NEWS of Somali pirates hijacking merchant ships in the Indian Ocean once again rocked the global maritime industry amid attempts by international vessels to find an alternative route and escape potential dangers in the Red Sea.
Missile and drone attacks launched by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea forced cargo ships to transport goods via the southern tip of Africa and the Indian Ocean.
However, this decision comes with a heavy price.
As merchant ships dodge attacks in the Red Sea, Somali pirates are taking advantage of the situation by hijacking ships passing through the Indian Ocean.
Besides the potential dangers of pirate attacks, vessels sailing through the Indian Ocean are facing the laborious task of transporting goods three weeks longer via the alternative route.
Last week, the Indian Navy launched a daring rescue operation and saved 23 Pakistani nationals who were taken hostage by the Somali pirates.
The Indian Navy and the EU Naval force are conducting joint anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean and the Horn of Africa known respectively as Operation Sankalp and Operation Atalanta, with the addition of navy personnel from China.
Iran and Gulf countries have previously blamed each other for funding the Somali pirates to attack ships in the Indian Ocean, especially for those vessels with ties to Western economies.
In 2011 alone, the pirates launched 200 attempted hijacks and asked for millions worth of ransom.
The unsolvable threat of Somali piracy costs the world economy an estimated $18 billion every year, according to the World Bank.
The resurging threats of pirate attacks in the waters off the Horn of Africa raised fears of making the region the most dangerous in the world once again.
