PIRACY AWARENESS FOR ALL SEAFARERS

 

Pirate’s business model

•     Piracy are business of pirate to make money. This is one reason when they do not kill captors.

•      However, they are extremely anxious about likely military countermeasures against them and always suspect the captors of making such action possible.

•      Therefore, they will do all that is possible to intimidate the captives to rule any possibility of escape or retaliation.

•      They are also anxious that negotiations succeed and they get their dues as early as possible

•      On getting their money, they will be anxious to leave and chaff at any delays which could prove dangerous for the crew.

 

Characteristics of Pirates

  Gulf of Guinea

•      Highly aggressive – hijacking ,cargo theft, kidnappings, basic robbery.

Somalia /Gulf of Aden

•      Highly aggressive to get control of the vessel – hijack, kidnappings, basic robbery.

•      Seafarers held for ransom for 5 - 10 months on average but some for two years

Causes of Piracy in Somalia

•      Low economic growth.

•      Poverty.

–     Average Somalian earns $600 per year.

–     Main bread-winning activity: fishing.

–     Illegal fishing by foreign trawlers reduces the fish stock.

–     Toxic chemical dumping off Somalia kills the ecosystem’s

•      State/Governments unable to deal with such phenomena.

 

Some Factoids about Somalian Piracy

      •      Monsoon/season-dependent “job”–      From March until June & From October to December.

•      “Mother Vessels”  having High-speed skiff boat of about 25 kt speed.

•      Each attacking group is composed about 6-8 persons.

•      Attacks take place mainly during twilight.

•      Their armament includes AK-47 assault rifles and RPG-7 rocket launchers + Semi-automatic weapon , long ladder to board a vessel.

 

What should a mariner do before Joining Ship?

•      Analyze Best Management Practices which the shipping industry provides in guidance in general terms to deter piracy.

•      Specifically, the term BMP refers to piracy (off the coast of Somalia), but it generic measures can be useful to deter piracy in other area as well.

•      Inquire with company about their anti-piracy policies and contingency planning if piracy occurs.

•      Seafarers should know their legal rights and contractual entitlements after a period of piracy

What should a company do before sending a ship to a piracy affected area?

•      First step is Risk Assessment Prior to transiting the High Risk Area.

•      Risk assessment is a detailed and iterative process which examines all risks and solutions against such risk in a quantitative fashion.

•      Based on this analysis, the company will decide

–     If is prudent to transit the area.

–     And transit is a must, then methods to adopt to reduce the risk to prudent limits.

 

Prior to entering the High Risk area.

This area has been defined in the BMP and ships are expected to implement all their anti-piracy procedures and practices when entering this area. The ship has to therefore ensure that: -

•      The Ship is BMP compliant.

•      Reporting procedures have been worked out and known to all OOWs.

•      If Citadels are to be used, they are to be fully prepared and crew fully practiced to assemble there when ordered. 

•      If Private Maritime Security Company (PMSC)guards are embarked, proper MOU should be worked out between the master and the Guard commander. 

•      Piracy incident procedure should have been adequately practised and known to all.

 

A few Terms and Abbreviations

IMB - International Maritime Bureau.

•      IMB is a division of the International Chamber of Commerce which runs the Piracy Reporting Centre.

•      Based in Kualmpur, Malaysia and managed by Captain Mukundan for three decades.

•      The main objective of the International Maritime Bureau’s (PRC) is to be the first point of contact for the shipmaster to report an actual or attempted attack or even suspicious movements thus initiating the process of response.

MSCHOA - The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa

•       It is manned by military and merchant navy personnel from several countries.

•      They build maintain operational plots of vulnerable shipping in these waters and their approaches.

•      They coordinate with a range of military forces operating in the region to provide support and protection to mariners.

•       

UKMTO - UK Maritime Trade Operations, Dubai

•      A UK Government Agency to administer the Voluntary Reporting Scheme by Merchant ships in the Risk area.

•      The primary contact point for merchant vessels and liaison with military forces in the region.

•      MN ships encouraged to send regular reports of their position /course/speed and ETA at their next port while transiting the region bound by Suez, 78°E and 10°S at the time of writing.

•      They subsequently track vessels and positional information is passed to the military.

 

MRCC

Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres. The  MRCC form a 24-hour network of command and control centres for responding to reports of maritime and coastal distress.