Piracy Needs to Be Eliminated Completely and Safer Marine Navigation
Piracy needs to be eliminated completely and safer marine navigation has to be done for the safety of crew and the cargo. Maritronics examines some of the necessary steps in confronting attacks and taking the right steps.
After September 11 and various other terror attacks, maritime terrorism has become a matter of concern. The Ship Security Plan is popularly known in the industry as SSP and has been considered as the basis of maritime security regulations. With rising piracy, the regulations are kept amending to keep a check on the problem.
Ship Security Plan (SSP)
The SSP doesn’t essentially concern measures only for the safety of vessels, crew members, equipment and procedures that deal with piracy. Privacy is an issue in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea and guidelines are put forth for owners, operators, and security providers.
Despite various technologies that now help the crew to secure the ship, the captain and the cabin crew need to make appropriate and fast decisions in the time of distress or attack. A piracy attack is a dynamic event testing a captain's competency and reactivity.
Typical Pirate Attacks
Pirates normally attack a vessel usually by coming on a fiber speed boat which is at least 10 meters long with a fancy flag, usually powered using two outboard engines of 150/200 Hp, with 8-10 men carrying AK-47s and the boat will contain a ladder of 10 meters long. At times, they attack in pairs.
The fire boats are tough to detect on radars that have limited capabilities. The boats are seen on the radar screen at about three nautical miles either when the sea state is under 3 and the speed is quite high. It’s highly recommended that one radar be set on short pulse/short range, the AC SEA/AC RAIN setting in accordance.
Timing and Patterns of Attacks
According to statistics of piracy attacks in 2018, most attacks happened in the daytime. Currently, attacks in the Gulf of Guinea happen during the early night and at the end of the night. Vessels without much alarm/alert with no VHF.M distress call, no SSAS (Ship Security Alert System) alert, no vessel internal alert often realize that the ship is under attack only when the pirates have boarded the ship.
Pirates often attack directly against a vessel en-route day or night. The detection of the threat is facilitated by sparse maritime traffic, but the vessel is usually alone, not protected. At night, they attack vessels or ships that are anchored or are on standby. The detection of the threat is complicated by the numerous speed boats/canoes fishing in the area, but the vessel can benefit from security support from navy assets protecting the area.
Maritronics Expertise
Maritronics is the leading marine services company in UAE that has been keen on the growth of the global marine industry. Maritronics experts are experienced engineers and late crew members who are well versed in managing a ship during distress.
Distress Actions for Crew and Cargo
Here they point out 10 points as distress actions that can help crew and cargo:
1. Secure the vessel
Secure the vessel as much as possible by a security escort vessel or an embarked military security team: The pirates often target ships that navigate alone.
2. Optimize detection
Optimize your detection means for locating pirates as early as possible.
3. Classify the threat
Be able to classify the threat as soon as possible, using the piracy criteria declined above: Personnel on duty on the bridge should be informed, trained and regularly refreshed about local pirates.
4. Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm about the attack, by all means, available (VHF.M 16 / SSAS/ GMDSS/ PHONE / HORN-SIREN/LIGHT).
5. Internal alert systems
Optimize internal alert systems to ensure all crew members will be aware of the alert sent.
6. Lock your vessel
As soon as you operate within a high-risk area, lock your vessel. All external doors locked, all portholes secured. Try to slow down the pirate’s progression onboard by the use of specific items on external stairs.
7. Vessel readiness
Optimize the vessel's readiness by using simple and efficient systems. Focus on low-cost equipment rather than hoping for means that are effective but financially unaffordable.
8. Safe haven door
Consider the first internal door from the navigation bridge to accommodations and lower decks as one essential element of your safe haven. Reinforce this door, reinforce the frame, complete the hardening with a mobile forestay.
9. Regular drills
It is always advised conducting regular anti-piracy drills like privacy attack/alert management, communication and lockdown control, anti-boarding measures.
10. Crew movement
Ensure crew can be moved to the safe haven efficiently and are trained on how to respond in every situation.
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