One year after the hijacking of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama and the rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips, piracy still persists and prosecution of those captured remains difficult. Worldwide naval forces captured 706 pirates between August 2008 and mid-December 2009, but 60% of those captured were eventually released. Most were sent to Kenya for trial and only 46 of the captured pirates were convicted. The East African country, however, recently announced that it would no longer accept pirate suspects to be tried in its courts. Kenya argued that the international community had not helped in sharing the burden. In a speech given at the end of March, the U.S. State Department called on more countries to contribute to prosecuting pirates. Prosecution could also be improved by better evidence gathering at sea, utilizing biometric identification technology to track individuals, especially senior pirate leaders. But some countries lack sufficient domestic law to support prosecution, while others do not have the political will to take action. An international working group, of which the United States is a participant, is considering how to prosecute piracy attempts or conspiracy in cases where pirate suspects are not captured in the act but while waiting to hijack a vessel. The International Maritime Bureau’s statistics show that the number of piracy attacks surpassed the 400 mark last year, the highest since 2003 with attacks off the Somalia coastline accounting for more than half the total. A conservative estimate speculates that $30-$50 million in ransoms have been paid to Somali pirates to date, the U.S. State Department cited. Piracy is one of the many reasons shippers should insure their cargo while in transit. Cargo Insurance is the oldest form of insurance, dating back to the 1600s when piracy was also a common event. Even today, Cargo Insurance policies list piracy as an insured peril in the ocean perils clause. Educate customers on the threat of piracy and give them peace of mind knowing their goods have industry-leading protection through Avalon’s Cargo Insurance program. Through our innovative technology, training and marketing support, Avalon assists your company in building a successful Cargo Insurance program to benefit your business and your clients. (The article was extracted from the April 2010, Issue 67 “Quest” newsletter published by Avalon Risk Management)