EMERGENCY RESPONSE & COMMUNICATIONS
Piracy
- Piracy usually occurs at locations known to the marine industry
Piracy in the form of organised gangs exists in a number of locations throughout the world. In recent years the situation has worsened, particularly in the Pacific Basin, West Africa & the Eastern Coast of South America.
Some of the gangs influence, or may be directly associated with local government agents. There have been known instances of gangs operating with the tacit approval of governments or agencies whose responsibilities include the protection of shipping on the high seas. The gangs are usually armed & their activities pose a considerable threat to a targeted ship & its complement. Fortunately, the areas where piracy occurs are known & suitable precaution maybe taken to reduce the risk of gangs boarding ships.
- Boarding may occur while a ship is underway or while at anchor
During the passage of straits, narrow waters & arrival or departure from harbour, the ship is vulnerable to boarding by pirates from small fast boats. The boarding may take place by means of ropes or boarding hooks. In some instances even a high freeboard may not provide protection.
Basic actions to be considered when a boarding is attempted, with the ship underway include:
- constant & vigilant radar watch & physical lookout
- turn on all lights; use floodlights or signal lamp to illuminate deck areas
- muster available complement into counter insurgency teams. Provide safety equipment & means of communication such as walkie-talkie
- lock, or have prepared for locking all means of access to bridge, engine room & accommodation
- ensure ships personnel are briefed. The gang may be armed & the safety of the crew is the prime consideration
- alert authorities & surrounding ships
- attempt to establish communication with the gang. Avoid direct attack & do not attempt to take prisoners
- use water jets & any other equipment to force the pirates from the ship
It can never be taken for granted that the pirates are not armed. Any counter-measures should be aimed at forcing the pirates from the ship & avoiding direct acts of violence.
Before arrival at harbours where piracy may exist, a plan should be developed to describe watchkeping & actions to be taken in the event of an act of piracy.
Some precautions can be taken prior to arrival, to reduce the potential risk of boarding:
- illumination of areas to make the hip an unattractive target
- limit access possibilities, particularly to accommodation areas
- inform crew of potential risks
- keep hose pressed-up for immediate use
On arrival in harbour, check with the agent the reliability of local watchmen & the possibility of obtaining assistance from the police.
When the ship is at anchor, both in an open fairway & in a harbour, the ship is vulnerable to boarding. In harbours of high risk, the Master may consider the possibility of going out to sea at night.
In addition to the precautions taken prior to arrival, the following additional actions should be considered whilst in harbour:
- establish & communicate to crew the alarm sequel to be given in the event of boarding
- all means of access to the ship are secured, gangway up, mooring pipes blocked, pilot ladders locked in
- ensure availability of protective clothing & equipment that may be used to counter boarding
- maintain a constant supply of water to the hawse pipes
When alongside, additional precautions should be considered during loading or discharging operations. Pirates may mix with dockers, which makes detection difficult. In some instances, the pirates may work with dockers & organise damage to cargo, which could create a diversion & enable the pirates to steal from the accommodation areas.
- Efficient deck watch required for detection
In areas where pirates are known to operate, vigilance by all members of the crew is essential. In addition to maintaining a constant visual & radar watch for small craft, the harbour watch should include:
- a watchman keeping continuous surveillance of the accommodation entrance
- at least two men together on watch
- maintaining on board communications between those on watch
- Action to be taken will depend on the circumstances, but could include use of fire hoses or taking evasive action if underway
Response to an act of piracy should be commensurate with the risks involved whether the gang is armed, & the level of aggression shown by the gang. In all instances, avoid direct confrontation, wherever possible.
If an attempt to board takes place while the ship is underway, it may be possible to take evasive action by altering course & increasing speed.
In the case of a boarding attempt, or if intruders are discovered, the following actions should be taken:
- activate alarm signal
- lock all entrances
- muster available crew members
- alert any ships in the vicinity
- alert nearest harbour authority
The objective when dealing with a boarding are to deter the gang & force them to vacate the ship by using as many counter-measures as are available. Most companies recommend that crews do not antagonise boarders if they are successful in capturing the ship.
In areas of high piracy risk, a constant visual & radar watch for small craft is maintained. Should a potential threat be detected, it is essential that relevant information is transmitted to any ships in the vicinity & the nearest harbour authority informed. It would be advisable to request assistance from the harbour authority, who may be equipped with suitable sea or air borne facilities to intercept any potential threat.
Glasgow College of Nautical Studies
dariusz.lipinski