Piracy Resurfaces As Ships Reroute From Red Sea To Cape Of Good Hope

According to senior Italian Navy officials, piracy has resurfaced as most ships rerouted from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the Cape of Good Hope route due to Houthi attacks on Red Sea vessels.

Speaking to the media on board the Italian aircraft carrier “ITS Cavour” anchored at Mormuga Port in Goa, Vice Admiral Aurelio De Carolis, Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Fleet, said that pirate attacks against ships sailing in Indian waters—sea and ocean—had decreased until two years ago.

The Italian Navy Carrier Strike Group, consisting of ITS Cavour and the frigate ITS Alpino, is deployed in the Indo-Pacific region. It is anchored at Berth 9 of Mormuga Port for port calls.

He added that other regions in the world are known for piracy, such as the Strait of Malacca or the Gulf of Guinea, but the situation in the Somali Basin is different. Piracy has resurfaced in the region as maritime traffic is rerouted from the Red Sea route to the Cape of Good Hope route.

Vice Admiral Karolis said the Italian Navy is focused on the Mediterranean, with about 40 warships, including submarines, operating in the region.

He added that all trade that passes through the Red Sea reaches the Mediterranean, so they are committed to implementing maritime security operations to ensure the safe passage of Italian ships and all ships with links with EU countries.

He also praised the Indian Navy and said it is “doing a great job” combating piracy.

Admiral Giancarlo Ciabina, commander of the Italian Navy’s aircraft carrier battle group, said that the Indian and Italian navies will hold bilateral naval exercises off the west coast of India on October 5-6, 2024.

The two-day event will discuss air defense, naval exercises, and joint operations between the two countries’ naval air wings.

Ciabina added that they are calling some specialized experts from the Indian Navy on board the Cavour. The two navies exchange information and plan various activities.

The integration of the two aircraft carriers and their carrier-based air wings, some air defense and naval exercises, and meetings between naval officials of the two countries to discuss each other’s aviation and naval operations will also occur.