It could be said that 2011 has been an annus horibilis for Somali pirates. Despite a 15 per cent increase in the number of reported pirate incidents, including suspicious approaches and attacks, the overall number of successful hijacks is down by just over half and the geographical scope of pirate activity has been markedly reduced. This significant reversal of pirate fortune has been most evident following the withdrawal of the South West Monsoon in September 2011, hitherto the start of the annual ‘pirate season.’ According to Dryad’s figures, the number of pirate incidents (suspicious approaches, attacks and hijacks) in 2011 was 300 compared to 255 in 2010 (an increase of approx. 15%). Hijacks in 2011 numbered only 26 against a 2010 total of 56, representing a decrease of 56%.