Several incidents of piracy threats have been reported in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden off Somalia in the recent times. Since November 2023, several merchant vessels have been targeted by Iran-backed Yemen’s Houthi militia in the Red Sea. Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023, the Houthi rebels have begun using drones and missiles to target commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks on the vessels by armed 'Somali pirates' have risen the worries over the maritime security in the region. Numerous maritime businesses have been compelled to halt or change the course of their operations in the Red Sea region due to the ongoing attacks.
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden, located between Yemen and Somalia, is a crucial water passage connecting the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. It spans 900 kilometres in length and 500 kilometres in width, bordered by Somalia, Yemen, the Arabian Sea, and Djibouti. Serving as a vital route for transporting Persian Gulf oil, it links Europe to the Far East via the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb. Despite its rich marine biodiversity, the region faces challenges like piracy, terrorism, and refugee smuggling, posing threats to maritime trade. International efforts are underway to address these security concerns and ensure safe navigation in the Gulf of Aden.
Vulnerable Zones of Piracy Activity
- Northwest Africa, the Gulf of Guinea, and the Niger river delta These areas witness frequent pirate attacks due to their strategic locations along intensive maritime trade routes. The motives for these attacks vary, ranging from robbery to political to black-market interests.
- Red Sea, Somalia, Horn of Africa, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean Somali pirates are particularly notorious in this region, operating over vast distances and posing significant threats to shipping lanes. The Indian Ocean, including areas near the coasts of Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, and Madagascar, experiences heightened piracy activity.
- Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia Regions such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Malay Strait, South China Sea, and Singapore Strait face persistent challenges from pirate groups targeting merchant vessels and their valuable cargo.
- South and Central America, the Caribbean Piracy incidents occur along the coastlines of these regions, disrupting maritime trade and posing risks to vessels traversing these waters.
- The coast of the Gulf of Mexico While less prominent compared to other zones, piracy incidents still occur in this area, impacting shipping activities and necessitating security measures.
Maritime Piracy
As per Article 101 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), piracy consists of any of the following acts:
(a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:
(i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft;
(ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;
(b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;
(c) any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in subparagraph (a) or (b).
Global Initiatives to Tackle Maritime Piracy
Embarked Protection Teams and European Naval Operations States deploy Embarked Protection Teams and participate in initiatives like the European Union Naval Force Somalia (EUNAVFOR) to combat piracy effectively.
Operation Atalanta, NATO’s Ocean Shield, and Combined Task Force (CTF)
These multinational operations set up security corridors and International Recommended Transit Corridors (IRTC) to escort vulnerable vessels, ensuring safe passage through piracy-prone waters.
Best Management Practice (BMP) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ship owners collaborate with security and defence service companies to implement protective measures outlined in BMP, supported by IMO guidelines, to mitigate piracy risks.
Legal framework Provisions such as the UNCLOS and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation establish legal frameworks for combating piracy and ensuring maritime security.
Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG) and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Initiatives like OPG, led by the United States, and CMF, a multinational naval partnership, focus on ensuring security in critical maritime regions, fostering cooperation, and preventing piracy and terrorism at sea.
Maritime Information Cooperation & Awareness Center (MICA Center) and International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Entities like MICA Center, IMB, and other international organisations collect, analyse, and disseminate information on piracy incidents, contributing to global efforts to combat maritime piracy effectively.
These initiatives involve collaboration between states, international organisations, and entities dedicated to maritime security, aiming to safeguard vessels and crew, maintain trade routes, and promote stability in piracy-prone regions.
Reasons for Surge in Piracy in the Gulf of Aden
Piracy which had almost vanished since its peak in 2010, has again resurfaced in the Gulf of Aden-Red Sea region in the backdrop of Houthi drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping. The pirates’ exploitation of the security shift from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea could be one of the reasons for the surge. Despite the previous ten years of success, analysts claim that anti-piracy efforts have not been able to effectively address Somalia’s piracy issue. International maritime presence in the Gulf of Aden has progressively fallen in the recent times thus shifting the security burden to a select few navies. In 2016, NATO's anti-piracy mission was terminated. Since then, the security in the Gulf of Aden has been the responsibility of the US-led coalition, some EU maritime forces and the autonomous entities like Indian navy and Chinese Navy. However, as attention has turned to the Red Sea, the mission in Somalia’s waters has become more difficult to carry out. This is because, in addition to a lack of resources, regional navies have recently tended to view anti-piracy operations as a necessary but insignificant measure to reassure international shippers.
Another reason for the increase in pirate attacks could be that the militants and the pirates are working hand in hand. It could be that Al-Shabaab in Somalia may have collaborated with the Houthis in the Red Sea. However, there is no foolproof evidence to this claim.
Way back in 2011, pirate attacks in the Somalian coast had peaked, with gunmen launching attacks as far as 3,655 kilometres (2,270 miles) from the Somali coast in the Indian Ocean. These attacks fell sharply after international navies sent warships and armed guards were deployed in commercial shipping.
Indian Navy’s Response
In the light of the recent piracy attacks, the Indian Navy has greatly strengthened its surveillance apparatus and operations in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden by deploying frontline destroyers and frigates. Indian Navy has deployed its surveillance ship INS Sumitra on anti-piracy operations along the East coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. It has also deployed a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and an MQ-9B drone to monitor the operation.
On December 16, 2023, the Indian Navy, immediately responded to the maritime incident in the Arabian Sea that involved the hijacking of a Malta-flagged vessel with a crew of 18 members on board. On December 14, the hijacking attempt was reported. The distress call was received from the merchant vessel (MV) ‘Ruen’. To locate and assist the MV Ruen, the Navy sent out its maritime patrol aircraft that was doing surveillance in the region and its warship on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden. The Navy aircraft flew over the hijacked vessel, intercepted it and ensured its safe movement towards the coast of Somalia.
On January 5, 2024, Indian Navy commandos rescued all the 21 crew members including 15 Indians from a Liberian-flagged, MV Lila Norfolk after they intercepted the vessel. The MV had sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal about some armed personnel boarding the vessel. The destination of the vessel was for Khalifa bin Salman in Bahrain and the attempt of hijacking was abandoned with forceful warning by Indian Navy, marine patrol aircraft, of interception by an Indian Naval warship.
On January 28, 2024, Indian missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam received a distress call from MV Marlin Luanda, an oil tanker operated by the UK-based Oceonix Services Ltd. The MV had come under a missile attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Gulf of Aden. On the basis of the request from the MV, INS Visakhapatnam deployed its Nuclear Biological Chemical Defence (NBCD) and damage control team along with the firefighting equipment to provide help to the crew. After battling for six hours along with the MV crew, the fire was put off. The crew of the MV comprised 22 Indians and one Bangladeshi.
On January 29, 2024, the Indian Navy ship INS Sumitra evacuated fishermen hijacked by pirates along the East coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. The Iranian-flagged Fishing Vessel (FV), named Imam, which was hijacked by Somalian pirates and its 17-member crew was taken hostage. INS Sumitra which was on anti-piracy operations along the East Coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden immediately responded to the distress message received from FV Imam. INS Sumitra intercepted the vessel and acted as per the established standard operating procedures (SOPs), pressurised the pirates for the safe rescue of the crew along with the vessel. Then the FV was sanitised and released for onward transit.
In another incident of FV hijacking, 11 Somalian pirates hijacked Iranian-flagged FV, Al Naeemi, off the Somali coast, about 850 nautical miles (1,574 kilometres) west of the Indian city of Kochi on January 30, 2024. The pirates had taken the 19 Pakistani crew members as hostage. The warship INS Sumitra ‘compelled the safe release’ of all the 19 Pakistani crew members.
On January 30, 2024, the Sri Lankan FV Lorenzo Putha-4 along with its six crew members were rescued by Seychelles forces. The vessel was abducted and the crew members were taken hostages by the pirates three days before by the Somalian pirates, about 840 nautical miles (1,555 kilometres) southeast of Mogadishu, the capital of impoverished and war-ravaged Somalia. The hijacking of Sri Lankan FV Lorenzo Putha-4 came a few days after Sri Lanka had consented to join the US-led operation to protect MVs sailing in the Red Sea against Houthi attacks.
India’s Initiatives to Tackle Maritime Piracy
Maritime anti-piracy exercise India conducts regular maritime anti-piracy exercises to enhance preparedness and response capabilities in combating piracy.
SAGAR policy India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy emphasises the importance of maritime security in promoting regional stability and prosperity.
Support for UNCLOS India reaffirms its commitment to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides a legal framework for combating piracy and protecting maritime rights.
International Fusion Centre India’s International Fusion Centre (IFC) facilitates information sharing and coordination among maritime stakeholders to enhance maritime domain awareness and counter maritime threats.
Indian Ocean Rim Association India actively engages in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to promote cooperation among Indian Ocean littoral states in addressing maritime security challenges, including piracy.
Enhanced technical surveillance India employs advanced surveillance technologies such as the Coastal Surveillance Network, National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network, National Automatic Identification System, and National Maritime Domain Awareness Project to monitor coastal and offshore areas for piracy activities.
Participation in Combined Maritime Forces The Indian Navy is part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a multinational naval coalition dedicated to promoting maritime security and countering piracy in the region.
Mission-based deployments Indian Naval ships and aircraft are regularly deployed on mission-based deployments in the Indian Ocean Region to enhance maritime security and surveillance capabilities.
Operational interactions with friendly foreign countries India collaborates with regional navies through activities like joint surveillance patrols, coordinated patrols along maritime boundaries, and maritime exercises to strengthen maritime security cooperation.
Participation in regional frameworks India actively participates in regional forums such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) to expand maritime security cooperation and exchanges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022 India has enacted the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022, to strengthen its legal framework for combating piracy and ensuring effective prosecution of pirates.
Establishment of Indian Ocean Rim Association India played a key role in establishing the Indian Ocean Rim Association (AORA), which promotes regional cooperation and dialogue among Indian Ocean littoral states to address common maritime challenges, including piracy.
Way forward
To check piracy, the following multidimensional measures can be taken:
Enhanced situational awareness Implement radar, sonar, and communication technologies to monitor vessel traffic and detect suspicious activities. Train crew members to identify and report potential threats promptly.
Employ armed security personnel Deploy highly trained armed guards aboard vessels to deter pirate attacks effectively. Adhere to international laws and regulations to ensure the legality and safety of their actions.
Implement secure zones and protective measures Install anti-boarding measures, fortified doors, and non-lethal deterrents to impede pirate activities and protect crew and cargo.
Regional partnerships and information sharing Collaborate with international maritime security organisations and regional partners to exchange intelligence, disseminate best practices, and coordinate joint operations against piracy.
Coast guard and naval patrols Enhance patrols in high-risk areas and conduct search and rescue operations to deter pirates and respond promptly to distress calls.
Surveillance and monitoring systems Utilise advanced technologies like satellite imagery, drones, and CCTV cameras for real-time monitoring and early detection of suspicious activities.
Secure communication and navigation systems Ensure reliable communication and navigation systems to facilitate efficient coordination and response in emergency situations.
Address legal and jurisdictional challenges Strengthen international maritime laws and conventions, facilitate extradition and prosecution of pirates, and establish specialised courts to handle piracy cases.
Comprehensive anti-piracy training Provide seafarers with training on piracy tactics, self-defence techniques, and emergency procedures to empower them to respond effectively during piracy incidents.
Psychological support and post-incident care Offer psychological support, counselling services, and access to support networks to help crew members cope with the emotional aftermath of piracy incidents.
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