The world's busiest shipping lanes (20,000 ships a year pass through the gulf of Aden) alongside the world's most utterly failed state makes the waters off Somalia the most prone to piracy. The international of maritime bureau a private-sector outfit counted in pirate attacks of Somalia 2008 nearly triple the previous years number. Somali pirates operate up to 800 miles out to sea. Somalia needs a viable government to control its territory and shores.