Gone tay Davey Jones' Locker

Ay, 'tis a central fact o'the pirate life they chose, lest we romanticise the occupation too much.

[The] Indian crew saw a fire take hold on the pirate ship and heard explosions, presumed to come from ammunition detonating in the blaze.

Before the ship sank the two speedboats managed to escape in the dark easily outrunning the Indian ship.

Even so, one can see why the temptation of the buccaneering lifestyle is so strong.

But in northern coastal towns like Harardhere, Eyl and Bossaso, the pirate economy is thriving thanks to the money pouring in from pirate ransoms that have reached $30 million this year alone.

"There are more shops and business is booming because of the piracy," said Sugule Dahir, who runs a clothing shop in Eyl. "Internet cafes and telephone shops have opened, and people are just happier than before."

In Harardhere, residents came out in droves to celebrate as the looming oil ship came into focus this week off the country's lawless coast.

Businessmen gathered cigarettes, food and cold bottles of orange soda, setting up kiosks for the pirates who come to shore to resupply almost daily.

Mmmm... cigarettes and orange soda. Sign me up!