By Madhuparna Bhattacharjee
Muscat – A resurgence of pirate activity in the Gulf of Aden and northwest Indian Ocean Region has raised concerns for the shipping industry, military authorities, UN bodies, insurers and regional bodies. An expert has said that reduction in naval assets, the withdrawal of NATO from anti-piracy operations and the perception of lesser threat from piracy may have encouraged the hijackings.
Speaking to Muscat Daily, Glen Forbes, a former Royal Navy officer and founder of OCEANUSLive said, “There has been a resurgence of pirate activity in the Gulf of Aden and northwest Indian Ocean Region, but whether it will prove a return to the height of Somali piracy remains debatable. The next few weeks, during the inter-monsoon period, will determine whether it is the case or not. There have been reports of financiers and pirate kingpins meeting to test the waters, and this recent activity is likely to be the case.”
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Source: http://www.muscatdaily.com/
