Status Of Seized Vessels And Crews In Somalia, Gulf Of Aden, Indian Ocean

At least 49 foreign vessels plus two barges are kept in Somali hands against the will of their owners, while at least 811 hostages or captives – including a South-African yachting couple – continue to be held, according to Ecoterra.

Ecoterra notes that even EU NAVFOR, who mostly only counts high-value, often British insured vessels, is admitting that dozens of vessels were sea-jacked despite their multi-million Euro efforts to protect shipping.

Having come under pressure, EU NAVFOR’s operation ATALANTA is now compelled to publish their updated piracy facts for those vessels, which EU NAVFOR admits had not been protected from pirates and were taken.

According to Ecoterra, EU NAVFOR also admitted for the first time that actually a larger number of vessels and crews is being held hostage than those listed on their file.

Since EU NAVFOR’s inception at the end of 2008 the piracy has started in earnest and it has now completely escalated. Only knowledgeable analysts recognized the link, according to Ecoterra.