Successful attacks on vessels, exactly where asset safety is nominal, comply with typical vulnerabilities, which are exploited by pirates. These are as follows:

· Lower velocity - (beneath sixteen knots)
· Lower freeboard - (length from the waterline to the freeboard deck of a fully loaded ship)
· Inadequate arranging and implementation of methods
· Alert of crew on board is minimal or there is no visible proof of self-security actions
· In which there is a sluggish reaction by the vessel and crew

Usually the pirates will use two or far more little boats able of speeds in excessive of 20 knots, these are open crafts usually called "skiffs" and they usually strategy the intended target from the port quarter or stern.

The use of a mother ship is utilized as a cellular logistics base that carries the gear and staff to permit assaults to happen additional out to sea, some assaults have transpired at 600 NM off the shoreline.

The vast majority of assaults will happen at initial and last gentle, so at these occasions additional vigilance is essential.

Ahead of the Transit

Prior to a transit, the adhering to bodies need to be informed and include

The Maritime Protection Centre - Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), which is the organizing and coordination authority for EU Forces in the Gulf of Aden and the location off the Coast of Somalia and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Functions (UKMTO), which is in Dubai and is the very first position of get in touch with for vessels in the area. The day-to-day interface with Masters and the army is the UKMTO.

Before transiting anti counterfeiting solution -threat areas, the proprietor and Master need to have out their own risk assessments to evaluate the probability of an attack by pirates. The outcome of this danger evaluation ought to identify steps to be taken to prevent the vessel becoming taken by pirates.

Business Disaster Management Procedures and steps to satisfy the menace inside of the area the vessel is transiting, should be addressed.

In order to ideal get ready a vessel, the subsequent planning and education need to be deemed as a minimal, to manage pitfalls towards attack:

· Sign-up the vessel with the authorities, UKMTO and MSCHOA
· Evaluation the ships protection plan
· Have out crew anti-piracy and stability recognition training
· Appoint safety consultants for your transit, who have international maritime security expertise
· Make certain you have a very good and efficient anti-piracy contingency prepare

Defensive Actions

The vessel need to assessment its safety steps and methods and consider:

· Making sure that the vessels routines are modified in advance to make certain that the crew are nicely rested ahead of they enter the high risk region
· Observing radio silence or allowing minimal use of radio products
· Discover a secure space
· Securing entry to the bridge, motor room and crew cabins
· Provision of evening eyesight unit(s) for look at staff

For the duration of the Transit

Masters must use the International Advised Transit Corridor (IRTC). This is advisable by the naval authorities, westbound vessels use the northern part of the corridor and the eastbound vessels use the southern element of the IRTC.

Vessels need to continue to be inside the IRTC at all times and guarantee that it keeps up with its group transit. The vessel should comply with intercontinental rules on lighting.

MSCHOA will recommend on the team transit timings which depart at various moments and are recognized by the speed of the vessel, so if a vessel has a optimum velocity of sixteen knots it must consider becoming a member of a fourteen knot team transit.

If you have employed a safety business, they are there for tips and assistance and need to also set up the processes and actions for every vessel as proper. Nevertheless, vessels ought to nevertheless guarantee that they have extra crew as lookouts at vulnerable areas of the vessel specially on the rear port quarter.

It is paramount that a vessel protects the crew from chance this implies that only essential crew operate should be executed on the deck even though in the high-danger regions.

If Attacked by Pirates

Adhere to the ship's pre-ready prepare which would have been issued by your company prior to the vessel coming into the substantial chance region, activate the Ship Stability Inform Program (SSAS), this will inform your Company Protection Officer (CSO).

Seem the crisis alarm and make PA bulletins in accordance with the ship's unexpected emergency strategy, also make a Mayday call on Ch 16 and Ch 8 which is monitored by naval ships in the region.

Guarantee that, if provision has been made, all non-vital crew go to the citadel and remain there right up until the all obvious is sounded.

Optimize the vessels velocity and carry out zigzag maneuvers even though preserving the vessels velocity normally pirates will give up the chase if they are not able to board within 30-45 minutes.

If Boarded by Pirates

If you are unfortunate ample to be boarded by pirates and before they acquire accessibility to the bridge, advise UKMTO, MSCHOA and your Organization if time permits. Supply no resistance as this might direct to unnecessary violence and harm to the crew.

Continue being tranquil and co-run with your new unwelcome visitors and make sure that all the crew keep with each other in one particular place if feasible.

Your Organization will start off the procedure of informing their insurance coverage broker to begin negotiations for any release when a ransom desire is received, but be ready that this will be a extended drawn out procedure.