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Malaysian shipping companies
plying the Far East-Europe trade will have to
bear an extra 3,501 nautical miles if they avoid
using the infamous pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.
The extra journey is also expected to cost
shipping firm millions of ringgit if maritime
crime in the Gulf of Aden is not promptly
addressed.
About 11% of the world’s seaborne petroleum
transportation pass through the Gulf of Aden to
the Suez Canal or to other regional refineries
in Europe.
Gulf of Aden provides the shortest maritime
route from the Far East to Europe. Vessels that
opt for an alternative journey will have to pass
the Cape of Good Hope, and that will add 12 to
21 sailing days depending on the type of vessel
and speed travelled.
Last week, MISC Bhd barred its vessels from
entering the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden until
security measures are enhanced.
This is after two of its tankers, Bunga Melati 2
and Bunga Melati 5, were hijacked by pirates in
the area on Aug 19 and Aug 30 respectively.
Other than MISC vessels, recent cases of piracy
in the gulf, believed to be the work of Somalian
pirates, involved a bulk carrier, a tugboat, a
general cargo vessel and a yacht.
In the second quarter of this year, Somalia was
at the top of the list of global piracy cases
with 24 piracy incidents, of which 19 occurred
in the Gulf of Aden, according to the
International Maritime Bureau. |
