VIDEO: When Somali Pirates attacked my Ship – A Survivor Story

Last updated on July 2nd, 2020 at 11:38 am

Piracy off the coast of Somalia occurs in the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel and Somali Sea, in Somali territorial waters and other areas. It was initially a threat to international fishing vessels, expanding to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War, around 2000.

After the collapse of the Somali government and the disbandment of the Somali Navy, international fishing vessels began to conduct illegal fishing in Somali territorial waters. This depleted local fish stocks, and Somali Fishing communities responded by forming armed groups to deter the invaders.

These groups, using small boats, would sometimes hold vessels and crew for ransom. This grew into a lucrative trade, with large ransom payments. The pirates then began hijacking commercial vessels.

With the region badly affected by poverty and government corruption, there was little political motivation at the local level to deal with the crisis. Large numbers of unemployed Somali youth began to see it as a means of supporting their families.

International organizations began to express concern over the new wave of piracy due to its high cost to global trade and the incentive to profiteer by insurance companies and others.

The Somali government has been active in policing the area, though some believe that it wants to collaborate with the pirates as a bulwark against others and for financial gain.

In the late 2000s, anti-piracy coalition known as Combined Task Force 150, including 33 different nations, established a Maritime Security Patrol Area in the Gulf of Aden. By 2010, these patrols were paying off, with a steady drop in the number of incidents. By November 2017, there were no major vessels or hostages remaining in pirate captivity. In 2017, a few incidents of piracy were reported as the navies of Asian and European nations began to more actively rescue hijacked ships including the bulk carrier OS 35.

In may 2010, Dipendra Rathore was training to become a ship’s officer on a chemical tanker, his ship got attacked by Somali pirates watch this award-winning short movie to know what happened next.

Movie was produced by Save our Seafarers organisation.