World Deals With 'Out-of-Control' Pirates

Referring to the Somali pirates who are holding a Saudi Arabian oil tanker as "terrorists," Saudi...

Referring to the Somali pirates who are holding a Saudi Arabian oil tanker as "terrorists," Saudi Arabian Foreign Faisal confirmed that Vela International, the company who owns the tanker Sirius Star, is in negotiations with the pirates over ransom payment. Prince Saud Al-Faisal spoke Wednesday after talks in Rome with his Italian counterpart. He says the Saudi government does not like to negotiate with "pirates, terrorists or hijackers" but the owners of the tanker are "the final arbiter" on the issue.

(AP Photos)

More Warships Heading to Somali Coast

South Korea is planning to sending navy ships to the area to protect cargo, and Japan is considering doing the same. And today Arab foreign ministers from countries bordering the Red Sea and affected areas are meeting in Cairo to address the growing piracy threat.

"Piracy is against everybody. Like terrorism, it is a disease that has to be eradicated," al-Faisal said during a news conference.

"It's getting out of control," said Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau. "Despite the increase of the military warships, the pirates have a lot of opportunities. They come in great numbers and can attack many ships."

In two weeks, eight ships have been captured by pirates, including three ships in the last three days, according to maritime officials. According to the maritime bureau, there have been 95 piracy attacks on vessels off the coast of Somalia this year, with 39 successfully captured.

Vice Adm. Jane Campbell, the commander of the Combined Maritime Force, which includes the Fifth Fleet along with the United Kingdom, France and Spain, says that even though the maritime force has stepped up its anti-piracy efforts, including providing a traffic corridor for extra protection, the area is too large for it to be everywhere.

"We're talking about a water space of more than 1.1 million square miles," she told ABC News, pointing out that the maritime force does not have the vessels or the resources to devote to patrolling the Gulf of Aden and the entire Indian Ocean.

The Combined Maritime Force is recommending that shipping companies take security into their own hands, including hiring armed private guards to be onboard.

"If this were a company operating and maintaining a warehouse ashore and they had valuable products they were storing at that warehouse ? we wouldn't think twice about having a licensed security guard at that facility," Campbell said. "We think it's a decision that the shipping companies must make ? now at sea because the pirates are basically criminals at sea."