Somali pirates extend their reach

In a recent Time article, it was mentioned that the Somali pirates, who near this time last year, were making headlines with their capture of the U.S. tanker Maersk Alabama, have been widening their reach throughout the ocean. On April 18, the pirates captured three Thai fishing boats in the Indian Ocean, quite some distance away from their home base. This seems to be a response to tightened security near Somalia, and some are guessing that the pirates' aim is to scatter throughout the seas to make it more difficult for foreign navies to take action against them. As one shocking figure states, it would take 700-800 ships in the area to neutralize the pirates' capabilities. Although commerce and trade by sea does not seem to be greatly impacted at the moment, with this development, that may change.

By: Anna Moric