Yemen to establish three regional anti-piracy centers along the Gulf of Aden [Archives:2008/1189/Front Page]

By: Aqeel Al-Halali
SANA'A, Sept. 10 ) The Yemeni government approved last Tuesday the establishment of three regional centers to combat maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Bab Al-Mandab Strait and to protect international maritime traffic in these areas.

The government declared that the three centers would be established in the Aden, Mukkalla and Hudeidah governorates and claimed international support for these centers that will work to “enhance security and stability in the region and protect different ships from piracy.”

Last Sunday, the Yemeni Maritime Forces were able to foil an attempted pirate attack on a Saudi trade ship in the international waters of the Strait of Bab Al-Mandab. The ship was 43 kilometers away from the Yemeni coastline.

Since the beginning of the year, over 34 ships, tankers and yachts have been hijacked in the region of the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden. Eight of these piracy acts have taken place since July and have aimed to seize goods and kidnap crews of the ships in order to demand ransom.

For his part, Shuja Al-Deen Mahdi, general director of Coastguard operations, told the Yemen Times that international support for the three new anti-piracy centers would include providing them with equipment, modern liaison devices and boats, as well as new maritime platforms.

“We are in need of international support, especially from Gulf countries, to secure the coast of the Arabian Sea along the Abyan and Al-Mahrah governorates,” said Al-Mahdi, pointing out that most drug-smuggling operations from Africa and Asia cross this area on their way to Gulf countries.

He confirmed that Yemen was “currently unable to secure international navigation routes”, noting that this was despite the Yemeni Coastguard running five anti-piracy centers in Aden, Al-Buraiqah, Ras Amran, Khawr Al-Umrah in the Lahj governorate and in the Shaqrah region of the Abyan governorate.

He maintained that the Yemeni Coastguard Authority needs ten new fighter boats in order to be able to undertake its task properly and stay out at sea for weeks without coming back to the mainland for fuel. He said that the fighter boats available to the Yemeni Coastguard at present are incapable of carrying out long-term maritime tasks.

Al-Mahdi denied that Yemen had deployed 1,000 soldiers and fighter boats in the Gulf of Aden and Bab Al-Mandab Strait to combat Somali pirates. “I have no information about this matter,” he said.

The ruling-party-affiliated online web site almotamar.net had reported that a source from the Yemeni coastguard Authority had said, “The Authority deployed around 1000 soldiers and 16 fighter boats in the Gulf of Aden and Bab Al-Mandab Strait to enhance the protection of ship and prevent piracy.”

Regarding coordination between Yemen and the international forces deployed in the Indian Ocean, Al-Mahdi said that the coordination between Yemen and the international coalition forces based in Bahrain included information exchange and training security cadres of the Yemeni coastguard authority.

A fighter ship of the international coalition forces in the Indian Ocean, last Monday foiled an attempted hijack of a Brazilian ship by Somali pirates as the ship was 118 maritime miles to the east of the Gulf of Aden.

The maritime coalition is comprised of forces from the United States, Britain, France, Denmark, Spain and Italy.

Malaysia asked Yemen last week to help free two Malaysian tankers hijacked by Somali pirates who are demanding US$ 4.2 million to release them.

Somali pirates currently hold around ten ships captive in the coastal city of Eyl in Somalia, located some 800 kilometers to the north of Mogadishu.

The city of Eyl is considered to be the main coastal base for armed Somali pirates who launch piracy operations against ships, tankers and yachts for financial purposes, accusing other countries of exploiting their water and fish wealth.

Yemeni economic experts have warned against the major risks to local economy caused by the aggravation of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and around Horn of Africa. They pointed to the negative impacts of ongoing Somali piracy, in particular the increase in the cost of insurance for ships crossing Yemeni waters.
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