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The last pirate attacks in Panama were in the days of Henry Morgan when the privateer burned the old city to the ground. That is, of course, if you do not count the one armed pirates at the Venito Casino just off Via España in Panama City’s el Centro. The Panama Canal is safe from pirates. Western Hemisphere maritime powers routinely hold exercises to safeguard the Panama Canal. On the other hand the number of pirate attacks and ships held for ransom goes up daily in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean.

For history buffs a walking tour of Panama Viejo is a pleasant look into the past. Panama Viejo or Old Panama is the ruins of the first European city on the Pacific Ocean. Panama Viejo was founded in 1519 and in 1671 with a population of 10,000 it was attacked and burned by Morgan the pirate. The remaining ruins of Panama Viejo are part of a World Heritage Site.

Although the danger of pirates is gone in Panama along with the movement of gold from the Americas to Spain terrorism is not. Every year the United States leads an exercise to improve communications among interested governments for protection of the Panama Canal. This last year operation Panamax included representatives of 40 countries.

Pirates and the Suez Canal

With the Horn of Africa in a state of anarchy piracy has flourished for years. As pirates have gained greater prizes and ransoms they have started using mother ships to bring their speed boats farther out into the shipping lanes. A Saudi super tanker is the most recent well publicized prize of the pirates.

The navies of the world are patrolling the waters of the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean but the area is vast and the pirate, when operating is speed boats at night, are hard to spot.

Latest news from the BBC is that Islamic terrorists in Somalia are hunting pirates in Somalia saying that the hijacking of a Saudi, and therefore Muslim, super tanker is a crime against their religion.

The Panama Canal by Comparison

Think of a cruise through the Panama Canal. Stop for a night at the Canopy Tower and wake up to exotic birds just a few feet from your bedroom window. Try kayaking in the Chagras River. No mention of pirates, right? Panama City has first world services and things to do day and night. The only pirates might be those slot machines at el Venito.

Not all trade can easily cross the Pacific instead of passing through the Suez Canal. However, if pirate attacks continue to disrupt shipping and add to the cost of doing business buyers may look for different suppliers, ones who can more easily ship via the Panama Canal.