Mandatory and voluntary Mandatory and voluntary measures taken to deter measures taken to deter attack of Somali Based attack of Somali Based

Pirates in the high risk area Pirates in the high risk area and their effectivenessand their effectiveness

Author: Paraskevi Author: Paraskevi PapasimakopoulouPapasimakopoulou

Maritime Economist – MBA TQMMaritime Economist – MBA TQM

DPA –CSO at Oceanfleet Shippinng DPA –CSO at Oceanfleet Shippinng ltdltd

Purpose of the researchPurpose of the research

To take into account all measures To take into account all measures currently in place for combating currently in place for combating Somalia based piracy in the high risk Somalia based piracy in the high risk area and evaluate their effectiveness area and evaluate their effectiveness in the long run.in the long run.

• The High Risk Area is an area bounded by Suez and the Strait The High Risk Area is an area bounded by Suez and the Strait of Hormuz to the North, 10South and 78 East. Pirates’ attacks of Hormuz to the North, 10South and 78 East. Pirates’ attacks have taken place at most extremities of the high risk area. have taken place at most extremities of the high risk area.

• The level of pirate activity varies within the High The level of pirate activity varies within the High Risk Area due to changing weather conditions Risk Area due to changing weather conditions and activity by Naval / Military forces.and activity by Naval / Military forces.

• Pirates’ activity generally reduces in areas affected Pirates’ activity generally reduces in areas affected by the South West monsoon, and increases in the by the South West monsoon, and increases in the period following the monsoon. When piracy activity period following the monsoon. When piracy activity is reduced in one area of the High Risk Area it is is reduced in one area of the High Risk Area it is likely to increase in another arealikely to increase in another area

• According to official statistics, since 2009 to According to official statistics, since 2009 to date, 123 vessels have been seized by pirates in date, 123 vessels have been seized by pirates in a total of 549 attacks.a total of 549 attacks.

Piracy Activity in the high risk Piracy Activity in the high risk areaarea

Indian Ocean High risk areaIndian Ocean High risk area source source

www.mschoa.orgwww.mschoa.org

How did the Somali based piracy How did the Somali based piracy start?start?• the root cause of the Somali based piracy was the the root cause of the Somali based piracy was the

presence of illegally placed foreign fishermen in presence of illegally placed foreign fishermen in

the Somali coast since the early nineties.the Somali coast since the early nineties. • Increasing number of Somali fishermen started to sail further offshore Increasing number of Somali fishermen started to sail further offshore

and begun to chase away illegal foreign fishing vessels. After the year and begun to chase away illegal foreign fishing vessels. After the year 2005, Somali attacks took a 2005, Somali attacks took a different formdifferent form and began to go after any  and began to go after any vulnerable vessel (fishing or not) that moved in Somali waters. vulnerable vessel (fishing or not) that moved in Somali waters.

• The eagerness of the earliest victims to pay rising The eagerness of the earliest victims to pay rising ‘fines’ helped ‘fines’ helped encourageencourage the rising trend of 'ransom  the rising trend of 'ransom piracy', reaching record levels around 2008/2009. piracy', reaching record levels around 2008/2009. 

Why piracy in the Somali Why piracy in the Somali region is different?region is different?

• Pirates attack the ship, mainly to capture it and its Pirates attack the ship, mainly to capture it and its crew for ransom, but also for robbery of belongings crew for ransom, but also for robbery of belongings and equipment onboard. Thus any successful acts of and equipment onboard. Thus any successful acts of piracy will inevitably result in a protracted period of piracy will inevitably result in a protracted period of captivity for the crew onboard.captivity for the crew onboard.

• Somali pirates consider the act of piracy as a business, and Somali pirates consider the act of piracy as a business, and recognize that unnecessary harm or injury to the crew is recognize that unnecessary harm or injury to the crew is counter-productive and may harm their negotiations or the counter-productive and may harm their negotiations or the amount of ransom received. To date, the level of violence amount of ransom received. To date, the level of violence against ships crews is relatively low when compared to other against ships crews is relatively low when compared to other regions around Africa.regions around Africa.

Company and Master planning Company and Master planning procedures according to the Best procedures according to the Best Management PracticesManagement Practices

• The latest version of “Best Management The latest version of “Best Management Practices 4”, dated August 2011, contains Practices 4”, dated August 2011, contains all the Suggested Planning and Operational all the Suggested Planning and Operational Practices for Ship Operators and Masters of Practices for Ship Operators and Masters of Ships Transiting the High Risk Area.Ships Transiting the High Risk Area.

Prior to transit the High Risk Area, ship Prior to transit the High Risk Area, ship operators and Masters should carry out a operators and Masters should carry out a thorough Risk Assessment to assess the thorough Risk Assessment to assess the likelihood and consequences of piracy likelihood and consequences of piracy attacks to the vessel, by considering mainly attacks to the vessel, by considering mainly the following factorsthe following factors::

• Vessel’s freeboardVessel’s freeboard

• crew safetycrew safety

• Sea stateSea state

• speedspeed

Company planning Company planning procedureprocedure• Registration with the MSC HOA prior Registration with the MSC HOA prior

to vessel’s transitto vessel’s transit

• Review of Ship security Assessment Review of Ship security Assessment (SSA) and SSP by the CSO (SSA) and SSP by the CSO

• provide guidance to Master with regards provide guidance to Master with regards to the recommended route, plan and to the recommended route, plan and “Ship protection measures” to be taken.“Ship protection measures” to be taken.

Ship’s Master planning Ship’s Master planning procedure prior to entering the procedure prior to entering the high risk areahigh risk area

• Crew briefing on security measures and their Crew briefing on security measures and their duties, duties,

• conduct of security drill and ssas testingconduct of security drill and ssas testing

• preparation of an emergency communication preparation of an emergency communication planplan

• cross checking with the company that the cross checking with the company that the vessel movement registration form is submitted vessel movement registration form is submitted to the MSC HOA. to the MSC HOA.

Ship’s Master planning Ship’s Master planning procedure upon entering the procedure upon entering the high risk areahigh risk area

• it is mandatory to ensure that a UKMTO it is mandatory to ensure that a UKMTO ‘Vessel Position Reporting Form’ - Initial ‘Vessel Position Reporting Form’ - Initial Report is sent by Master. Report is sent by Master.

• Vessels are strongly encouraged to report daily Vessels are strongly encouraged to report daily to the UKMTO by email at 08:00 hours GMT to the UKMTO by email at 08:00 hours GMT whilst operating within the High Risk Areawhilst operating within the High Risk Area

• maintenance and engineering works should be maintenance and engineering works should be reduced to minimum and any work outside of reduced to minimum and any work outside of accommodation should be strictly controlledaccommodation should be strictly controlled

Gulf of Aden transit and the Gulf of Aden transit and the use of International use of International Recommended Transit Recommended Transit CorridorCorridor • In case of transiting through the Gulf of In case of transiting through the Gulf of

Aden, It is strongly recommended that Aden, It is strongly recommended that ships navigate within the IRTC, where ships navigate within the IRTC, where Naval/Military forces are concentrated. The Naval/Military forces are concentrated. The IRTC consists of east bound and west IRTC consists of east bound and west bound corridors. The East bound corridor bound corridors. The East bound corridor starts at 45° East between 11°53’ & starts at 45° East between 11°53’ & 11°48’North and terminates at 53° East 11°48’North and terminates at 53° East between 14°23’ & 14°18’ North. The West between 14°23’ & 14°18’ North. The West bound corridor starts at 53° East between bound corridor starts at 53° East between 14°30’ & 14°25’ North and terminates at 14°30’ & 14°25’ North and terminates at 45° East between 12°00’ & 11°55’ North. 45° East between 12°00’ & 11°55’ North.

International recommended transit International recommended transit

corridor corridor sourcesource www.shipping.nato.intwww.shipping.nato.int

Gulf of Aden Group transits Gulf of Aden Group transits

• Group Transits have been developed Group Transits have been developed after analysis of GOA pirate activity and after analysis of GOA pirate activity and are designed to exploit the additional are designed to exploit the additional protection and assurance that can be protection and assurance that can be gained from grouping vessels togethergained from grouping vessels together

Ship protection measures Ship protection measures according to the Best according to the Best Management PracticesManagement Practices• Increased watch keeping and enhanced vigilanceIncreased watch keeping and enhanced vigilance

• Enhanced bridge protectionEnhanced bridge protection • Control of access to bridge accommodation and machinery spacesControl of access to bridge accommodation and machinery spaces

• The use of physical barriers such as razor wireThe use of physical barriers such as razor wire

• The use of water spray and foam monitors The use of water spray and foam monitors • In case of attack evasive maneuvering at increased speed In case of attack evasive maneuvering at increased speed

• The establishment of a safe Muster point- CITADELThe establishment of a safe Muster point- CITADEL

The use of Privately contracted The use of Privately contracted unarmed and armed security unarmed and armed security GuardsGuards

• The use, or not, of Private Maritime Security Contractors The use, or not, of Private Maritime Security Contractors onboard merchant vessels is a matter for individual ship onboard merchant vessels is a matter for individual ship operators to decide following their own voyage risk operators to decide following their own voyage risk assessment and approval of respective Flag Statesassessment and approval of respective Flag States

• Since 2012, the use of Privately Contracted Security Since 2012, the use of Privately Contracted Security Guards either armed or unarmed remains the most Guards either armed or unarmed remains the most popular additional measure to prevent vessels from popular additional measure to prevent vessels from being hijacked. According to statistics, those measures being hijacked. According to statistics, those measures taken by ship operators together with the increasing taken by ship operators together with the increasing presence of EU NAV forces in the area were proven to presence of EU NAV forces in the area were proven to be effective as the number of vessels being pirated has be effective as the number of vessels being pirated has been significantly reduced in 2012 only to 5 vessels been significantly reduced in 2012 only to 5 vessels against 25 vessels in the previous yearagainst 25 vessels in the previous year

Table 3: Somali based Piracy Table 3: Somali based Piracy statistics statistics source source www.eunavfor.euwww.eunavfor.eu

Suggested selection Suggested selection criteria of Security criteria of Security CompanyCompany • The vessel operator in order to select a The vessel operator in order to select a

reliable company and thus mitigate the reliable company and thus mitigate the risk of unnecessary escalation should take risk of unnecessary escalation should take into consideration first of all the profile of into consideration first of all the profile of the members of security team: they the members of security team: they should preferably have ex navy and should preferably have ex navy and Special Forces military background and Special Forces military background and great experience. They must be well great experience. They must be well trained with regards to the use of weapons trained with regards to the use of weapons and to the implementation of the isps code and to the implementation of the isps code and duly certified with regards to STCW, and duly certified with regards to STCW, yellow fever and first aid. yellow fever and first aid.

Suggested selection Suggested selection criteria of Security criteria of Security CompanyCompany• Most flag administrations also require that the selected Most flag administrations also require that the selected

private security services provider operates according to private security services provider operates according to an operation manual approved by the flag statean operation manual approved by the flag state. .

• The selected company should be also able to provide The selected company should be also able to provide evidence that the weapons used are legally bought evidence that the weapons used are legally bought and usedand used

• Flag administrations request that a Private Maritime Security Company Flag administrations request that a Private Maritime Security Company has a clear policy has a clear policy and set of rules on the use of force consistent with an and set of rules on the use of force consistent with an international model set of standards and has issued specific operating international model set of standards and has issued specific operating procedures, as agreed between the PMSC, ship-owner, and Master, to procedures, as agreed between the PMSC, ship-owner, and Master, to PCASP operating for them on the use of force.PCASP operating for them on the use of force.

Major ConclusionsMajor Conclusions • Nowadays the shipping industry is in recession and under Nowadays the shipping industry is in recession and under

huge cost pressure. Ship operators pay high insurance huge cost pressure. Ship operators pay high insurance premiums every time a vessel is transiting the high risk area.premiums every time a vessel is transiting the high risk area.

• The most effective counter-measures against The most effective counter-measures against Somalia based pirates have proven to be the use of Somalia based pirates have proven to be the use of physical barriers (such as razor wire), evasive physical barriers (such as razor wire), evasive maneuvering, speed, the use of Citadels and last maneuvering, speed, the use of Citadels and last but not least the presence of armed security guardsbut not least the presence of armed security guards

• there have been many unreported incidents where there have been many unreported incidents where armed guards thought of local fishermen for pirates and armed guards thought of local fishermen for pirates and attacked them. Therefore, it is of utmost importance the attacked them. Therefore, it is of utmost importance the selection of a reliable security company to avoid selection of a reliable security company to avoid unnecessary use of force and attacks to innocents.unnecessary use of force and attacks to innocents.

Major ConclusionsMajor Conclusions

• The reduced number of seized vessels does not The reduced number of seized vessels does not guarantee future reducing trend either, as the guarantee future reducing trend either, as the pirates keep evolving: they are changing their pirates keep evolving: they are changing their tactics, have increased their fire power, they attack tactics, have increased their fire power, they attack in larger groups and in case targeted vessel’s anti in larger groups and in case targeted vessel’s anti piracy measures are proved to be weak, they are piracy measures are proved to be weak, they are more persistent in order to capture the vesselmore persistent in order to capture the vessel

• Root cause must be understood and addressed in Root cause must be understood and addressed in order for the Somali based piracy to be order for the Somali based piracy to be successfully combated. The use of all previously successfully combated. The use of all previously mentioned measures actually faces the mentioned measures actually faces the consequence but the previously referred root consequence but the previously referred root cause still remains and should be eliminated in cause still remains and should be eliminated in order to resolve this problem. order to resolve this problem.

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!