Pirates facing strong-arm tactics

Some 20 motherships were taken back from pirates in 2011, roughly double the amount in 2010.

One mothership has been intercepted so far this year and navies in the area are monitoring at least another four.

Gary Li, head of marine and aviation at London think-tank Exclusive Analysis, said it was important to remember that the actual number of motherships seized from pirates could be far higher, but also more vessels were more vulnerable to pirate attack back in 2010.

“The important thing that it shows is that naval forces are reacting faster to mothership operations and cutting their ranges short,” Mr Li said.

“The pirates on board are either killed, if engaged in a firefight, captured [and] sent to prison in India [or the] Seychelles or released.”

The Indian Ocean monsoon season has brought appalling weather, putting pirates under further pressure this year, Mr Li said.

“Motherships have been seen as key in extending the pirates’ range and ability to battle against the weather. The navy has been using intelligence to take out the motherships as they leave the coast.

“As a result of navy action there has been depletion in the quality of pirate crews as many of the experienced pirates are now in prison.

“All operations in the past three months have been milk-runs in the south and Gulf of Aden.”

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