 The three areas of concern to IMO, particularly relevant to the situation off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, can be summed up as:  the need to protect seafarers, fishermen and passengers;  the need to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia effected by ships chartered by the World Food Programme; and  the need to preserve the integrity of the Gulf of Aden - a lane of strategic importance and significance to international shipping and trade, both east and west of the Suez Canal, which is used by some 22,000 vessels annually, carrying around 8% of the world's trade, including more than 12% of the total volume of oil transported by sea, as well as raw materials and finished goods.

 Regional cooperation among States has an important role to play in solving the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships, as evidenced by the success of the regional anti- piracy operation in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia (RECAAP), which was concluded in November 2004 by 16 countries in Asia, and includes the RECAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) for facilitating the sharing of piracy-related information, is a good example of successful regional cooperation which IMO seeks to replicate elsewhereRECAAP

 In January 2009, an important regional agreement was adopted in Djibouti by States in the region, at a high-level meeting convened by IMO. The Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden recognizes the extent of the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region and, in it, the signatories declare their intention to co operate to the fullest possible extent, and in a manner consistent with international law, in the repression of piracy and armed robbery against ships

 Implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct will help to:  improve communications between States;  enhance the capabilities of States in the region to deter, arrest and prosecute pirates;  improve States' maritime situational awareness; and  enhance the capabilities of local coast guards.  IMO has also revised the guidance on measures to take to deter piracy, to include region-specific guidance based on industry best management practice.

 For over 2,000 years, the nations of the world have considered pirates to be enemies of the human race (hostes humani generis). Accordingly, every nation has the legal authority to establish jurisdiction over piracy and punish the offenders, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator or victim

 Piratical attacks off the Horn of Africa constitute a threat to the lives and welfare of the citizens and seafarers of many nations.  Nearly 12% of the world’s petroleum passes through the Gulf of Aden, which is one of the world’s most important waterways.  A single piratical attack often affects the interests of numerous countries, including the flag State of the vessel, various States of nationality of the seafarers taken hostage, regional coastal States, owner States, cargo owner, transshipment, and destination States.

 In 2008, the number of reported piracy attacks off East Africa rose astronomically. Barely a day seemed to pass without a new incident being reported. Figures compiled by IMO show that, in the first quarter of 2008, there were 11 piracy attacks in that region, rising to 23 in the second quarter and rocketing to 50 in the third and 51 in the fourth quarters, making a total of 135 attacks during 2008, resulting in 44 ships having been seized by pirates and more than 600 seafarers having been kidnapped and held for ransom.

 A dramatic increase in activity by Somali pirates led to a near doubling in the number of ships attacked during 2009’s first quarter compared with the same period in  Ports such as Eyl, Kismayo and Harardhere — all now considered to be pirate dens.

 A total of 102 incidents were reported to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Center (PRC) in the first three months of 2009 ◦ Compared to 53 incidents in the first quarter of  The quarterly report also said attacks increased by almost 20% over last quarter of 2008.

 The increase in the first quarter of 2009 is due almost entirely to increased Somali pirate activity off the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia  The two areas accounted for 61 of the 102 attacks during the first quarter compared to six incidents for the same period in 2008.

 Forty-one incidents were reported in the Gulf of Aden region, including the hijacking of five vessels.  In January 2009, one in every six vessels attacked was successfully hijacked ◦ With the rate decreasing to one in eight for February 2009 and one in 13 for the month of March.  On average, one in eight vessels attacked was hijacked during the first quarter.  The last quarter of 2008 saw a total of 41 incidents in which the ratio was one in three vessels attacked being hijacked

 The east coast of Somalia recorded 20 attacks in the first quarter of the year ◦ with 18 of the incidents reported in March 2009 alone − including four hijackings.  This compares to the last quarter of 2008 in which seven incidents were reported ◦ including two hijackings for this area

 In addition to Somalia, Nigeria continues to be a high risk area.  In the first quarter of 2009 the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) received reports of only seven incidents ◦ although unconfirmed reports would suggest that at least a further 13 attacks had occurred in the same period.  Nearly all incidents have taken place on vessels supporting and connected to the oil industry.

 Attacks have taken place many hundreds of miles off the country’s coastline.  The problem of Somali piracy has now spilled over to neighboring countries, threatening trade routes into their ports.  Recent attacks have shown that the pirate gangs are able to successfully operate far out to sea using mother ships.

 All vessels not calling at East African ports should try and stay at least 600 nm from the coastline.  Masters should maintain strict 24-hour piracy watches and be especially wary of any approaching small craft.  Ships should report their presence and intended itinerary to the Horn of Africa coalition taskforce  In the Indian Ocean to observe a Ship Security Level appropriate to the level of pirate attacks reported in the region.  Masters should report all actual or attempted attacks, as well as any suspicious vessel movements

 Each Country must recognize that responses to piracy will vary according to geographic, political, and legal environments, as well as available international resources and that the scope of any mission and the defined nature of the threat will affect the choice of response.  The objective is to repress piracy as effectively as possible in the interests of the global economy, freedom of navigation, Somalia, and the regional states. Accordingly, the immediate focus should be on operational counter- measures to prevent, disrupt, and punish acts of Somali pirate organizations.

 Achieving this objective will ultimately require action on land to reinforce measures taken at sea and to deprive the pirates of ransom proceeds.  Achieving this objective will require cooperation, coordination, and integration among military, law enforcement, judicial, diplomatic, and commercial interests in and beyond the affected region.

 Piracy off the Somali coast is only one manifestation of the tragic events Somalia has experienced for almost 20 years.  Long-term actions to establish governance, rule of law, security, and economic development in Somalia are necessary to repress piracy fully and sustainable in the region.  Consistent with international law and with full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia – the world must reduce the incidents of piracy, thereby decreasing the impact on global commerce, and preventing the lack of security in Somalia from reaching out beyond its shores.

 GMATS (global maritime and Transportation School)  Combined joint Taskforce, Horn Of Africa  Maritime Center of Excellence Lectures(Bandari College)  IMO website  Google earth