9th March 2000

Combating piracy in the south Pacific

hijacked: if someone hijacks a vehicle, in this case a ship, they illegally take control of it by force while it is travelling from one place to another

pirates: sailors who attack and rob other ships

reflection: if something is a reflection of a situation, it indicates that the situation exists

lawlessness: actions which break the law

creep: to move quietly and slowly, often with the aim of being unnoticed

cargo ships: ships which are carrying goods

overpower: here, seize control of the crew despite any struggle they may put up

crew: the people who work on and operate a ship

set adrift: cast out to sea in a boat without any controls

The offer by Japan to send its own patrol boats down to south east Asia is the first sign of a co-ordinated international campaign against the pirates. The conference in Singapore is likely to be the first in a series of meetings this year, aimed at reducing the number of attacks in these vital shipping lanes. A British company has even proposed putting retiredGurkha officers on board ships in East Asian waters to protect them, although so far no-one has taken them up on their offer.

patrol boats: small boats used by the navy to monitor shipping

series: a number of events or things which will come one after another

shipping lanes: trade routes taken by ships as they carry cargo from one destination to another

retired: a retired person is someone who has left their job and stopped working, usually because of age

Gurkha: a member of a regiment in the British or Indian army made up of soldiers from Nepal