Piracy Awareness

Piracy Awareness

Piracy Awareness – Prior to Entering Areas of Risk – Appraise the strengths and vulnerabilities of crews and shipsThe International Maritime Bureau has the following advice to Masters if a vessel is intending to transit a piracy prone area. The advice is as below:
General advice to Masters
Be aware of the sea areas and ports affected by piracy and armed robbery. The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) broadcasts incidents of piracy and armed robbery incidents to all ships in the IOR and AOR regions via InMARSAT Safety Net System. Similar information can be viewed on the Piracy Map. 
In most incidents pirates and armed robbers will abandon an attack when they know they been spotted or feel the vessel has been secured and is a difficult target. However Somali and Nigerian pirates tend to be more aggressive so additional precautions must be taken.
Always Follow

  • Company and ship specific procedures.
  • Advice in IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1334 (23 June 2009)
  • Procedures given in BMP5 while transiting high risk areas of Somali piracy.  

Always report ALL actual, attempted or suspicious piracy and armed robbery incidents occurring anywhere to the 24-hour manned IMB PRC. This is crucial in the response procedures as well as broadcasting the threat to ALL vessels in the area.
Ship to be like a fortress – available strengths of the ship to defend a pirate attack, being slow moving, a ship is a vulnerable target with limited deterrent in terms of returning an attackShips can do the following to defend against a pirate attack:

  • Comply with procedures in the SSP in Security Plan as required when entering a high risk area
  • Brief Crew on piracy procedures and precautions prior entry 
  • Prepare an emergency communication plan
  • Have a piracy drill prior entry
  • Single access point for entry into accommodation
  • Keep doors locked
  • Test communications links
  • Follow BMP5 guidelines 
  • Harden vessel’s structure to prevent boarding – e.g. razor wires, hoses rigged, nets etc.
  • Ladders etc. stowed
  • Minimise cash holding
  • Raise security to higher equivalent – at least 2
  • Register with MSCHOA & UKMTO (Somalia) if appropriate

Ship vulnerabilities exploited by pirates is as below:

  • Low speed 
  • Low freeboard
  • Inadequate planning and procedures
  • Visibly low state of alert and/or lack of evident self-protective measures
  • Where a slow response by the ship is evident
  • Inadequate training of ship’s crew to handle pirates
  • Lack of Best Management Practices

Factors such as ship size, speed, freeboard, sea state, visibility, day/night condition affecting the vulnerability to an attackThe ships most at risk to pirate attacks are:

  • Coasters and fishing vessels
  • Tugs, offshore work boats, barges
  • Handy-sized bulkers and tankers
  • Passenger ships (for hostage taking)
  • ALL ships below 15 knots speed
  • ALL ship types while alongside or at anchor in high risk areas
  • ALL ships with a low freeboard

Note that pirate attacks have taken place at most times of the day. However, many pirate attacks have taken place early in the morning, at first light. 
Attacks have occurred at night, particularly clear moonlit nights, but night-time attacks are less common.

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