The Palingenesis of Maritime Piracy and the Evolution of Contemporary Counter-Piracy Initiatives
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THE PALINGENESIS OF MARITIME PIRACY AND THE EVOLUTION OF CONTEMPORARY COUNTER-PIRACY INITIATIVES BY ROBERT COLM MCCABE, M.A. THESIS FOR THE DEGREE OF Ph.D. DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, MAYNOOTH HEAD OF DEPARTMENT Dr Jacinta Prunty SUPERVISOR OF RESEARCH Dr Ian Speller December 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents............................................................................................................. i Dedication.......................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments............................................................................................. v Abbreviations.................................................................................................... vii List of figures..................................................................................................... x INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER I - MARITIME PIRACY: A TWENTIETH-CENTURY PALINGENESIS? 1.1 Introduction and general context...................................................... 20 1.2 Early legal interpretations and historical evolution......................... 22 1.3 Twentieth century legal evolution.................................................... 25 1.4 Resurgence of maritime piracy in the nineteenth century................ 31 1.5 Suppression of maritime piracy in the nineteenth century............... 37 1.6 Pre-war period (1900-14)................................................................. 45 1.7 Interwar period (1919-39)................................................................ 52 1.8 Post-war period (1945-79)............................................................... 58 Case study I – Southeast Asia CHAPTER II - A REGIONAL RESPONSE TO A REGIONAL PROBLEM? 1979-97 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................... 70 2.2 General obstacles to regional counter-piracy operations................... 71 2.3 Vietnamese boat refugees (1979-91)................................................. 80 2.4 Alternative regional piracy (1979-91)............................................... 89 2.5 Counter-piracy (1979-91).................................................................. 95 2.6 Legal initiatives (1979-91): UNCLOS & SUA Convention............. 99 2.7 Alternative regional piracy (1991-97)............................................... 108 2.8 1992 initiatives.................................................................................. 113 2.9 1993-97 initiatives............................................................................. 118 -i- CHAPTER III - TOWARD MULTILATERALISM, 1997-2006 3.1 Introduction.................................................................................. 125 3.2 Causes and context....................................................................... 127 3.3 Asian financial crisis.................................................................... 131 3.4 11 September 2001 and maritime security in Southeast Asia..... 137 3.5 Categories of piracy..................................................................... 139 3.6 Counter-piracy (1997-2006)........................................................ 149 3.7 National initiatives....................................................................... 153 3.8 Extra-regional initiatives.............................................................. 169 3.9 Legal initiatives............................................................................ 179 Case Study II – Gulf of Aden/Somali Basin CHAPTER IV - THE SEEDS OF DISORDER AT SEA ARE SOWN ASHORE, 1960–2004 4.1 Introduction and general context................................................. 187 4.2 Colonial legacy and independence (1960-69)............................. 194 4.3 Siad Barre military coup and regime (1969-91).......................... 199 4.4 Fall of regime, civil war and the growth of piracy (1991-2004). 208 4.5 Transitional National Government (2000-04)............................. 216 4.6 Parallel causal factors.................................................................. 219 4.7 Counter-piracy (1991-2005)........................................................ 224 4.8 International efforts..................................................................... 227 4.9 Regional efforts........................................................................... 239 4.10 Legal initiatives........................................................................... 249 CHAPTER V - HOSTIS HUMANI GENERIS – A THREAT TO GLOBAL TRADE? 5.1 Introduction and general context................................................. 257 5.2 Union of Islamic Courts (May-Dec. 2006).................................. 266 5.3 Ransom payments........................................................................ 271 5.4 Humanitarian initiatives.............................................................. 275 5.5 Private Maritime Security Companies and Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel........................................................... 278 5.6 Legal issues.................................................................................. 282 5.7 Prosecutions................................................................................. 294 -ii- CHAPTER VI - A GLOBAL RESPONSE TO A REGIONAL THREAT? 2005-13 6.1 Introduction.................................................................................. 302 6.2 Multilateral international initiatives............................................. 304 6.3 Coordinating mechanisms............................................................ 320 6.4 Shipping industry......................................................................... 325 6.5 Unilateral international initiatives................................................ 331 6.6 Regional initiatives...................................................................... 337 CHAPTER VII - THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUPPRESSION: A MULTI - LEVEL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CONTEMPORARY COUNTER-PIRACY INITIATIVES 7.1 Introduction.................................................................................. 352 7.2 Analogous historical and causal factors....................................... 355 7.3 Recent manifestations (2014)....................................................... 356 7.4 Strategic/policy level analysis...................................................... 359 7.5 Operational level analysis............................................................ 367 7.6 Tactical level analysis.................................................................. 378 7.7 West African piracy (1980-2013)................................................ 387 CONCLUSION................................................................................................. 393 APPENDIX....................................................................................................... 405 BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................ 407 -iii- DEDICATION Dedicated to all those who work at sea. -iv- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many individuals and organisations have contributed to this research. Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor Dr Ian Speller who went above and beyond what could reasonably be expected from a supervisor and truly encapsulated the spirit of a doctoral mentor, imparting not only academic wisdom and expert advice, but enthusiasm, encouragement, support and professional opportunities. For this, I am truly grateful. I would also like to acknowledge the financial support of the John and Pat Hume Research Scholarship, the Maynooth Postgraduate Travel Fund and the Nautical Institute in London, whose contribution made this project possible. I would like to thank the staff and faculty of the Department of History at Maynooth University for their assistance, support and advice during the course of my research; particular thanks to Professor Marian Lyons, Professor Jacqueline Hill, Ann Donoghue and Catherine Heslin. In addition, I would like to acknowledge the support of the Centre for Military History and Strategic Studies at Maynooth University especially Dr David Murphy. Special thanks goes to the staff of An Foras Feasa research institute, for providing me with a workspace; chiefly Dr Jennifer Kelly, Laura Gallagher, Gemma Middleton and my fellow postgraduate students who toiled in similar environs. Additional thanks goes to Philip Wake and Capt. Harry Gale of the Nautical Institute (London); Cyrus Mody, Pottengal Mukundan and Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau (London and Kuala Lumpur); the staff at Northwood Headquarters in London for allowing me exclusive access; notably Capt. Peter Olive, Capt. Paul Chivers and Lt. Cdr. Tristan Lovering of EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta alongside Capt. Kuba Szymanski of Intermanager; Capt. Rajiv Bhandari of North-South Maritime; Karsten Von Hoesslin; Conor Mowlds and Capt. Barry Hannon. -v- I would like to especially acknowledge the following individuals who graciously offered me their time and welcomed me during my research trip to Southeast Asia; Prof. Robert Beckman of the Centre for International Law in Singapore; Ms. Lee Yin Mui and Commandant Dinesh Dogra (ReCAAP); Dr Tim Huxley (International Institute of Strategic Studies); Dr Ian Storey (Institute of Southeast Asian Studies); Mr. Benny Low (Thome Ship Management); Ms.