On February the 16^th two maritime security officers had been arrested within Mombasa. The two maritime security guards along within the ships Captain were shortly relisted once it become apparent that the weapons were held for maritime security reasons and that they had not been used within the Mombasa drifting area.

The issue at hand held by Mombasa port authorities where that the two security crew members had spotted two skiffs approaching the cargo ship. On sighting this the Navy had been informed that the security team had fired warning shots preventing an attack by two suspected skiffs that had approached the Mombasa drifting area.

Although sources have informed us the security team had been made fully aware of international waters law and legislations prohibiting them from gaining access to the weapons that were in fact locked within a gun safe. The ship actually undertook a nautical manoeuvre preventing the attack.

The Mombasa Navy did not take any action until several days later in fact the day the cargo vessel was due to leave the port taking the security team and ships Captain in for questioning.

The maritime security team along with the ships captain have been relisted with no charge.

To date 242 Indian crew members of various vessels have been hijacked by Somali pirates according to Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan.

 Consequently the Indian Government, along with ship owners, managers and the like have made determined efforts.  As a result 220 have been released and all efforts are being made to try and secure the release of the 22 remaining Indian crew.

 Vasan went on to say that the threat of piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a source of concern for the Government.  The Indian Navy, Ministry of Shipping, the Ministry of External Affairs in conjunction with other agencies have been making discreet efforts to release Indian crew members.

India is exploring the possibility of working with the United States of America to combat the piracy issues under the 2006 Indo-U.S. framework for Maritime Security Cooperation.

“Eleven pirates on board with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. All comms on ship are down. Crew safe in engine room and have control of engine and steering. Please help.”   This was the message placed into a water bottle and after attaching a strobe light, the security team of the Montecristo threw it overboard into the waters of the Indian Ocean. 

  The US frigate, De Wert picked up the message.  Not far from her was the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Victoria which was posted to the Indian Ocean in September 2010 as part of Ocean Shield, a NATO mission combating piracy.  Equipped with Royal Marine boarding teams she was able to answer the plea from the 23 crew members of the Montecristo, recapture the ship and return it to the crew.

 The 15 Somalis detained are now in Italian custody.

 The Montecristo was prepared for transit across the Indian Ocean, boasting razor wire defence of the upper decks.  This slowed the Somali pirates enough to allow the crew and unarmed security team time to assemble in the engine room and secure it from the pirate attack.  They would then wait for help to arrive.

 With pirates operating in Somali waters, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, the distances involved make it very difficult for military forces to protect vessels.  Attacks on merchant vessels have been reduced by 80% in recent times and this is due to most vessels employing armed maritime security teams.  This is now seen as ‘industry best management practice’.

Pirate Targets

Within the surrounding coast of Somalia, the Gulf of Aden and within some areas of the Red Sea Somalian pirates are still aggressively seeking further ships with low level security. The level of risk is still high yet with the increasing operations by NATO some ships have become lacks with regards to the level of security they hold; don’t become a target!

Sun Rise and sun set still stand as high risk yet do not underestimate the financial backing held by Somalian pirates. Night vision or air attacks are a possibility catching several companies that do not opp-orate night watches or relay on radar surveillance.

Speed is everything! Not a single ship at this time has been overcome by Somalian pirates when sailing at 18 knots or more. The difficulty in high speed attack and the dangerous are clear, yet again do not assume safety is granted as the level of attack is continuously involving.

Increasing Numbers. The amount of Skiffs (Speed Boats) deployed from a mother ship is increasing with several sightings of 10 skiffs. 10 skiffs shall obviously hold a large amount of man power and vigilance is a must allowing you to deter any situation before is has potential to arise.

Understand the risk where possible and test all maneuvering and other anti pirate defense manoeuvrings within safe waters when possible as the actions should be second nature when called upon.

 

 

 

Within the Gulf of Aden you would assume that risk of pirate attack would be extremely rare, in fact globally you would assume this to be the case yet the truth is far from that and further more pirate attacks are again increasing. The lawless governing body that now lies within Somalia and the fast ocean is proving profitable for Somalian pirates as they continue to take advantage of cargo ships that underestimate the terror threat.  The threat is still at high risk within the Gulf of Aden for all ships and yachts yet primer slow vessels are higher risk to pirate targets. Ship maritime security is increasing with companies holding armed guards not only in the event of an attack yet also as a visual deterrent. We are seeing more and more Somalian Pirates approach and gauge the level of security held on board whilst shooting into the air attempting to intimidate yet also receive a returned warning shot from the security on board. Within the Gulf of Aden not a single ship holding professional ex military maritime security has been taken to date and with British Law as of January 2012 making it compulsory for all companies to only employee SSO and STC W95 assertive personnel the standard is set to increase.