A Solution to Somalia's Pirate Problem: More Pirates

If, like me, you regularly read the International Maritime Bureau's Weekly Piracy Report (a sort of naval police blotter), Sunday's news of the pirate speedboat attack on a cruise ship in the Gulf of Aden was no surprise. Over the past few years, there has been a seemingly exponential increase in piracy--the cruise ship incident was actually the third serious piratic effort off the shores of Somalia that day. What got my attention was that the cruise ship crew managed to use a gadget that fires harsh sound waves to fend off armed pirates.

I spent two years researching and writing a pirate book, albeit a novel, albeit about the sort of pirates who have peg legs and drunken parrots and aren't murderers. Also I've gone to a few "pirate conventions"--events around the country attended by tens and often hundreds of thousands of pirate history fans who are a cross between Trekkies and Hell's Angels. To such folks, the Somalia solution is obvious: Letters of marque and reprisal.

I probably ought to explain what that means.

In seventeenth century, piracy had exploded on the Spanish Main, due to its seaways' placement smack on European merchant ship routes. Like the administrations in and around Somalia today (NATO notwithstanding), the European governments then lacked both the unity and the funds necessary to create an adequate patrol fleet. They effectively threw up their hands and adopted a policy of "if-you-can't-beat-'em-join-'em." Pirates were designated "privateers" when they bought or were otherwise granted letters of marque and reprisal by their own governments. These were essentially licenses to raid and seize ships belonging to parties with whom the issuing nation was at odds.

The system worked effectively, analogous to modern bounty hunting except the privateers were de facto government employees. In fact many received colonial political appointments. The greatest, perhaps, the pirate captain Henry Morgan, was awarded the governorship of Jamaica, as well as a Knighthood (and of course, the enduring adulation of rum drinkers). Another pirate, Lancelot Blackburne, ascended as far as Archbishop of York.

Letters of marque and reprisal exist to this day. The Marque and Reprisal Act of 2007, brought before Congress, sought authorization for "the President to issue letters of marque and reprisal to commission privately armed and equipped persons and entities to seize outside of the United States the person and property of Osama bin Laden, of any al Qaeda co-conspirator, and any conspirator with Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda who are responsible for...air[craft] piratical aggressions against the United States..."

Of course, the pirate game has changed since the days of Blackbeard, whose signature method of intimidation was placing lit matches in his hair and beard so it appeared to his adversaries that his head was spouting fire. Whereas today they might simply call Bellevue, in that less media-savvy time, they took him for Satan and leapt overboard.

John "Ol' Chumbucket" Baur, who along with Mark "Cap'n Slappy" Summers created Talk Like A Pirate Day in 1995, is quick to draw a distinction between today's "real evil pirates attacking cruise ships" and the pirates he celebrates. "When you say 'pirate,' you almost always are talking about the buccaneers of the 'Golden Age' of piracy, roughly 1650 to 1715," he says. "You're talking about the stereotypical seafaring adventurer, a rogue and a rebel and a rascal rather than a bloody handed knave--even though that's what they often really were. That's what we celebrate when we dress up in a puffy shirt and tricorn and bucket boots, strapping a cutlass to our sides. Or when we open the collar of our business shirt, wrap the silk tie around our heads and say, 'Aaarrrr!' It's a fantasy--but it's a fantasy with an edge. It's all about the freedom of the filibuster, the adventure. And in this buttoned-down, corporate world how often do you get to swagger?"

Adds Richard Zacks, author of the best-seller Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd, "I think the Somali pirates are spoiling piracy for the rest of us. Even authors such as yours truly who have spent years in rare book rooms chronicling authentic pirates can't help but have a little Treasure Island/Johnny Depp/Capt. Jack Sparrow in our psyches. I mean, many of the pirate myths are indeed accurate: foul-mouthed, lecherous, booze-crazed youngish men on the prowl for under-manned merchant ships full of portable treasure, preferably gold. I'm sorry but these little motorboats full of Kalashnikov-toting Somalis, ready to negotiate a cell phone ransom, just don't make for a good new chapter for Robert Louis Stevenson."

The new generation of privateers would likely consist of maritime private security forces, like Miami's McRoberts Maritime Security. I spoke to Michael Lee, a former Lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard and now McRoberts' Assistant Vice President. Citing Southeast Asia's Malacca Straits as an applicable case study, he said, "A private security company was hired, and over a short period of time, just the show of force decreased piracy."

According to the International Maritime Bureau, pirate attacks dropped from 79 in 2005 to 50 in 2006. And the third quarter of this year, there were just two.

"We're very interested in helping in Somalia," Lee said, adding that his firm "would be willing to donate a portion of the proceeds to Somali hunger relief."

The sometimes-good name of pirates may yet be restored.


P.S. See also: IMB Live Piracy Map

Piracy Alert

Below, incidents listed in the current IMB's Weekly Piracy Report:

30.11.2008: 0528 UTC: Posn: 14:02.7N - 049:43.7E, Gulf of Aden.

Two pirate boats with three pirates in each boat attempted to intercept a passenger ship underway. Master sighted a gun on the second boat and later the pirates fired upon the ship. Master increased speed and the pirate boats were unable to follow the ship and aborted the attempt. UKMTO Dubai was informed.

29.11.2008: 0520 UTC: Posn: 12:20N - 044:11E, Gulf of Aden.

Two speedboats with ten pirates armed with guns and rockets attempted to board a bulk carrier underway. Boats closed the ship's bow and quarter. Master raised alarm, took evasive manoeuvres and activated fire hoses. After 25 minutes of chasing, the pirates aborted the attempt.

29.11.2008: 0300 UTC: Posn: 13:54N - 049:26E, Gulf of Aden.

Ten speedboats with 2 / 3 masked men in each boat came close to an oil tanker underway. One of these boats came very close and the pirates were sighted as carrying guns. Master raised alarm and took evasive manoeuvres. Pirate boats then moved away. A coalition warship was informed.

29.11.2008: 1950 UTC: Posn: 10:16.1N - 107:02.2E, Vung Tau outer anchorage, Vietnam.

Six robbers in a fishing boat approached a general cargo ship at anchor. Two robbers armed with knives boarded the ship. One of them threatened the duty crew with a knife while the other robber stole ship's stores. Later they jumped overboard and escaped in their boat with the stolen stores. Port control informed.

28.11.2008: 0447 UTC: Posn: 13:54N - 049:09E, Gulf of Aden.

Armed pirates attacked a chemical tanker underway. The tanker broadcast a distress message. A coalition helicopter arrived at the location but the pirates had already boarded and hijacked the vessel. They took the 28 crew as hostage. Further details are awaited.

26.11.2008: 0430 LT: Lagos anchorage, Nigeria.

Armed robbers in a small craft boarded a chemical tanker at anchor. They stole ship's property and escaped before the duty A/B raised the alarm. The craft was observed approaching another vessel. The tanker warned the vessel. The craft aborted the attempt and headed back to shore.

24.11.2008: 0605 UTC: Posn: 14:11.72N - 049:59.5E, Gulf of Aden.

Armed pirates, in two speedboats approached and chased a bulk carrier underway. Master took evasive manoeuvres, activated fire hoses and raised alarm. Pirates opened fire but could not board due to anti piracy measures. Later the pirates gave up the chase. A coalition warship proceeded to render assistance.

 

 

Follow Keith Thomson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kqthomson

Comments

[looseisnotlose]

I don't understand. Aren't letters of marque meant to target particular entities? How can you write a letter of marque against pirates? They're independent operators. This proposal doesn't make sense to me. Unless he means that we should fund pirates ourselves and reap the benefits. In which case I denounce and reject Mr. Thomson. My campaign has had no contact with him either directly or through proxies.

Seriously, I strongly agree with the other posters here about the over-glamorized pirates of old. Those pirates (of old) were more bloodthirsty than these Somalis. I get so tired of people saying how great they were. (Sorry Keith.) Of course, my preference is for no pirates of any stripe, but the "Golden Age" pirates rank 3rd on my list (1st being software pirates).

[ron071]

Why must the US have any responsibility for the pirate menace off the African coast? Why are the African and Middle Eastern countries not responsible ffor securing their coasts and ships? These weasels seem to evade their responsibilities as they think that dopey America will be their policemen. The US has promoted this dependency and it must stop. The US is clearly not wanted nor needed to meddle in Middle Easterrn and African affairs. They will never step up until we butt out. Affairs here at home need our attention and resources.

[GinnyRED57]

Keith: getting back to the original idea... it seems you might be on to something if the rakehelly piratical roleplayers are willing to put their booty on the line. A few lavishly appointed modern yachts, a not-inconsiderable investment in high-end rum and tequila, and a metric ton of eyeliner would be the minimum needed to set up some crews. They'd have to bring their own boots and armaments, of course (not a problem, based on what we've seen at Ren and pirate fests). Pix!

[Rule Of Law]

I like the solution--in fact we could send them some of ours: I hear there are a bunch of pirates at Citi, Goldman, and other banks looking for more honest work than what they've been doing.

[Bluedog12]

When "pirates" are robbing the world's state sponsors of terrorism you have got to love those damn pirates.

[Satan-On-A-Stick]

Silly Euro Centric re imagining of history, the "old Pirates were good these new ones are bad". This is the same kind of Hollywood make believe mindset that made Geo Bush play Gunga Din in Afghanistan and Beau Geste in Iraq. Yeah stick to your make believe world and when you have "Blackwater Down" with mercenaries hanging upside down in a country that values human life less then America values it, I'll say I told you so.

[dadumdee]

I have an idea, stop robbing Africa of its resources. Someone who's industrious and ambitious enough to cruise up on a big ass ship with a few little ass boats has the penchant to take risks found in most successful bussiness people if the environment were different. What I fear we are creating is a system that leaves people no choice for survival. How long do the 'haves' think the 'have nots' will remain in poverty peacefully?

[dogman44]

Okay. So If we get a letter of marque and reprisal from the government, and our band of
privateers fights it's way aboard and captures that Saudi super tanker: What percentage
of the ranson would we be expected to give the government? Would we be allowed to
negotiate the ransom ourselves without government interference or pressure?

[BlackJAC]

Furthermore, what percentage of the cargo do the privateers keep as a finder's fee?

[mheister]

Or, we could attempt to address the root causes of piracy off the coast of Somalia - the lack of a functioning government there for almost two decades, and the fishing-rights circumstances that turned these fishermen into pirates in the first place.

[LiberalBuzz]

Uh no. they just discovered that they could make more money robbing people than fishing.

There is nothing that can be done about the government because there is no one to take over.

Personally I am all for sinking every single pirate ship the second it shows up.

Fishing might not pay as much but it's much safer.

[FirstShirt]

I love it! A progressive analysis of piracy. There is some good in everyone if you just take the time to look for it. Meanwhile you better run. They apparently didn't get the memo.

[gro]

With a headline of "A Solution to Somalia's Pirates: More Pirates", I would have thought Keith Thomson could at least mention the name Blackwater. Doesn't sound pirate-like enough?
Where there is an opportunity for profit, you will find profiteers.

[Yermammy]

Come on! That's certainly a romantic idea and at first it seemed like a good one, but this would be a disaster in retrospect. There were privateers before and a lot of them turned rogue and actually were more dangerous to the Country that hired them then the pirates they were commissioned to thwart. And don't tell me that Blackwater is filled with Mother Theresa types, I know better. Then you have the problem of collateral damage, mistaken identity and overall heightened potential for more violence. Pirates adapt, that's why they kept all kinds of nifty flags from different sovereigns on board. They can be french one day, english the next. The best way to get at the problem is at the source- on the terra firma. Work to solve the problem of why they buccaneer and you solve the problem at sea. Poverty. Modern technology has shown the poor in this world that some are obscenely rich and they don't like the disparity. Can't say I blame them.

[mheister]

Excellent point! Privateers are mercenaries of the sea, and we would do well to heed the advice of Machievelli on that one.

[Digeeedad]

Wouldn't thwarting pirate attacks be a great real world training for one of our aircraft carriers? Let the pirates try to outrun a fully armed attack fighter. One carrier and it would seem the pirate problem would be gone.

[JBS]

Is a 16-lb sledge hammer the best tool for swatting flies? I doubt it. It's not maneuverable enough, and doesn't have adequate area coverage. It doesn't kill the flies, but it does bash the hell out of wherever it hits ... whether you want to bash that place or not.

Neither is a carrier task force the best tool for anti-piracy patrols.

Pirates would just scatter and run away from an aircraft carrier. And that carrier task group can only control a small area of ocean in its immediate vicinity. The carrier is here, the pirates go there ... the carrier goes there, the pirates come back here.

Anti-piracy patrols require small nimble ships; frigates, destroyers, patrol gun-boats ... and lots of 'em.

And you're going to need Marines (or SEALS, commandos, Spetsnaz, SAS/SBS, Delta Force, Special Forces teams) trained to board captured vessels and take them back from pirates; hopefully without too much harm to hostages.

They also need appropriate rules of engagement.

None of this gotta catch them in the act. Once a boat is identified as a pirate, it should be sunk on sight. Any crew "rescued" from the water should be tried in an admiralty court on the charge of piracy.

Those are, BTW, LEGITIMATE internationally recognized military tribunals governed by long established international treaties; no need for any "unlawful combatant" fictions.

[LiberalBuzz]

I actually think the idea of Blackwater or other private security firms is a good idea.

There would probably be more accountability since they simply cannot be hired to be on a ship and just open fire whenever they felt like it.

Each ship have a couple of removable 50cal machine guns manned by the private outfit and when out of the danger zone switch to a ship headed in the opposite direction.

Done right it would be easy and very cost effective.

And if not 50cal then at least each member have their own heavy machine guns.

It CAN be doen.

[cobobs]

You saw the pictures? Somali pirates have 50 cal machine guns too.

[LiberalBuzz]

BUT the mercs would be shooting from a much higher and more protected angle. Easily done.

OR the mercs can get themselves a Phalanx gun (yeah I know but dang those guns could shred a pirate boat in about 3 seconds)

Or a M134 Gattling gun.

Irrespective, the job could be handled by mercs, because pirates are not expecting ANY return fire. Start shooting at them from above and watch how fast they run.

Or sink.

[daymarsh]

Not gonna happen. Section 3, Subsection A, Article 19 of the UN Convention of the Laws of the Sea strictly forbids the use of weapons onboard commercial vessels. Besides, there's no incentive to do so. The ship, crew, and cargo are all insured and paying ransoms is just a drop in the bucket for shipping companies. Wanna solve piracy? Establish a viable government and security force in Somalia. Again, not gonna happen.

The Somali pirates aren't murderers. The only person to die onboard a hijacked vessel so far this year died of a heart attack. The crew is normally well taken care of and there's no "raping and pillaging" like their latter-day counterparts.

The Somali pirates are taking down tankers and cargo ships with fishing skiffs using hand-held GPS systems, satellite phones, AK-47s, RPGs, and grappling hooks. If you ask me, that beats the crap out the "heroism" of the buccaneers of old.

McRoberts Maritime Security is willing to donate a portion of their proceeds to Somali hunger relief? Half of Somalia's population of 7 million people is in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN is requesting $1 billion in aid money to address this for next year. Good luck.

This problem isn't as big as the press makes it out to be. 43 of the roughly 16,000 ships that transit the Gulf of Aden have been hijacked this year. No need to do the math, I'll do it for you. It's one quarter of one percent.

[Yermammy]

They're poor. Simple.

[ProudAmericanLiberal]

There has already been a buzz around the blogs about Blackwater going after the Somalia job. These pirates aren't giving "traditional" pirates a bad name. They've raised raw piracy to a whole new level. I know Edward Teach used the technology available to him at the time to his best advantage. They just adapted, is all I'm saying. It's the same story, but with a 21st century setting.

As to solving the pirate problem? Doesn't the US Marine Corps hymn say something about "...to the shores of Tripoli". Does anyone remember the history of that reference? It was about an expedition into North Africa in the 1800s by the US Marines to resolve a problem with the Barbary pirates.
Isn't kicking pirate ass part of the Marine tradition? Who needs Blackwater?

From Wikipedia:

"The Battle of Derne was a decisive victory of a mercenary army led by a detachment of United States Marines over the forces of the Barbary coast nation of Tripoli during the First Barbary War." That was 1801-1805. Just about the time Lewis and Clark were heading west along the Missouri River.

[daymarsh]

Why should we put our Marines in harm's way? The pirates aren't killing Americans.

[JBS]

Well, they are, but not a whole lot of 'em at any one time.

You don't actually have to land in Somalia to put an end to Somali pirates. Just sink the boats, and leave the pirates to swim for shore.

Eventually, they'll either get the message, run out of boats or run out of pirates to man the boats.

[BillMelater]

The problem with going back into Somalia is that you have to be willing to kill them all - not just pirates. Everybody totes an AK and everybody hates Americans and foreign troops. It is not a mere matter of cutting the pirates out of the populace and attacking them. Any force sent in to deal with the pirates will be attacked by the whole population. I am not saying it cannot be done, but such a force is going to need ALOT and I mean ALOT of ammo.