Photo Gallery The Rise of Somali Pirates
In 2000, pirate attacks were concentrated around the Red Sea.
Only one attack was successful in 2001, when the pirates were still unorganized.
Pirate activity spread into the Gulf of Aden by 2002.
The gulf is a vital trade route for international commodities, including oil.
The worst piracy in 2004 was still taking place elsewhere -- namely in sea-trade bottlenecks in southeast Asia.
But Somalia is a failed state, and piracy held an allure for Somalis with little money and access to weapons.
Even by 2006, though, Somali gangs were not well organized.
In 2007 they found more success...
... and in 2008 they began to set records. At least 25 attacks, out of about 80, were successful in the first three quarters of the year.
Despite an increased international presence in the Gulf of Aden, there have been a number of successful pirate attacks already this year. Here, attacks as of April 1.
