these criminals are removed before they can threaten ships,“ said Captain Pottengal Mukundan, Director of IMB, a membership organization that has monitored world piracy since 1991. “It’s good news that hijackings are down, but there can be no room for complacency: these waters are still extremely high-risk and the naval presence must be maintained.”
Hostages still waiting
As of 30 September 2012, suspected Somali pirates were holding 11 vessels for ransom with 167 crew members as hostages onboard. In addition, 21 kidnapped crew members are being held on land. IMB says more than 20 hostages have now been held for over 30 months.
Tolle Nachrichten, aber ich habe nach wie vor das Gefuehl das wir hier eher Syptome als Ursachen bekaempfen. Theoretisch gesehen, koennten die Piraten sich nun fuer ein oder zwei Jahre zurueck ziehen, NATO + EU feiern ihren Erfolg und die Piraten kommen wieder raus.
Immerhin, scheint sich Somalia mittlerweile etwas zu stablisieren und dementsprechend koennen die Ursachen der Piraterie besser bekaempft werden. Aber mit militaerischen Mitteln alleine laesst sich das Problem nicht loesen. Das behauptet zwar auch keiner, aber es redet auch kaum jemand von einem zivilen Ansazt in Kombination mit dem miliaterischen.