Europe’s anti-piracy tactics working

Just one vessel registered with the European Union’s anti-piracy operation was successfully hijacked in the first three months of the operation, according to the latest Brussels figures.

Companies registering ships via the EU Navfor website were less likely to be victim of an attack than those choosing to go it alone off the Somali coast.

“Since 12 December, 2008, 41 attacks have been confirmed in the area of operations, resulting in seven actual hijackings,” the EU Council of Ministers said in reference to the period finishing March 1.

“Only one of the seven hijacked vessels was following EU Navfor recommendations.”

The EU Atalanta operation, the bloc’s first maritime venture, escorted 11 World Food Programme vessels over the period, carrying 60,000 tonnes of food each week to the strife-ridden nation.

Rather than being escorted, commercial vessels are organised into convoys, which are then watched over by EU navy vessels stationed at strategic points.

Shipoperators register vessels over a website and are given convoy start times and locations.

“The EU mission is not alone in the region,” the Council of Ministers said.

“Efficient coordination both with the shipping industry and with other naval units deployed by maritime powers [Russia, China and India] or groups [US-led coalition TF 151 plus Nato] is therefore essential.”

The EU said prosecuting pirates – which Russian president Dmitry Medvedev yesterday said should be carried in a new international court – remained a “challenge” as European navies were operating under different rules of engagement, the Council said.