Somali pirates are profiting from the war in Iran as commercial ships, bypassing conflict routes through lengthy detours around Africa, sail into their strike zone.
The intensifying conflict in the Middle East has choked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – a vital route for roughly 20% of the world’s oil, natural gas and critical raw materials. To avoid it, carriers are having to detour around Africa’s southern tip, extending travel times by weeks and pushing maritime traffic directly into the volatile Somali basin.
This rerouting is costing an estimated $1 million in additional expenses per vessel due to soaring fuel, insurance and operational costs. But it has also allowed pirates to make a comeback that threatens to shatter years of relative calm along the Somali coast.
Capitalizing on the increased traffic, pirate networks have executed a wave of back-to-back hijackings in recent weeks, signaling a major resurgence.
According to a May 12 advisory from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), Somali pirates are currently holding at least three vessels: two oil tankers and a general cargo/cement carrier.
