Private Maritime security contractor Gulf of Aden Group Transit (GOAGT) has warned that pirates have focussed attacks a new region of the Indian Ocean affecting the Cape of Good Hope-to-Arabian Gulf shipping lane.
GOAGT, which supplies armed guards to ships, said it had received information that pirates have been recently active between the Seychelles and Maldives.
"These sightings suggest that pirates are targeting the Cape to Arabian Gulf shipping lane," said a company statement. "There is a potential for them to move east and endanger shipping along the Cape to Malacca route. Shipping along these routes is vulnerable as many vessels are not hardened against piracy, and do not carry armed guards. This is due to these routes being outside of the traditional high risk area.
"This activity east of the Seychelles is likely motivated by the search for unprepared shipping. The operational range for (pirates) has greatly increased due to the use of motherships, which allow for extended operations at sea," the company said.
Two merchant vessels were attacked on February 6 and February 8 in relatively close proximity, the company said.
"The distance between these attacks suggests that several are now operating in this area," GOAGT said. "With the extensive concentration of anti-piracy measures in the northern Indian Ocean, it is increasingly likely that they will attempt to target new areas to take advantage of unprotected shipping lanes," the company statement said.
WORLD SHIPPING
16 February 2012 - 09:52
Piracy Spreads East to Maldives, Says Private Maritime Security Contractor
WORLD SHIPPING
16 February 2012 - 09:52
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