Failed Hijack Attempt Prompts Shipping Industry To Ask For Help

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

04 December 2008

The international cruise industry is urging governments to take more actions against piracy after it was revealed that a cruise liner came under attack off the Yemen coast recently.

The cruise industry has become increasingly concerned about piracy off the east African coast after the attempted hijack of a cruise liner owned by Oceania Cruises - The Nautica - which took place as it entered the Gulf of Aden on November 30.

Pirates attempted to capture the ship, which had over 1,000 passengers and crew on board, by chasing and repeatedly shooting at it. The cruise liner managed to out-sail the pirates' vessel, which was sailing along a course protected by international warships at the time.

Although the attack caused no injuries, it highlighted the increasing danger of sailing in these waters after the highly-publicised hijacking of a Saudi tanker laden with crude oil, prompting officials from the shipping industry to urge governments to deploy more troops and warships to the area to try and fend off the threat of pirates and protect international trade and shipping.

Currently, it is estimated that there are around 2,000 pirates operating in the region - which happens to be one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Pirates have attacked around 100 ships passing Somalia this year alone, and shipping associations have drawn attention to the fact that many shipping lines are re-routing their vessels around the southern tip of Africa to avoid the affected area – adding considerable time and cost to the passage of goods from Asia to Europe and visa versa.

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