Hands up who agrees that US$3 million in cold, hard cash is not a bad pay day for just two months' 'work'? I use 'work' in the loosest possible sense of the word because this isn't exactly 9-5, and you probably won't be paying income tax.

This huge sum of money is what a gang of pirates are supposed to have bagged themselves after hijacking a supertanker belonging to oil behemoth Saudi Aramco off the coast of Somalia. The Sirus Star was carrying two million barrles of oil.

The 25-man crew was released unharmed after the ransom was precision airdropped by parachute to the deck but you have to ask yourself if this was the correct deicsion or extremely foolhardy? This part of the world have seen a alarming surge in attacks and hijackings but surely this sends a message to the pirates that a hijacked tanker owner will eventually buckle and shell out a barrel-load of cash for them either retire on or bankroll their next assualt. The pirates appear to be getting bolder and more daringso something needs to be done urgently to protect a vital commodity like oil being transported around the world. And let's not forget to protect the lives of those employed to transport lucrative cargo in these dangerous waters.