Pirates have taken control of a Saudi-owned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of east Africa, according to the US navy.
How common is piracy in the modern world?
It is widespread, and on the rise in some regions, notably off Somalia. In 2007 there were 264 piracy attacks around the world, according to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which collates figures for attempted and successful hijacks. By September this year there had been 199 attacks, according to the International Maritime Bureau, a separate organisation which collects similar data.
Where does it happen?
There are a number of sea routes known to be particularly risky, notably the South China Sea and the Malacca Strait between Indonesia and Malaysia. However, the greatest increase in attacks has occurred in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia.
In 2007, the IMO recorded 60 piracy attacks off east Africa, up from 31 the year before, and the Chatham House thinktank, which released a report on Somali-based piracy last month, said more than 60 attacks had taken place in the region so far in 2008. During 2007, according to the IMO, 20 crew members were killed and more than 150 injured around the world.
What typically happens during a pirate attack?
Many incidents are essentially sea-borne robbery, in which attackers arrive by boat and board ships which are berthed or at anchor near a coastline. However, other incidents – particularly those involving Somali pirates – see attackers targeting ships further from the coast. These are hijacked and the crews held hostage until the ship owners pay a ransom, which can exceed $1m.
These days many of the Somali pirates use larger "motherships" to release fast attack skiffs carrying pirates armed with automatic weapons and grenade launchers, allowing them to attack targets further from the shore. The pirates have become increasingly ambitious, seizing ever larger ships. In September, pirates hijacked a Ukrainian freighter, MV Faina, carrying military hardware including grenade launchers and 33 Soviet-made T72 tanks.
Why is there so much piracy off the Somali coast?
Since the government of president Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, Somalia has been without an effective central government, barring a brief period in 2006 when Islamist militias controlled much of the south of the country – a time during which piracy incidents dropped dramatically. Many of the pirates are linked to militias, although much of the activity is funded by sheer criminality and a lack of other economic options in a country where the annual GDP per capita is less than £500.
There are also ample opportunities for piracy, as the Gulf of Aden, despite its perils, remains a main cargo route to and from the Suez canal, used by tens of thousands of ships a year.
What is the impact of Somali piracy?
In its report, Chatham House listed a number of dangers caused by the rise in attacks. Apart from an estimated tenfold increase in insurance premiums, the thinktank warned that global commerce could be further affected if ships are sent the far longer route around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid pirates. Additionally, it estimates that up to $30m in ransoms has been paid out this year alone.
The report also warned that if pirates scuttle or run aground an oil tanker they could cause an environmental disaster. Finally, the attacks are affecting shipment of UN aid to Somalia, on which much of the country's population depends.
What has been the international response?
There are a number of vessels stationed in the region to respond to attacks, among them two UK frigates, HMS Cumberland and HMS Northumberland. Last week the Cumberland helped see off pirates attacking a Danish cargo ship. A Russian navy vessel, the Neustrashimy, which was sent to the region when the MV Faina was seized, was also involved.
Other ships patrolling the area come from a multinational task force with a rotating command, currently held by Denmark. Based at Djibouti, Combined Task Force 150 usually has about a dozen ships, including US vessels.