The Indian Ocean waters off the Somalia Coastline are no longer safe. This week, two ships, MV Toroelow and MV Miltzow, have been hijacked, each with nine Kenyans. Last week, Somali warlords released other eight Kenyans after over three months in captivity. They are yet to rejoin their kin in Mombasa.
The three ships belong to Motaku Shipping Agency.
From March, 20 fishing boats from various countries have been attacked while transiting through Somalia waters in what maritime experts describe as organized sea piracy.
And the Somali transitional government is on the spotlight over the rising danger with maritime players in Mombasa calling for investigations.
It is believed that pirates are now using expensive speedboats to trail and attack ships in the Somali waterways, raising eyebrows in the maritime industry.
For the last 15 years, some 188 Kenyan seafarers have ended up as hostages in the hands of militiamen from that war-torn land.
During the period, seven cargo ships and several fishing vessels have been captured in Somalia, yet more keep sailing there.
Some of the fishing vessels from Mombasa, which have been hijacked in Somalia, recently are Horizont 1, Horizont 2, Bahari Kubwa, Bahari Kenya, Bahari Hindi, Beira 3, Beira 9 and Marine 7.
Since the French Navy withdrew patrols close to the Somali shores, pirates have had a field day, say maritime experts.
Acting director-general of the Kenya Maritime Authority, Captain Fredrick Wahutu, said Somalia was fast becoming a no-go zone for ships. But, he said, sea vessels will always ply in the waters because commercial interests override the dangers.
Retired merchant shipping superintendent, Captain John Odhach, said there was urgent need for the Somali authorities to set up a navy to police its coast.
Usually, the heavily armed warlords demand ransoms. However, it has remained a top secret how the negotiations with warlords are concluded, as no report of ransom payment has been made public.
But it is also surprising why the Somali pirates keep seizing Kenyan ships and crew, sometimes holding them for as long as six months, if they do not get ransoms.
Reports have indicated that some fishing vessels seek protection from warlords so as to fish in their waters.
Some foreign governments used to police the Coast of Somalia near Al Maan, but their withdrawal is reported to have worsened the situation.
Since the Somali waters became dangerous, the International Maritime Bureau, through its Piracy Report Center based in Malaysia, posts regular warnings to ship owners globally.
The IMB has frequently warned ships on transit to keep 50 miles away from the Somali Coast.
But reports from Somalia indicate that the organized gangs have powerful boats that go out as far as 100 nautical miles away from the shore.
It is suspected that warlords from Puntland in Somalia are behind sea piracy as a major source of revenue.
Assistant minister for Immigration, Anania Mwaboza, says the Government is seeking the release of Mv Torgelow and investigates why Kenyans have been the target.
Kenya is also investigating whether the captors are linked to the transitional government or are criminal element taking advantage of the lawlessness in that country.
Seafarers Union of Kenya secretary general Mr. Abubakar Omar says the hijack of Kenyan ships has run out of hand and wants Government to find a lasting solution.
Seafarers Assistance Program co-ordinator, Andrew Mwangura, said business rivalry could also be linked to the attacks on ships in Somalia.
“From March this year, 20 ships have been attacked in Somalia. Some businessmen including those operating between Kenya and Somalia could be fighting one another and putting the crew in danger,†Mwangura said.
He said illegal fishing in Somalia has also fuelled the hijacks, adding that three fishing vessels with 48 crewmembers have been held at Koyama near Kismayo since August 15.
The ships were reportedly seized by Volunteer National Guard for fishing without a permit. The captors are demanding about Sh350,00 from each of the sailors.
Two of the captured vessels are Zhong Yi and Xinlianfa 36, while the name of the third, sandwiched between the others near the Koyama Island, could not be established.
Seafarers currently have limited employment opportunities due to lack of mandatory certificates on Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), which was enforced by the UN International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 1995.
Kenyan sailors have therefore resort to braving the risks of sailing into Somalia as ships visiting the West Indian Ocean ports were not so demanding like the foreign ocean-going vessels.
The Kenyan seafarers also opt to take up employment on fishing vessels going to Somalia or elsewhere within the East African Coast.