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Seamen’s Church Institute SILVER BELL FORUM June 9, 2011. SHIPOWNERS’ RESPONSE TO PIRACY JOSEPH ANGELO MANAGING DIRECTOR. PIRACY - Somalia. 2009 Statistics (IMB) - 217 attempted incidents - 114 fired upon - 1 boarded (not hijacked) - 47 hijackings (21% of incidents)
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Seamen’s Church InstituteSILVER BELL FORUMJune 9, 2011 SHIPOWNERS’ RESPONSE TO PIRACY JOSEPH ANGELO MANAGING DIRECTOR
PIRACY - Somalia • 2009 Statistics (IMB) - 217 attempted incidents - 114 fired upon - 1 boarded (not hijacked) - 47 hijackings (21% of incidents) • 2010 Statistics (IMB) - 219 attempted incidents - 100 fired upon - 16 boarded (not hijacked) - 49 hijackings (22% of incidents)
PIRACY - Somalia Most recent 2011 IMB statistics (May 23) • 139 incidents • 21 hijackings • 362 seafarers taken hostage • 7 killed • Currently 26 vessels and 522 seafarers being held hostage
GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD 2005 – 165 nm Off Coast 2006 – 200 nm Off Coast 2007 – 200 nm Off Coast 2008 – 445 nm Off Coast 2009 – 1,200 nm Off Coast 2010 –1,500+ nm Off Coast Northernmost Attack 15 Jan 11 MV SAMHO JEWELRY (Pirated) 1,400 nm 1,450 nm Haradeere Easternmost Attack 5 Dec 10 MV JAHAN MONI (Pirated) 1750 nm Southernmost Attack 28 Dec 10 FV VEGA 5 (Pirated) 065E 15S
TRANSIT PATTERNS • N / S transit of Arabian Sea vessels keeping ever further East – running out of Ocean! • Many vessel now transiting up the 200m contour of the Coast
OVERALL PHILOSOPHY • Eliminating piracy is a SHARED RESPONSIBILITY between the maritime industry and governments, BUT, • Establishment of LAW AND ORDER on the high seas is the responsibility of governments
INTERTANKO FOCUS Actions members can take to protect themselves Actions we want governments to take to protect our members
FOCUS AREAS - INDUSTRY • Increased compliance with Best Management Practices (BMP3) • BMP4 under development • Citadels • Armed guards • Include extra costs in Worldscale
COMPLIANCE WITH BMP3 • Overwhelming majority of ships hijacked did not register with MSCHOA or report to UKMTO • Compliance with BMP3 significantly reduces chances of being hijacked • INTERTANKO strongly recommends compliance with BMP3 – in particular registering, reporting and operating within the IRTC
CITADELS • Between 01 Sep 10 and 20 Jan 11 there have been 21 recorded incidents of citadels being used by merchant crews under attack • Reporting suggests that the citadel was decisive in foiling 14 of these attacks • Pirates developing tactics to breach citadels • Advise issued by the military regarding the use of CITADELS on MSCHOA web site http://www.mschoa.org/Secure/ATM/Pages/Citadel.aspx (Password protected)
ARMED GUARDS • The Incident database shows 21+ recorded incidents since 16 Dec 08 where onboard armed security were involved in deterring attacks • There are no recorded incidents of vessels with onboard armed security teams being pirated.
ARMED GUARDS Major concerns • Legality for flag states and port states • Serious potential safety concerns • Major liability and insurance issues in the event of death or injury • Risk of collateral damage • Potential to provoke an escalation of fire power by the pirates (now using RPGs)
ARMED GUARDS INTERTANKO position regarding the use of armed guards • INTERTANKO believes it is the responsibility of the international navies to ensure the right of free passage on the high seas including the use of vessel protection detachments on merchant ships • INTERTANKO does not advocate the arming ships' crews • INTERTANKO believes that the use of private armed guards or private security forces onboard merchant ships has to be a matter for each individual owner or manager to assess as part of their own voyage risk assessment
ARMED GUARDS IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 89) • MSC.1/Circ.1405 – Interim Guidance to Shipowners, Ship Operators and Ship Masters on the use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in the High Risk Area • MSC.1/Circ.1406 – Interim Recommendations for Flag States regarding the use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in the High Risk Area
WORLDSCALE Re-raise with the Worldscale Associations (through our Worldscale Committee) the various aspects of the extra costs caused by piracy activities and their potential reflection in the Worldscale system, including: • extra distance sailed • extra insurance costs • cost of piracy defense equipment • extra costs of crew pay
FOCUS AREAS - GOVTS • Increased "Government Will" to eradicate piracy off Somalia • Cease the use of mother ships • Increased prosecution of convicted pirates • Increased naval assets in the region • Increased public awareness to drive the desired increase in "Government Will“ • Action to address the root cause of piracy ashore in Somalia
MOTHERSHIPS • Mother ships give the pirates operational range, duration and tactical use of hostages in almost the entire Indian Ocean • Motherships must be controlled/immobilised • Major concern is reprisals against crew held hostage on motherships • Controlling /immobilising action on the high seas is preferred • It is for the military to decide on the nature of the action and for politicians to indicate their acceptance of the need for action to be taken.
PROSECUTION • Only 3 countries involved in counter-piracy activity have "conspiracy to commit piracy" on their statute books • For others, carrying fire arms, grappling hooks, ladders, etc. is not a criminal offence on the high seas • Capture and release policy has no effect upon piracy • 8 out of 10 pirates captured are released
ASSETS Currently about 30 assets in the region • European Union established an EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Atalanta • Combined Maritime Force established CTF 151 • China, India, Malaysia, Rep of Korea, Russia and others • Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) For one hour response time – 83 warships How long will the assets remain???
SOS CAMPAIGN • SaveOurSeafarers (SOS) campaign initiated by INTERTANKO. Joined by BIMCO, ICS, ITF and INTERCARGO • Contracted with PR firm to increase public, business and government awareness • Phase One – - Ad in Financial Times and World Street Journal - www.SaveOurSeafarers.com web site - Letters to UN SG, Heads of State and EU President - Interviews with press and news media - Press releases after incidents
RESULTS Results, thus far – • >45,000 visits SOS website • From 162 countries • >11,000 letters sent • >3,000 Facebook followers
SOS CAMPAIGN • Phase Two – - Social media (Blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc) - Actively engage policy makers - Further ads, press releases and interviews - Seek high profile name to assist in cause • Wider industry involvement, now includes support from 25 maritime associations/organizations • Steering committee established to brainstorm ideas, prioritize work items and manage budget
THANK YOU!! WWW.INTERTANKO.COM