Somali pirates 'expanding reach'

Chaotic Somalia's lack of government has allowed piracy to flourish

Somali pirates are expanding their range of operations far beyond the East African coast, the US Navy has warned.

One attack has been confirmed on a ship as far north as the Red Sea. The gangs have also extended their raids down beyond the Seychelles.

The pirates were able to strike further away from the coast with the help of bigger mother ships, said the US Navy.

It also warned that an increasing number of attacks were being carried out at night.

Somalia has been without a stable government since 1991, allowing piracy to flourish.

See map of how piracy is affecting the region and countries around the world

The navy said the pirates were going further to avoid foreign navies, which have been patrolling the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

A statement from the Bahrain-based US Fifth Fleet said one raid took place at the southern end of the Red Sea at the end of May and ships should be cautious in that area.

"Pirates have also recently increased their number of attacks during the hours of darkness, highlighting the need for heightened vigilance of merchant mariners during both day and night time transits through the high risk areas," the US Navy said.

More than 30,000 vessels annually transit the pirate-plagued Gulf of Aden and the busy shipping lane has offered rich picking for raiders.

The gangs are currently holding 14 ships and more than 200 seamen in the region.

When first loaded, the map's focus falls on Somalia where most of the pirates are based. Use the arrow icons to scroll left towards Europe and the United States which are both playing a central role in tackling the problem.

Scroll to the right for a story about the Philippines, which supplies many of the world's mariners.

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