Pirates may seem like an issue of the past, but in some parts of the world, they’re still a very real threat to ships, especially those carrying valuable cargo like oil and gas. Because oil tankers are traditionally older, larger ships, they don’t have the speed like the smaller speedboats of the pirates do. They also don’t often carry weapons, whereas pirates will board ships with machetes and guns, then incapacitate the crew so they can have easy access to the oil. Not only does the piracy of tankers harm the oil and gas industry, it harms the lives of those who work on these ships and also the people and environment around where the ships travel.
Recent news
The biggest hotspot of pirate attacks against oil tankers occurs in the South China Sea. Many tankers travel in this area, shipping oil amongst the hundreds of islands. Due to the high density of waterways and islands, pirates have taken advantage of these conditions. Sophisticated organizations have been established and grown much longer, so they can plan elaborate attacks, often multiple times in a week, against oil tankers, taking millions of dollars over a few attacks.
It’s possible that the pirates began as simple fishermen in the area who were driven by desperation to make some quick money. Unfortunately, highjacking these oil ships is incredibly lucrative, so a huge organized crime system has developed around it, pushing more and more people to turn to piracy in exchange for the rewards it offers.
The South China Sea also isn’t the only location where oil tankers are targeted. In the waters around Africa and even the Red Sea, pirates attack tankers and make off with the oil barrels, usually boarding the ship, typing up or killing the crew, then transporting the barrels onto another boat. The media has pulled back on reporting these incidents of piracy, but experts warn that it continues at a high rate and transporters should not become complacent and let their guards down.
Issues
Various issues exist with this oil tanker piracy, including the monetary loss of the oil stolen. Along the Somali coast, hundreds of attacks occur, which cost the oil and gas industry upwards of $1 billion. There’s also the threat to human life, primarily that of the crew, who are often held at gunpoint once the pirates board their ships and then left to drift around in the ocean after their communications are destroyed – if they’re lucky. Some crews are simply killed. There’s also the threat of the ship crashing into land or another boat if no one is left to safely navigate it. A possibility of a spill exists as well, if inexperienced pirates are transporting large amounts of oil, or leaving oil on an abandoned ship.
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