Tankers Engage in Brief Gunfights with Pirates

Weekly Piracy Update – Tankers Engage in Brief Gunfights with Pirates, Self Defense Measures Prove Effective
By gCaptain Staff On February 23, 2012 ....
inShare.3Print This
Email This
PrintPDF

Worldwide Maritime Crime and Piracy Update – week of 16 February 2012 (source: ONI)

ARABIAN SEA: Vehicle carrier M/V LEILA reportedly hijacked on 15 February while underway 50 nm south-southwest of Sadh, Oman. (Press)

INDIAN OCEAN: Chemical tanker attacked on 18 February while underway near position 05:29 S - 064:02 E, approximately 500 nm east of the Seychelles. One skiff was noted approaching ship from 2 nm. As the skiff closed to a half nautical mile, it stopped and five to six pirates with RPGs and automatic weapons were seen by bridge crew. The onboard armed security team fired warning shots; pirates aboard the skiff returned fire with automatic weapons then moved away. (IMB)

ARABIAN SEA: Tanker attacked on 22 February while underway in position 13:30 N – 050:22 E, in the Arabian Sea. One skiff sighted approaching the ship from 1.6 nm from starboard bow. The onboard armed security team came to the bridge and identified weapons in the skiff and fired one warning shot. The pirates then fired upon the tanker with AK-47s. An exchange of fire took place with the security team. Master took evasive maneuvers, sent a distress message, contacted relevant authorities, and mustered non-bridge crew personnel in a safe room. A nearby warship dispatched a helicopter to the location. The pirates aborted the attempted attack after firing 50-60 rounds and moved away. (IMB)

Do these measures go far enough for port and shipping security?

The maritime security provisions of SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code are part of a wider initiative to counter terrorism, including action by the Counter Terrorist Committee of the UN Security Council through resolution 1373, co-operation with the WCO on container security, joint initiatives with the ILO on port security and identification documents etc.

It is better to have a tool that we can refine and improve over time, than nothing at all. After all, those who would wish to spread terror, should they choose to launch an attack against shipping, would surely look to strike where they detect the greatest weakness.

The Maritime Safety Committee and its subsidiary bodies are continuously working on additional elements of and guidance for the mandatory requirements, i.e. Ship Security Alert Systems (SSAs), long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) of ships, control and compliance measures, training and certification of security officers, etc.

Will the new security measures be effective?

It has to be remembered that the new security requirements are part of a wider United Nations strategy for combating terrorism and should not be seen in isolation.

As with all other aspects of shipping regulated through multilateral treaty instruments the effectiveness of the agreed requirements is dependant on how the relevant provisions are implemented and enforced. Thus, the matter is in the hands of Governments and the industry. If the special measures to enhance maritime security are implemented and enforced effectively we will be successful in protecting ships and ports facilities from unlawful acts.

It may take some time before someone may be able to argue and convince that a deep rooted comprehensive and effective security net is in place. Although a ship or a port facility may operate in accordance with an approved security plan, unless all Contracting Governments put in place and maintain the necessary arrangements to address all the objectives and the functional requirements of the ISPS Code, the actual level of security will not be enhanced.

The ISPS Code requires Governments to gather and assess information with respect to security threats and exchange such information with other Contracting Governments. Shipboard and port facility personnel need to be aware of security threats and needs to report security concerns to the appropriate authorities for their assessment. Governments need to communicate security related information to ships and port facilities. Therefore, in effect we are talking about establishing an entirely new culture amongst those involved in the day-to-day running of the shipping and port industry.