NATO extends Ocean Shield operations to 2016

NATO has taken the decision to extend its Ocean Shield counter-piracy operation until the end of 2016, it was announced by NATO Defence Ministers on 4 June. Despite the reduction in pirate attacks in the Horn of Africa, the operation will continue due to the root causes of piracy remaining unchanged in Somalia. 

Ocean Shield has seen NATO vessels work with US-led and EU maritime forces to patrol the waters off the Horn of Africa since 2009 as part of international efforts to fight maritime piracy and to help build the capacity of regional navies.

Ocean Shield helps to protect one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Some 90 per cent of all global trade is carried by sea, with about half of that passing through the Indian Ocean. In 2013, the World Bank estimated that piracy costs the world economy $18 billion per year.

Ships from Spain, Italy and Turkey are currently part of the NATO fleet which operates roughly from the Arabian Gulf to the north, the Seychelles in the south, the Gulf of Aden to the west and the Maldives in the east, covering an area greater than 2 million square miles.

A number of activities are conducted under the operation. NATO vessels verify the activity of shipping off Somalia, separating out legitimate maritime traffic from suspected pirate vessels. Commercial ships that are transiting the area are in many cases escorted to ensure their safe passage. NATO ships can actively pursue suspected pirate ships to prevent attacks, and boarding teams can board a suspect ship to determine if pirates are on board. As a means of last resort, NATO vessels can use force to stop pirates. Any detained pirates are transferred as soon as possible to national law enforcement agencies.

Piracy in the region has been steadily falling throughout the operation, but an assessment by NATO shows that pirates continue to possess the intent and capacity to attack ships, and the operation continues to detect pirate attack attempts.