The report, released on Sept. 30, said Somali pirates have become
increasingly effective in their attacks and continued to avoid prosecution.
Horn of Africa states were said to be reluctant to prosecute or even
imprison piracy suspects.
In March 2010, the U.S. intelligence community determined that Somali
pirates were not being funded from abroad. But the Defense Department has
supported efforts by U.S. law enforcement and the Treasury Department to
monitor U.S.-based support for piracy.
"Treasury, Justice, State, and Defense are monitoring piracy on an
ongoing basis to determine if there is a link between pirates and extremist
organizations, but as of July 2010 had found no credible link," the report,"
titled "Actions Need to Assess and Update Plan and Enhance Collaboration
Among Partners Involved in Countering Piracy Off the Horn of Africa," said.
GAO assessed that pirates can board and commandeer a target vessel in
less than 30 minutes.
"Pirate vessels usually are equipped with grappling hooks, ladders, and
other equipment to assist the boarding of a larger craft," the report said.
"Pirate vessels vary in sea-worthiness and speed with some able to travel at
speeds between 25 and 30 knots and operate in high sea conditions, while
others have more restricted capabilities."
So far, Somali pirates, unlike their colleagues in other parts of
the world, have seized ships and crews for ransom. GAO
said the method has been enabled by the use of land bases, which allow
pirates to keep their hostages for long periods of time during negotiations.
"Unlike pirates in other parts of the world, Somali pirates kidnap
hostages for ransom and, up to this point, have not tended to harm captives,
steal cargo, or reuse pirated ships for purposes other than temporarily as
mother ships," the report said. "Mother ships are typically larger fishing
vessels often acquired or commandeered by acts of piracy that pirates use to
store fuel and supplies, and tow skiffs, which allow them to operate and
launch attacks further off shore."
The report said Somali pirates have been targeting vessels in the Red
Sea or Arabian Sea because of the feasibility of seizures. GAO said vessels
that
travel at less than 15 knots per hour have comprised a high risk.
The U.S. Navy has contributed up to five ships to block piracy in the
Horn of Africa. In 2009 and 2010, the U.S. Navy has attacked and killed
pirates on several occasions in the Red Sea, but did not attack suspected
land bases. The report said President Barack Obama has refused to give such
an order.
"While the United States and its international partners have made
substantial progress overall on the task of providing forces and assets
capable of interdicting pirates off the Horn of Africa," the report said,
"and have made some progress on the tasks related to seizing and destroying
pirate vessels, supporting regional arrangements to counter piracy, and
disrupting pirate revenue, U.S. agencies have made little or no progress
toward implementing the task related to disrupting and dismantling pirate
bases."
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