It’s a centuries-old island port blessed with several deep-water channels. Mombasa, in southern Kenya, is the country’s second largest city with a population of 700,000 — and the economic engine not only for Kenya, but for many of the less-developed countries in the region.
And it’s the furthest outpost in the war against piracy. Somalia, and that country’s thousands of high-tech pirates, lie just a few hundred miles north of Mombasa. The Kenyan port is the last stop for many ships that run the Somali gauntlet from south to north, aiming for the Red Sea and Europe. Ships coming north to south, having successfully evaded pirates, lay over in Mombasa to resupply or drop off cargo. And even ships that don’t make it at first — those that are seized by pirates wielding AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades — eventually come to Mombasa after their owners pay million-dollar ransoms.
Mombasa itself is safe from pirates: the distance is too great, and the Kenyan navy is out in force. But Mombasa-based shippers, mariners, shipping agents and myriad others who depend on regional sea trade have suffered greatly from the steady rise in Somali piracy in the last decade. Habib Hakem operates a deep-sea fishing company whose boats can range as far as the Somali border. But piracy has put a dent in his trade. Last year he had 60 clients. This year, just 15. He pins the decline on fishermen’s fear of kidnapping.
And as pirates become more sophisticated, and bolder, the effects of their banditry radiate outward, from Somali waters, to Mombasa, and beyond. With as many as 100 ships attacked this year, and scores seized, insurance rates for commercial vessels passing through the Gulf of Aden have spiked, driving up the costs of seaborne goods. Already, many shipping lines have balked at the higher rates, and the dangers, and have begun sending ships the long way around Africa, avoiding the Gulf of Aden entirely. But that means more time at sea, more fuel burned, and again, higher prices. Any way you slice it, piracy is slowly having a global effect.
But the world finally has woken up to the pirate menace, and help is on the way. Around 30 warships from more than a dozen nations have converged on the Gulf of Aden to combat piracy. Some stop in Mombasa to resupply or to escort U.N. food ships to Somalia. Mombasa’s shippers welcome the armed presence. “We are very pleased,” says Frederick Wahutu, director of the Kenya Ships Agents Association.
I’m in Mombasa for the month of December to cover piracy. Stay tuned.
(Photo: me)
Related posts:
“Habib Hakem operates a deep-sea fishing company whose boats can range as far as the Somali border. But piracy has put a dent in his trade. Last year he had 60 clients. This year, just 15. He pins the decline on fishermen’s fear of kidnapping.”
That is certainly a sign that the Somali coast guard (aka pirates) is doing its job against illegal fishing and keeps the foreign fishermen out of its waters.
Good!
Hey Dave, I was wondering where I might be able to reach you to chat about some of the articles you have written recently about the Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyer program.
Best,
Bryan
Bryan Bender
Boston Globe
202.857.5060
202.369.6856
bender@globe.com
Hey Dave,
I am a collegue and work for the german newsmagazin Focus. You seem to be well informed about piracy in somalia. As you know another german warship joined yesterday the international fleet against piracy. So the topic is increasingly interesting for german media. Do you think there woulb be any possibilty to get in contact to one of those pirates or their helpers for an interview or reportage? Of course I know that traveling into Somalia is extremly difficult and unsafe….Thank you in advance for any information… Sven
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