Google Map of Piracy

[skatastrophy]

I was reading this story on Slashdot and thought you all may be interested.

There is a web site put together by the International Chamber of Commerce that plots pirate attacks around the world. It's getting slammed right now (Monday the 24th at 5PM EST), so the site's not available, but you can read about the site on this article.

Once again, the site itself was getting pummeled at the time I wrote this. Hopefully it will be up again shortly after the story is no longer on Slashdot's front page.

Live Piracy Map 2008

Also from the article about the site we're discussing is a link to a Google Earth Forum Post discussing a similar endeavor that is focusing in and around the Somali coast. This map is still up, so while it's focused in one part of the world it will allow you to pass your time until the world piracy map's website is getting less traffic.

From the article:

View the actual pirate bases, vehicles, checkpoints, and pirate boats. Locate the precise areas of the sea where vessels are hijacked, and where the pirates drop anchor to hold their crews for ransom. Find secret airstrips where pirate crews get their daily fix of addictive khat leaf stimulant flown in. View the places where commandos have captured pirates fleeing or targeted their land-based resources.

Enjoy

[donradcliffe]

Having taken a look at the map, it shows something like 64 attacks in the gulf of Aden so far in 2008, as compared to 16 in 2007 and 6 in 2006. It also shows a high frequency of attacks between the middle of the gulf and the Yemeni coast--maybe because most of the targets are avoiding the Somali side. It also shows the pirate areas have spread east and west beyond historical areas.

We went through the Gulf of Aden in 2004, but I think I would definitely go around Africa this year.

[MarkJ]

I just finished reading an article in Cruising World where it says that in the South China Sea there hasn't been any pirate attacks in the last 20 years.

If you let fear take hold you wont go anywhere. We would still be at the airport if we listened to cruisers stories of woe heard second hand.


If going up the Red Sea now (we are going in early 2010) I'd be finding a few boats to go with and find a friendly navy to escort. Now the Russians have sent a few ships you should be able to get a Destroyer for a pair of Levi's.

[Caribsailors]

Well stated MarkJ

Cheers

[Stranded Mariner]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I just finished reading an article in Cruising World where it says that in the South China Sea there hasn't been any pirate attacks in the last 20 years.

That's because before that time the Chinese Navy looked the other way, or even supported mainland Chinese pirates. Now with the rise of China as a global player, they have to behave.

[Pelagic]

FOXNews.com - Sunk 'Mother Ship' May Not Have Had Pirates on Board - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News