New anti-pirate flotilla takes to the sea

A new American-led international force to battle pirates off the Somali coast was announced today.

But the mission, expected to begin operations next week, will have no wider authority to strike at pirate vessels at sea or move against havens on shore which questions whether it can significantly curb attacks after more than 110 ships were seized last year.

International efforts to fight piracy have grown in recent months. More than 20 nations are expected to take part in the new mission.

“This task force does not does have any greater rules of engagement,” said a spokeswoman for US 5th Fleet based in Bahrain.

“It does, however, bring a greater focus to counter-piracy operations under one command.”

More than a dozen warships are guarding Somalia’s waters. Countries including the US, Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia and India have naval forces off the coast or on their way there.

The US Navy said the new force will be headed by Rear Admiral Terence McKnight.

The 2008 peak in pirate attacks on commercial vessels in August prompted US Naval Central Command to establish a security corridor within the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean near Somalia.

A tougher military presence in the pirate-infested area off the coast of Yemen and Somalia has helped deter some attacks, but it has not stopped hijackings of commercial vessels.

More than a dozen ships with around 200 crew members remain in the hands of pirates, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

Among the most valuable ships the Somali pirates still hold for ransom are a Saudi supertanker, loaded with $100m (€73m) of crude oil and a Ukrainian vessel with Russian-made tanks and other heavy weapons on board.