An escalation in naval patrols in the Arabian Sea has led to a sharp fall in the number of attacks by Somali pirates in the first half of 2012, according to the International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) global piracy report, published yesterday.
However, bad weather and diminishing reserves of ransom money in the pirates' coffers have also been cited as reason for the dramatic fall-off in attacks, according to reports from inside the troubled East African country.
Currency restrictions by the British government could also be playing a role, said brokers in London, where as much as 95 per cent of the world's war-risk maritime insurance is placed.
According to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre based in Kuala Lumpur, Somali piracy attacks dropped from 163 in the first six months of last year to 69 in the same period this year. Somali pirates also hijacked fewer vessels, down from 21 to 13.
However, the report states Somali piracy continues to remain a serious threat.
"The naval actions have played an essential role in frustrating the pirates. There is no alternative to their continued presence," said Captain Pottengal Mukundan, the director of the IMB.
"Somali pirate attacks cover a vast area, from the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Gulf of Oman to the Arabian Sea and Somali Basin, and they continue to threaten all shipping routes in the north-west Indian Ocean."
As of 30 June, Somali pirates were still holding 11 vessels and 218 crew. Since April, only two vessels have been successfully ransomed.
According to wire service reports, the Panama-registered MV Leila, with a crew of 24 was ransomed in April for US$150,000 (Dh550,973). However, last month, pirates reputedly received a $4 million pay off for the 6,000 tonne Greek-owned tanker MT Liquid Velvet and its 21 Filipino crew, having originally demanded $8m ransom for the release of the ship.
According to the Somalia Report website, one of the few independent sources of news from inside the country, pirate sources are blaming poor weather conditions, due to the start of the south-western monsoon season, and a lack of investment from wealthy backers for the fall in pirate attacks in recent weeks.
"Yes, it's true, our operations were reduced. The first reason is lack of investment and second is bad weather," said the Somalia Report, quoting a pirate it named only as Tuur. "Our investors stopped investing in our operations after a high number of attacks finished unsuccessfully, so they lost a lot of money and now they don't want to invest in us. And weather, we heard that there is powerful winds."
The website also said it asked Tuur if western naval activity had played a major role in curbing pirate raids.
"It can cause pressure on us but I don't think [European Union's] anti-piracy airplanes can stop our missions. The main things are related to our internal reasons and the main one is investment," the website quoted Tuur.
"Because our businessmen stopped investing in us. Since there haven't been any vessels released, there isn't any ransom money available for new operations. As soon as we get ransom, soon our operations will begin."
Even with the windfall from the ransom of the MT Liquid Velvet last month, this situation is unlikely to change, said Somalia Report. "There have been very few high-profile, successful pirate hijackings over the last few months," it said.
One reason could be a physical shortage of US currency following the establishment of the International Pirate Ransoms Task Force by the British prime minister David Cameron in February. Ransoms reached $160m last year and the aim of the new body, set up following an international piracy conference in London that month, is to curb direct payments.
"The very existence of the task force is making the payments much more difficult," said Michele White, the general counsel to Intertankco, the tanker industry's biggest trade group. "The ransom lawyers are on the very margins of their ability to raise physical dollars to pay ransoms."
A spokesman for Eunavfor, the European Union anti-piracy naval force, said yesterday its activities had taken their toll on pirate activity.
"The pre-emptive and disruptive counter piracy tactics employed by the international navies is acting as a deterrent," he said. "Also, the effective deployment of best-management practices by ship owners . and, in particular, the increased use of privately contracted armed security personnel, has also contributed."
However, he warned continued vigilance was necessary and that the navies' intelligence assessment was that the threat had not gone away.
dblack@thenational.ae
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WORLD RECORD FEES FOR GOALKEEPERS
1) Kepa Arrizabalaga, Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (£72m)
2) Alisson, Roma to Liverpool (£67m)
3) Ederson, Benfica to Manchester City (£35m)
4) Gianluigi Buffon, Parma to Juventus (£33m)
5) Angelo Peruzzi, Inter Milan to Lazio (£15.7m
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
UAE%20SQUAD
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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Company%20Profile
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RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
