Piracy Peport

December 14, 2009
Piracy Report
Please be advised: The seasonal winter monsoon season, occurring from mid-December through March, is expected to cause a decrease in pirate activity within the Somali Basin west of the Seychelles as weather conditions will not be as conducive for small boat operations. The decrease observed from 2008 in successful Gulf of Aden attacks is not expected to change during the winter monsoon season. In the Gulf of Aden, successful hijackings have decreased as a combined result of the increased coalition warship presence, patrols escorting merchant ships through the Internationally Recognized Transit Corridor (IRTC) as well as improved shipping industry counter-piracy practices. While the monsoon season had a marginal impact as a deterrent for pirate activity in 2008, it is difficult to determine the degree to which the affected pirate activity in 2009 will be due to the heavy coalition presence in the Gulf of Aden. Traditionally, the winter monsoon has had a significant impact on pirate operations in the Indian Ocean. However, now that pirates have expanded operations further east of the Seychelles and east of Tanzania toward Madagascar, the degree to which weather will impact piracy operations in these areas remains to be seen. In the past, these sea states have not been affected by weather conditions to the same extent as in the pirates' traditional operating areas. Mariners are advised to continue to proceed with caution while transiting these areas during the coming monsoon months.