Pirates Hit Six More Ships Off of Somalia
-- The Danger Room
-- The Danger Room
As if seizing a ship-load of tanks and small arms wasn't bad enough. Pirates have attacked six more vessels off the coast of Somalia in just the past week, according to data from NATO. The now-infamous, weapons-clogged MV Faina remains in pirates' hands. And international tensions are ratcheting up by the day.
The latest attacks brings the total number of "piracy-related incidents" in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast to 93. A dozen vessels are currently being held for ransom -- their last known whereabouts are on the NATO slide, above.
"Larger cargo/oil/gas/chemical tankers" are now the pirates' favorite target. The idea isn't just to make money off of a single attack. Often, the vessels are being hijacked "with the sole intention of using them" as "mother ships," to launch more small-boat strikes.
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My Comment: They are looking for a big payoff. If a large ransom is paid for the weapons-clogged MV Faina, there will be a burst of piracy throughout a good part of Africa as a consequence. Maritime shipping will be restricted, and insurance rates will go through the roof.