SCS Safmarine

The legendary and notorious pirate Barbarossa was courageous enough to seize Algiers and rule it as a pirate base in the 17th century; shipping trade in the Mediterranean risked the threat of this “pirate navy”.

The full effect of a new wave of sea piracy in African waters has been burgeoning since the 1980′s, and is gradually growing in strength.

Listed here are a couple of facts regarding piracy and the effects it has on South African waters and shipping:

• Piracy is affecting international trade and lives on the seas right across the globe.
• Piracy could cripple shipping in Africa.
• Pirates attack fishermen, cargo ships, cruise liners and the supply of food to famine and war-torn poverty-stricken African countries.
• South Africa is an important sea trading nation, contributing at least 95% of the trade, thus is as affected by pirating as any other nation; perhaps more so.
• Currently piracy is affecting most of Africa, having spread from the horn of Africa and Somalia spreading to the Mozambique Channel.

How piracy had added onto the costs of shipping:

• Taking care of ships and cargo entails additional expense.
• Taking ships and diverting them as far away as possible from the troubled areas will increase fuel costs.
• Piracy has forced companies that cover maritime insurance to become extremely expensive.
• Vessels and ships that trade have been forced to add razor wire around the decks.
• Ships have put extra look-outs on their decks and have installed water cannons as this offers a good deterrent.

It is a sad state of affairs when pressure is mounting as to the value of supplying food and aid by sea to the impoverished countries of Africa.