A panel of Navy and Coast Guard admirals on May 3 explained the extensive cooperative efforts being pursued by many nations to curb the growing threat of piracy off the Horn of Africa, but agreed that the only real solution to the problem was changing the desperate and chaotic conditions ashore in Somalia.
Led by Vice Adm. William Gortney, commander, U.S. Navy Central Command/5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces, the panel also emphasized the importance of the merchant ships operating in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean near Somalia following the “best practices” guidelines developed to minimize the risk of being captured by pirates. Simple procedures, such as removing their external ladders, putting razor wire or other barriers along their rails and using fire hoses to repel boarders can prevent pirate takeover, the admirals said.
Gortney told the audience at the “Partners in Piracy” seminar at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition May 3 that on one recent day, the three counter-piracy task forces had 35 vessels from 16 nations. But the area in which the Somali pirates operate is so vast there are not enough warships available to cover it all, he said.
“The real solution is ashore, in Somalia,” where the chronic violence, lack of a stable government and economic opportunity make Somalis willing to risk taking small boats 1,000 miles out to sea in the hope of sharing the millions of dollars in ransom ship owners are willing to pay to regain a pirated ship, Gortney said.
Vice Adm. William Hunt, who as 3rd Fleet commander supplies the ships and crews that serve in the counter-piracy mission, described the extensive array of capabilities and training used to counter the primitive pirates, and echoed Gortney’s view of the need to improve conditions ashore.
That also was emphasized by Rear Adm. Bob Davidson of the Canadian Navy, who had commanded an anti-piracy task force, and Coast Guard Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft. They also stressed the need for a better international system to try and imprison captured pirates, many of whom currently are released because no nation wants to take them.
Seven alleged pirates currently are in the United States awaiting trial, after they were captured for mistakenly attacking U.S. warships.
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