ISF International Security Forum

Tuesday, 31 May 2011, 14:00 - 15:30

Hosted by the Center for Security Studies (CSS)

Piracy is a challenge that is likely to increase in the future. Despite increased patrolling, pirates took a record 1,181-crew hostages in 2010. The annual cost of piracy is estimated between 1 and 12 billion USD. Since 2008, the EU military Operation Atalanta has helped to decrease incidents, but it is impossible to patrol all of the 2.5 million square miles where pirate activities have taken place. Another concern is if sensitive cargo were to fall into the wrong hands. From a Somali perspective, piracy is seen as a “legitimate” alternative income to the end of the fishing economy. Questions discussed:

• Characteristics and challenges: What is the present situation and what are likely trends regarding piracy in the future?
• Adequate responses: Are the present response mechanisms sufficient (also in light of possible future developments?) or do they need to be adapted? Is Atalanta the right or only response?

Chair

Simon Mason
Senior Researcher, Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Speaker

Reto Dürler
Head, Swiss Maritime Navigation Office (SMNO), Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Basel

Peter Woodtli
Managing Director, Enzian Ship Management AG

Tim Stear
Global Head of Maritime Security, Control Risks, London, UK

More on Discussion Topic

Piracy on the High Seas

Location

Orange Room