The day I sympathised with a Somali Pirate, Face to face at sea.

2009 Counter Piracy Ops with the British Royal Navy

It was the fifth time that day we we’re called upon to approach and investigate a small speed boat or “sciff” suspected to be Somali Pirates making erratic manoeuvres. This had become so normal to us that the Board and Search team were bored of the repetitive procedures of loading our weapons, checking our water and equipment before climbing into the onboard Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) and making our way from the £30m Type 22 Navy Frigate to the sciff.

This time was no different, except that we had expected the same thing to happen as all previous encounters with the suspected Pirates off the coast of Somali. The sciff would typically be carrying a group of men aged anywhere from 12 to 40+ years, a few fishing rods and a ladder of some description. That is because we, a huge floating authority, could hardly approach a small vessel discretely so any incriminating items could be dropped into the ocean whenever the would be pirates wanted. This wasn’t something they did in haste but more a last resort. No weapons, no evidence, they immediately become innocent ‘fishermen’ and a responsibility of ours, both for navigational maritime safety and humanitarian reasons.

Most Board and Searches turned out to be just that, a humanitarian evolution in which we would give food and water…