From the NATO Shipping Center:

Risk of Piracy Increased

November 19, 2010
Weather conditions continue to be favourable for pirate operations throughout the Somali Basin and the Gulf of Oman. The Gulf of Aden has not seen many piracy incidents last week, but is still assessed to be an active area.

Reports of a mother ship have also indicated possible upcoming activity in the shipping lanes off the southeast coast of Oman. Both whaler type and dhow/ FV mother ships are expected to be underway towards the deep Somali Basin as far as 65-70E (reported from 5N to 18N) The central Somali Basin has several reports of pirate activity around 5N 56E and towards the Seychelles area. The pirate activity is still high in the approach from Seychelles south towards Mombasa and Dar es Salam. The whalers are 10-12 m open boats with internal engine – capable of 6-8 knots. Mother ships are now believed to include various cargo- and fishing dhows, as well as pirated vessels (Prantalay 11/14).

November 8, 2010
The weather in both the Somali Basin and the Gulf of Oman is having a negligible effect on piracy operations. Activity over the past week continues to primary focused south of 2° south and east of 45° east targeting local and international shipping in the vicinity of Kismayo, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. Activity has also been near the shipping lanes exiting the GOA to southern India. Increasing activity has also occurred in the central Somali Basin against fishing vessels.

Pirates are utilizing pirated vessels as a launch platform more so this season than in the past however whalers (8 metres in length) continue to operate in the south and central Somali Basin. Recent attacks and piratings highlight that pirates will attempt to take any type of vessel focusing on targets of opportunity vessels.

November 3, 2010
The south-west monsoon has now passed and conditions are now conducive for piracy operations off the Somali Coast and into the Somali Basin. The anticipated surge of activity is focused along the coast predominantly in southern areas targeting local and international shipping in the vicinity of Kismayo, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.