Statistics and Facts about Pirate Attacks
Pirate attacks are posing a genuine threat to maritime transport. Pirates are capable of cutting off important transit choke points such as the Strait of Bab al-Mandab between Arabia and Africa or the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asian waters. In 2013, the trade routes around the Indonesian coast and east of India were counted among the most perilous sea paths globally.
Typically, pirates will try to hijack the vessels under attack and take the crews hostage. In 2011, the hijacking of the Irene SL, a Greek-owned crude oil tanker, led to a ransom payment of around 13.5 million U.S. dollars. However, ransom payments are not the only costs caused by piracy. In 2011, increased speed, military operations, and security guards on ships were ranked as the most costly factors associated with pirate attacks in Somali waters.
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