Q+A: What can ships do if attacked by pirates?
Source: Reuters
Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:41pm BST
By Jonathan Saul
LONDON (Reuters) - A fresh spate of attacks by Somali pirates on vessels off the Horn of Africa has heightened fears for shipping routes in the region.
Despite the presence of foreign navies in the Gulf of Aden, audacious Somali pirates have continued to strike at vessels traveling through remote Indian Ocean waters as naval forces remain stretched.
Maritime organizations have issued recommendations to captains and their crews when coming under attack by pirates.
HOW DO PIRATES OPERATE?
While piracy off Somalia's coast has been a problem for years, the lure of multi-million dollar ransoms for crews and vessels has increased the number of pirates willing to launch attacks.
Ransom money has allowed pirates to become better equipped, using satellite navigation systems, speedboats and operating from mother ships to prey on merchant vessels. Recent good weather has also bolstered the gangs' ability to operate.
WHAT SHOULD SHIPS DO?
Vessels are recommended to sail at least 600 nautical miles from the shore to deter attack due to the distance involved.
Captains should carry out drills to simulate an attack in order to prepare crew members.
The London-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has advised ships to employ a number of routine defensive measures.
These include placing barbed wire and barriers around the stern of the ship and lowest points of access as well as deploying dummies at the rails to simulate additional lookouts. Night vision equipment is also advised for lookouts.
WHAT HAPPENS IF ATTACKED BY PIRATES?
A distress call to naval forces should be made when a pirate boat is sighted.
Ships are urged to increase speed and make it as difficult as possible for pirates to board the vessel, aiming to delay boarding for as long as possible to allow naval forces to respond.
Other tactics recommended include making maneuvers to increase the choppiness of the water around the pirates' small speed boats.
Captains should also ensure that key areas such as the engine room and crew quarters remain locked.
The IMB said pirates would allow on average 30 to 45 minutes to try and attack a vessel.
"If it's a difficult ship to get onto they will not bother, they will try and move onto a softer target," said IMB manager Cyrus Mody.
WHAT ABOUT AN ARMED RESPONSE?
While there has been growing speculation that vessels may deploy armed guards, maritime organizations have urged ships to leave that role to foreign navies.
ARE ANY OF THESE TACTICS EFFECTIVE?
The IMO's Mody said guidelines had already made a positive impact with a reduction in the number of successful hijackings.
"We have noticed that (ship) masters are now taking a lot more of a positive pro-active view and tackling the pirates head on rather than getting intimidated as vessels are fired on," he said.
Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:41pm BST
By Jonathan Saul
LONDON (Reuters) - A fresh spate of attacks by Somali pirates on vessels off the Horn of Africa has heightened fears for shipping routes in the region.
Despite the presence of foreign navies in the Gulf of Aden, audacious Somali pirates have continued to strike at vessels traveling through remote Indian Ocean waters as naval forces remain stretched.
Maritime organizations have issued recommendations to captains and their crews when coming under attack by pirates.
HOW DO PIRATES OPERATE?
While piracy off Somalia's coast has been a problem for years, the lure of multi-million dollar ransoms for crews and vessels has increased the number of pirates willing to launch attacks.
Ransom money has allowed pirates to become better equipped, using satellite navigation systems, speedboats and operating from mother ships to prey on merchant vessels. Recent good weather has also bolstered the gangs' ability to operate.
WHAT SHOULD SHIPS DO?
Vessels are recommended to sail at least 600 nautical miles from the shore to deter attack due to the distance involved.
Captains should carry out drills to simulate an attack in order to prepare crew members.
The London-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has advised ships to employ a number of routine defensive measures.
These include placing barbed wire and barriers around the stern of the ship and lowest points of access as well as deploying dummies at the rails to simulate additional lookouts. Night vision equipment is also advised for lookouts.
WHAT HAPPENS IF ATTACKED BY PIRATES?
A distress call to naval forces should be made when a pirate boat is sighted.
Ships are urged to increase speed and make it as difficult as possible for pirates to board the vessel, aiming to delay boarding for as long as possible to allow naval forces to respond.
Other tactics recommended include making maneuvers to increase the choppiness of the water around the pirates' small speed boats.
Captains should also ensure that key areas such as the engine room and crew quarters remain locked.
The IMB said pirates would allow on average 30 to 45 minutes to try and attack a vessel.
"If it's a difficult ship to get onto they will not bother, they will try and move onto a softer target," said IMB manager Cyrus Mody.
WHAT ABOUT AN ARMED RESPONSE?
While there has been growing speculation that vessels may deploy armed guards, maritime organizations have urged ships to leave that role to foreign navies.
ARE ANY OF THESE TACTICS EFFECTIVE?
The IMO's Mody said guidelines had already made a positive impact with a reduction in the number of successful hijackings.
"We have noticed that (ship) masters are now taking a lot more of a positive pro-active view and tackling the pirates head on rather than getting intimidated as vessels are fired on," he said.
Comments