Posted:
February 18, 2010
The Combined Maritime Forces, part of the U.S. Navy, has urged vessels to follow ‘best management practices’ when transiting areas with a high risk for piracy.
The CMF recommends, among other best management practices, the use of “passive defensive measures, preparing a comprehensive security plan, removing external ladders, using lookouts at all times and employing speed and maneuvering tactics to evade pirate attacks.” Vessels are also advised to use group transits and/or embarked security teams. The CMF notes it is important to remain in contact with the Maritime Security Center Horn of Africa (MSC HOA) and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization when transiting areas known for pirate activity.
According to a report published by the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau, pirates are expanding their area of attack. Pirate attacks have occurred as far as 1,000 nautical miles from Mogadishu, Somalia, creating a danger zone of more than 1.1 million square miles off the Somali coast.
In 2009, a total of 406 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the ICC IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre. Of these, 217 are attributed to Somali pirates. This is the third consecutive year of increases in pirate activity, but the number of successful hijackings is proportionately smaller, the ICC IMB report noted.
American Maritime Officers maintains that the U.S. Department of Defense should provide embarked security teams for the limited number of U.S.-flagged merchant vessels that trade in areas known for piracy, often carrying U.S. government impelled cargoes.
The full advisory from the Combined Maritime Forces is available online.
Combined Maritime Forces renews advisory for vessels operating in pirate-infested waters
The Combined Maritime Forces, part of the U.S. Navy, has urged vessels to follow ‘best management practices’ when transiting areas with a high risk for piracy.
The CMF recommends, among other best management practices, the use of “passive defensive measures, preparing a comprehensive security plan, removing external ladders, using lookouts at all times and employing speed and maneuvering tactics to evade pirate attacks.” Vessels are also advised to use group transits and/or embarked security teams. The CMF notes it is important to remain in contact with the Maritime Security Center Horn of Africa (MSC HOA) and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization when transiting areas known for pirate activity.
According to a report published by the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau, pirates are expanding their area of attack. Pirate attacks have occurred as far as 1,000 nautical miles from Mogadishu, Somalia, creating a danger zone of more than 1.1 million square miles off the Somali coast.
In 2009, a total of 406 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the ICC IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre. Of these, 217 are attributed to Somali pirates. This is the third consecutive year of increases in pirate activity, but the number of successful hijackings is proportionately smaller, the ICC IMB report noted.
American Maritime Officers maintains that the U.S. Department of Defense should provide embarked security teams for the limited number of U.S.-flagged merchant vessels that trade in areas known for piracy, often carrying U.S. government impelled cargoes.
The full advisory from the Combined Maritime Forces is available online.