NATO warships are in the area but US Navy officials have told the BBC they can "not be everywhere". That said, an Indian Navy frigate attacked and sank a Somali pirate 'mother ship' on Wednesday morning after coming under fire.
Most hijackings, however, do end peacefully although it can be a lengthy process. On Wednesday the Hong Kong ship MV Great Creation and its crew of 25 Chinese and one Sri Lankan were released after two months of captivity.
如果你认为公海上的海洋大盗仅仅是好莱坞电影的场景或历史小说的题材,这或许可以原谅。但是实际上,今年索马里海盗已经实施了92次袭击,成功地劫持了36艘船只。
目前为止,他们最为猖狂的袭击事件发生在周六,他们劫持了沙特“天狼星”号油轮及船上25名船员(其中包括两名英国人)。位置在距离肯尼亚海岸450海里处(830KM)。
由于这艘油轮非常巨大,而且远离海盗通常的袭击区域,此举被美国海军描述为“前所未有的”。“天狼星”号是目前为止海盗劫持的最大的船只,重量比美国航空母舰高三倍以上,能够运载2兆桶原油,价值100兆美元(683兆人民币)。
海盗通常持有AK-47和火箭推进榴弹,在亚丁湾一带活动,使用大功率快艇接近商船,然后使用钩锚和绳梯登上船只,对其进行劫持。
一旦船员被劫持,海盗会将船只行驶到索马里一个港口,船员和船只一直被劫持至缴纳赎金。现在,海盗的避风港索马里港口劫持着14艘船只,268名船员。