Highlights
– Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) in Gulf of Aden has successfully thwarted pirate attacks since its creation in August 2008
– Ships sailing outside of MSPA have been more vulnerable to hijackings, including Ukrainian MV Faina and Saudi Aramco VLCC Sirius Star
– Ships continuing to sail outside protection of MSPA will face increased attacks; US Naval Central Command will likely increase coverage area of MSPA as number of attacks rise in near to mid-term
On August 22, 2008, a multinational force of warships, lead by the United States (US) Naval Central Command, carved out a narrow shipping corridor off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden to help protect merchant vessels from pirate attacks. This Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) has been established in support of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) ongoing efforts to combat the plague of pirate attacks in the region, which has surged 75 percent this year (Previous Report). Ninety percent of the ships transiting through the Gulf of Aden are using the guarded corridor of the MSPA, and there have been no hijackings inside the zone since its establishment.
However, pirate attacks outside the highly secured corridor continue to occur, as pirates demonstrate their willingness to carry out profitable hijackings in the near to mid-term. The November 15, 2008 hijacking of the Saudi Aramco oil tanker and its 25 crewmembers is another reminder of the pirates’ ability to adapt their tactics and methods of attack – the hijacking occurred 450 nautical miles southeast of Mombassa, Kenya (Maritime Incident). Although the MSPA has been successful in deterring attacks within the corridor, a larger and more integrated counter-piracy effort must be taken to effectively deter a majority of attacks in the Gulf of Aden. Maritime officials will likely establish such a force in the near-term, as pirates continue to demonstrate their unyielding threat against merchant vessels traveling through the region. Until that effort is in place, however, we anticipate a rise in attacks outside the MSPA in the near to mid-term.
MSPA Specifications
The multinational force, made up of the US Combined Task Force-150, the US Central Command, and NATO forces, working together with the IMO created the shipping channel to better focus its patrols in the vast area. The zone is about 600 miles long and only three to six miles wide. Roughly running north–south, the MSPA allows ships to safely bypass the Somali coast on their way to and from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
According to Commodore Jane Campbell, public affairs officer at 5th Fleet, the patrol area could be described roughly as a rectangular shape over the Gulf of Aden, with a constant allied naval presence. Along with surface patrols, shore-based aircraft, ship-borne helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles also monitor events in the Gulf of Aden.
Attacks Continue for the Long Term
Out of 15 recent pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden, at least 10 involved ships operating outside the IMO’s recommended traffic corridor or failing to employ recommended self protection measures, making them more vulnerable to a successful attack. The unprecedented attack on the Saudi Aramco VLCC Sirius Star comes amid what Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) say is a “decrease in the rate of successful pirate attacks” on merchant vessels off the coast of Somalia. According to the CMF, data analysis shows that the combination of both military and civilian efforts has reduced the percentage of successful pirate attacks from 53 percent in August to 31 percent in October.
However, even with the decrease in successful attacks, pirates have demonstrated their robust capability to be able to successfully hijack a large vessel 450 nautical miles off the coast of Kenya – far beyond previous operational maneuvers. While the MSPA has proven successful in deterring attacks within its area of oversight, the international interagency force is yet unable to expand its protective area and engage in land-based counter-piracy efforts in order to effectively curb pirate attacks for the long term. Until then, Somali pirates will continue to engage in hijackings off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden, and as recently witnessed, off the coast of neighboring counties like Kenya.
