Operation Ocean Shield

Approximately 90% of all global trade by volume (and 70% by value) is shipped through roughly 10,000 cargo destinations to markets via the maritime environment. Around 95% of this trade passes through 9 major chokepoints, one of which is the Bab el Mandeb 50% of the worlds containers pass through the Indian Ocean Approximately 22,000 ships per year go through the Gulf of Aden Between 25-35 ships register with MSCHOA each day.  (They register as being in the region which is bigger than our JOA.  These registering ships will not necessarily join a group transit)

Pirate Attacks 2008 – 2012     2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Somali Basin      8 Hijacks 11 Attacks N/A Disruptions 26 Hijacks 58 Attacks 15 Disruptions 26 Hijacks 68 Attacks 88 Disruptions 4 Hijacks 52 Attacks 52 Disruptions 2 Hijacks 7 Attacks 19 Disruptions Gulf of Aden (including IRTC) 33 Hijacks 42 Attacks N/A Disruptions 18 Hijacks 67 Attacks 47 Disruptions 12 Hijacks 33 Attacks 56 Disruptions 1 Hijack 29 Attacks 21 Disruptions 1 Hijack 6 Attacks 6 Disruptions Arabian Sea N/A N/A N/A 1 Hijack 5 Attacks N/A Disruptions 7 Hijacks 31 Attacks 3 Disruptions 19 Hijacks 48 Attacks 23 Disruptions 5 Hijacks 10 Attacks 15 Disruptions

LEGEND:

Hijack:  - a successful attack outside of territorial waters when pirates are able to board and take control of the vessel

Attack: - an incident where weapons are discharged by pirates or pirate paraphernalia (i.e. ladder, grappling hook) makes contact witht he vessel

Disruption: - any incident where a pirate vessel at sea is prevented from conducting piracy operations due to direct engagement by counter piracy forces