Yet Another Pirate Attack near Somalia

With the high profile abduction of a French Yacht earlier this month, it seems the fun never stops off the coast of Somalia, if by fun, you mean piracy. According to the AFP,

A major Japanese oil tanker was damaged Monday in a chase by heavily-armed pirates off the coasts of Somalia and Yemen but no one was injured, officials and crew members said. The attack came a day after a Spanish tuna fishing boat carrying a crew of 26 was seized by pirates in waters off Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years.

With attacks like this seemingly increasing, or at least their publicity increasing, it seems unusual that more coordinated efforts are not being proposed to deal with at least this one problem area. While piracy is indeed nothing new, its impact on global trade and security is a large one. With that in mind, I pose the following questions:

1) Will the proliferation of security companies and the outsourcing of security extend to maritime security?

2) Will the US Navy’s unparalleled role in policing the seas ever get the recognition and appreciate it deserves?

3) Will other countries finally chip in navally, or at least financially or is it not yet financially worthwhile?

While many analysts have noted nightmare scenarios like attacks in the Strait of Hormuz or of Malacca by terrorists, is it not equally likely, or at least plausible, that a similar scenario could occur due to piracy (although the ultimate effect would be unintentional)? With rising energy costs raising the cost of transportation and thus the goods which are transported, when will it make financial sense to do more? Are there any coordinated international efforts to police the seas? This is Younghusband territory, and with that, I hope he and readers can chime in.