Stories From GWOT: Somali Pirate Ops

This ain't Treasure Island

Pirates. The word conjures up images of buried treasure and bearded men with eye patches and parrots for most of us. Elegant ships slicing through the waves, cannons at the ready. Being a voracious reader growing up, I enjoyed stories about pirates, whether those in the Caribbean or China’s South Sea. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson was a childhood favorite of mine. Excitement and free-wheeling adventures of ruffians patrolling the high seas in search of riches and glory was a romantic notion for a youngster with a vivid imagination.

Shiver me timbers.

Modern reality of pirating is very different.

This ain’t Treasure Island, kids.

In the 21^st century the threat of Somali pirates hijacking and capturing private or commercial vessels and their crews became a very real (and costly) threat. Between 2005 and 2012, estimates by the World Bank pegged ransom payments raked in by pirates off the Horn of Africa being between $339m and $413m. Ships were instructed to stay at a minimum 50 miles off the East African coastline, with 100 miles of separation being preferred. One notable incident was the hijacking of the MV Maersk Alabama in 2009, which became the blockbuster movie “Captain Phillips” starring Tom Hanks in the lead role.

The most dangerous waters in the world.

A question frequently asked is why not avoid these hotspots of pirating altogether? Global shipping relies on dependable routes in the shortest distance to market to maintain profitability. This is why hubs of Asian manufacturing transit cargo through the Straits of Aden. More importantly, it is a vital waterway for Persian Gulf oil to be transported through the Suez Canal and to regional refineries.

USS HAWES (FFG-53) “HELL ALL WEEK, EVEN SUNDAY”

USS HAWES FFG-53

We were operating in the Gulf of Aden between the coasts of Somalia and Yemen in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA), usually escorting large cargo ships through the highest risk areas where pirate activity was most frequent. Onboard our warship we carried a contingent of US Marines as a security force and a helicopter detachment of two H-60s. Standard interdiction called for launching aircraft and rib boats whenever pirate gunboats were sighted approaching the cargo ship flotilla that were being escorted. This action was more than enough to convince the pirate ships that the cargo was not worth the trouble and they would quickly head back to shore. This appeared to have been a hard lesson learned for them when an attempt to engage in combat with an American warship produced less than optimal results in 2006.

Operations were chaotic at times, with distress signals received almost daily from ships being harassed by gunboats and occasional small arms fire. The occasional sailboat would also need assistance to fend off an attempted hijacking. It still amazes me the number of “It won’t happen” type of mentality that these vessels would have in this area of the world.

Yet there was a constant frustration for us involved. Yes, we were instrumental in the prevention of ships being hijacked and our known presence in the region was, for the most part, an effective deterrent. But it did not eliminate the pirate issue. It merely kept the problem in check for a time. Seeing some of the same boats filled with Somali pirates’ day in and out and knowing that nothing could be done unless they engaged with us got old very quick. With the current flare-up of Houthis in Yemen targeting shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden, the additional military assets needed to face that threat has left gaps in the ability to counter Somali pirate activity.

By Edward Moran - Naval History and Heritage Command: Photo #: KN-10849 (Color), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=323305

These half measures against forces of chaos all but guarantee that the issue will continue to fester and be present. The chance to reap millions in ransom money from hijacked ships provides too great of a lure for piracy to end on its own. This failed approach to open water piracy was not always acceptable. The Barbary Wars conducted against North African pirates in the early 19^th century by a fledgling American nation showed how these actions were properly handled in the past. Taking the fight to the pirates is the only way to eradicate the problem.