Ships and Shadows: Shipping Companies and the Intrigue of Piracy
When the Somalia coast was a breeding ground for piracy, shipping companies found themselves at the center of a controversial and shadowy business. This article delves into the methods and motivations behind how these companies interacted with pirates and the complex relationships involved in ensuring the safety of their ships.
The Illegal Payoff: A Shadowy Cross-Continent Transaction
Despite the illegality, shipping companies often faced the difficult decision of paying ransoms to pirates to recover their hijacked vessels. After negotiations with the pirate leaders, the owners would transfer the required sums to a correspondent bank in Dubai. These funds would then be converted into cash in the United States, packed into a floatation suitcase, and delivered through small private airplanes, usually based in Eritrea or Dubai, under armed guard. Once the cash reached the pirates, the captivated ships would be released, resuming their voyages. The services of all parties involved - banks, transport companies, private airplane pilots, and armed guards - contributed to this intricate and lucrative business.
Behind Closed Doors: The Clandestine Nature of the Operation
I have, myself, come perilously close to experiencing the harrowing reality of Somali pirates. As part of a training program, we were shown a video documentary detailing the entire operation, from the pirates' motivations to the moment the ship weighed anchor, free to continue its journey. According to the report, the food costs for the captives, kept in custody by the pirates, were settled by the owners at exorbitant rates, such as US$1000 for a goat or US$200 for a fish - all in the name of profiting from this bizarre situation.
A Licence to Prey: Shipping Companies as Privateers
Contrary to popular belief, shipping companies did not directly pay pirates. Instead, they resorted to hiring them as privateers, similar to today's independent contractors. In the days when shipping lanes were teeming with pirates preying on vessels laden with gold, spices, slaves, and other valuable goods, shipping companies sought to protect their trade ships by hiring these pirates. These privateers would safeguard the trade ships from other pirate attacks and keep the goods they intercepted from other pirate vessels, in addition to receiving a fee from the shipping company. Because they were licensed as privateers, attacking other pirates was legal, thus circumventing the criminal stigma often associated with piracy.
Conclusion: A Complex Tariff of Liberty and Profit
The relationship between shipping companies and pirates during this era was multifaceted and often shaded by illegal activities and unorthodox business practices. While it is acknowledged that such dealings were fraught with ethical and legal complications, these arrangements underscore the complex reality of maritime security and the lengths to which companies would go to ensure the safety and continuity of their trade routes.