Statistics prove that the year 2010 saw a record number of pirate attacks, but it’s hard to completely appreciate the human toll of such attacks. Oceans Beyond Piracy Working Group is hugely concerned about escalating pirate attacks across the globe, and has produced a special report titled The Human Cost of Somali Piracy.
According to the report, a total of 4,185 seamen were attacked in pirate attacks in 2010. A total of 1,090 of these were held hostage, and 515 seamen were used as human shields during attacks on other vessels. Many of these vessels are used as mother vessels once they’re captured by pirates. The crewmembers are forced to continue to operate these vessels, while the pirates mount attacks on other vessels, using crew members as shields.
Torture by pirates is rampant on these vessels, and includes not just physical, but also mental torture. According to the report, approximately 15% of the seamen were abused by pirates, while about 23% were abused and used as human shields. Also, of the seamen who were taken hostage in 2010, 483 reported a significant amount of psychological and physical abuse.
So much of the cost of maritime piracy goes underreported. It is a given that piracy takes an immense economic toll. However, the human toll of these attacks is equally staggering, and needs attention too. Unfortunately, little attention is paid to the condition of crewmembers on the hundreds of vessels that are currently held by Somali pirates.
The maritime attorneys at Maintenance and Cure represent maritime workers injured in offshore and oil rig accidents, barge accidents, fishing boat accidents, diving accidents and other maritime accidents across Texas.
