Friday, November 06, 2009
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An MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle
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VICTORIA (AFP) — The Seychelles and the US Africa Command on Friday demonstrated drones to be used to detect Somali pirate boats that have wreaked havoc in maritime activities and traffic in the western Indian Ocean.
A US military MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was tested at an event attended by Seychelles Transport and Environment Minister Joel Morgan, who also heads his small island nation's High Level Committee on Piracy.
"This UAV programme specifically, will be able to help monitor large areas and detect the presence of pirates who operate in small boats which are often difficult to spot," Morgan said.
"This surveillance activity will complement and reinforce the other military assistance we are already receiving," he added.
The world's naval powers last year started deploying warships in the Gulf of Aden in an attempt to curb attacks by ransom-hunting pirates that were seen as a threat to one of the globe's most crucial maritime trade routes.
Pirate groups have since shifted their focus to the wider Indian Ocean, a huge area much more difficult to patrol, and started venturing as far as the Seychelles and beyond.
The small nation, which is highly reliant on tourism and the tuna-fishing industry, has expressed fears that unchecked expansion of Somali piracy in its waters could deal a fatal blow to its economy.
With 115 islands scattered inside an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) spanning 1.4 million square kilometres, a population of only 85,000 and a military of 500, the Seychelles has requested foreign assistance to stave off the pirates.
"The UAVs that you've seen are playing an important role but please keep in mind that it's one piece in a much larger effort," US public affairs officer Craig White said at Friday's event.
"This is very much one part of a multinational effort, UN-authorised, to go after the pirates," he said.
Most of the attacks against foreign vessels by Somali pirates in the past month were carried out in or around the Seychelles EEZ.
"Under the current program in the Seychelles, the MQ-9s are not carrying weapons, though the capability does exist," according to a US military factsheet.
Source: AFP, Nov 06, 2009