ANTI PIRACY GUIDANCE FOR SEAFARERS

PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

SCOPE
- 2014 updates and general overview on piracy
- Guidance and best industry practices
- How to avoid, react, and cope or survive piracy situations
In compliance with POEA Memo Circular No. 05 of 2009

OBJECTIVES
- To gain adequate knowledge, guidance and skills on the
Best Management Practices (BMP) in avoiding piracy attacks,
deterring attacks, delaying successful attacks and handling
the situation with pirates on board
- To gain awareness in current piracy trends and tactics
WHAT IS PIRACY?
WHAT IS PIRACY?
Piracy is a term used to described acts of armed robbery,
hijacking and other malicious acts against ships in
international waters.
Piracy is carried out with the intent of stealing valuables
onboard and or extorting money from ship owners and or
third party interests by holding the ship of the crew hostage
for ransom.
PIRACY SCENARIO:
THE AI MARU, 6/4/2014
SINGAPORE — The Ai Maru steamed alone under night skies on
June 14 when a speedboat slipped in from the darkness and
overtook the tanker about 30 miles off the coast of Malaysia. At 9:15
p.m., seven men with handguns and knives clambered up over the
side, smashed through doors, tied up crew members at gunpoint and
bashed the Ai Maru's communications equipment.
The attackers stripped the 13 crew members of their personal
belongings, locked them in a room and spent the next hours getting
to the real work at hand: stealing the cargo. A second tanker, this one
piloted by more pirates, pulled alongside. The maritime robbers
siphoned a total of 620 metric tons of marine gas oil from Ai Maru to
their own ship.
At 5 a.m., when naval and coast guard vessels arrived at the Ai Maru,
dead in the water with its lights glowing, the pirates were long gone.
Their total haul, at black market fuel prices, came in at about
$550,000.
(from: http://www.cnbc.com/2014/09/15/worlds-most-pirated-
waters.html)
EFFECTS OF PIRACY
The U.S. Merchant Marine estimates that global piracy costs
shippers $4.9 billion to $8.3 billion a year.
Those higher costs come in the form of lost cargo, higher
insurance, added shipping times, extra compensation to
crews, litigation and legal fees. Cruising at 17.9 knots in a
supertanker, versus the typical 12.8 knots, adds an extra
$88,000 in fuel expense per ship per day.
Those extra costs inevitably get passed on to consumers in
the increasingly interconnected global markets, where losses
in one part of the world affect costs in another.
TOTAL NUMBER OF
ATTACKS PER YEAR

2013 collapse of piracy in Somalia

Southern Asia as the world’s most pirated waters
TOTAL NUMBER OF
ATTACKS IN 2014

245
BOARDINGS AND HIJACKINGS
PER LOCATION
MOST NUMBER OF
ATTACKS PER LOCATION
MAP OF ATTACKS:
1ST HALF OF 2014
(VIDEO FILMING)
TYPICAL ATTACK PROFILE:
THE TARGET
Freeboard: Pirates will probably try to board at the lowest point above
the water line, usually on either quarter. Recent trends suggest that
vessels with a minimum freeboard greater than 8 meters have a much
greater chance of successfully escaping a piracy attempt than those with
less freeboard.

Speed: If a potential attack is detected early, the ability to outrun the

attackers will defeat the attack before it develops. It is therefore
recommended that the vessels proceed at Full Sea Speed. To date, there
have been no reported successful attack of speed over 15 knots.

Piracy Activity: The risk of the piracy attack appears to increase

immediately following the release of a hijacked vessel and or following a
period of poor weather
TYPICAL ATTACK PROFILE:
METHOD
It is generally thought that from sighting pirates to being boarded,
takes approximately fifteen (15) minutes.

Majority of attacks have taken place between first light and last light

No successful attacks have occurred on ships at 15 knots and more

TYPICAL ATTACK PROFILE:
METHOD
Pirates’ use of two or more small high speed (up to 25 knots) open
boats/“skiffs” in attacks often approaching from the port quarter and
or stern
TYPICAL ATTACK PROFILE:
METHOD
Pirates use a “mother ship ” carrying personnel, equipment and
smaller assault craft
TYPICAL ATTACK PROFILE:
EQUIPMENT
They use ladder or grappling lines in gaining access to the vessel’s
deck
Pirates are generally armed riffles and Rocket Propelled Grenades
(RPG)
TYPICAL ATTACK PROFILE:
EQUIPMENT
The pirates have improved their equipment and now use portable
VHF, GPS systems, AIS and satellite phones.
It is also likely that they are plugged to an International network that
feeds information from ports in the Gulf, Europe and Asia.
Good communication equipment and a mother ship now gives them a
greater ability to find and capture potential targets even far out at sea.
TYPICAL ATTACK PROFILE:
EXTERNAL FACTORS
Prevailing Weather: Since pirates operate from a very small
craft, their operations are limited to moderate weather
conditions. It is likely to be difficult to operate in sea states 3
and above.

Time of Transit: Daylight attacks are more likely to take place

during the early morning or late evening.
Transiting in the dark appears currently to be a lower risk
option, except during a bright moonlight.
PIRATES AND THE SHIP CREW
The vessel cargo and crew are considered by the pirates to be a
valuable asset and it is not in their best interest to damage the
vessel/cargo, or harm the crew.
Then the pirates and ship owner/operator will negotiate the release of
the vessel and crew. After the release, the crew will be briefed again
to attest to the fact that they have been well-treated
LESSON LEARNED:
FACTORS THAT MAKE A SHIP
MORE VULNERABLE

 Low Freeboard
 Slow speed
 Inadequate planning and procedures
 Visibly low state of alert and or evident self protective measures
 Where a slow response by the ship is evident
HOW TO AVOID PIRATES
REMINDERS!
This part is merely for the general understanding of Best
Management Practices (BMP)
Circumstances can differ from vessel to vessel; not all may
be applicable for each ship. An assessment is necessary to
determine which will be most suitable for the ship and
voyage.
Please always refer to the specific situation on the ship you
are assigned to as per recommendations and instructions
from the Master on board, the Ship Security Officer and the
respective Ship Security Plan.
RECOMMENDED BMP:
PRIOR TO TRANSIT
1. GENERAL PLANNING
2. SHIP MASTER PLANNING
3. VOYAGE PLANNING
* Coordination and Reporting
Emergency Contact Details to be posted at Bridge
a. IMB Piracy Reporting Center – Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
b. Maritime Security Center - Horn of Africa (MSCHOA)
c. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Center – (UKMTO
Dubai)
d. Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-
HOA)
e. Your company/ship owner contact details
Maintain radio watch on channel 16 and 08 – Maritime Safety Broadcast
which monitor by Naval Vessel
RECOMMENDED BMP:
PRIOR TO TRANSIT
RISK ASSESMENT
• Prior to transiting the High Risk Area, the ship owner and ship
Master should carry out their own risk assessment to assess
the likelihood and consequences of piracy attacks.
• Gather up to date information on the situation
• Review the risk assessment and make necessary preparations
• Register passage with maritime center – Horn of Africa
(MSCHOA and UKMTO)

** Crew Safety: The primary consideration should be to ensure

the safety of the crew. Care should be taken when formulating
measures to prevent illegal boarding and access to
superstructure from the outside, that crew members are not
trapped inside and so unable to escape in the event of another
emergency such as the fire
 (cont.)
SHIP MASTER PLANNING
•It is recommended that the muster
point is provided with:
•Food and water
•Toilet facilities
•Communication to the
bridge (radio and telephone)
•Fire fighting equipment
•First aid equipments
•Portable lighting
•CCTV monitor
•List of safe crew
k.
 l.
m.
 RECOMMENDED BMP TO DETER PIRACY

o. Use warning sign of the electrified fence or barrier displayed. Use of

such warning sign might also be considered even if no part of the
barriers is actually electrified
t.

u.
 v.
w.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS
1. Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD)
Long range acoustic device is a non-lethal anti-piracy device
which uses pain inducing sound beam to drive away the
pirates. The sonic weapon produces high-pitched noise that
is higher than the tolerance level of an average human being.
LRAD has been used on few cargo and cruise ships until
now.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

2. Anti-Piracy Laser Device

The anti-piracy laser device uses non-lethal laser beam to
provide a visual warning to pirates and distract them
temporarily. The laser device can be used during both day
and night, and can be easily operated by the ship’s crew.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

3. Water Cannon
Water cannon is another non-
lethal weapon which is extensively
used on merchant vessels. As an
anti-piracy method, the device
delivers powerful and
impenetrable stream of water that
blows away pirates trying to board
the ship. The cannon can also
quickly fill the pirates’ boats to
slow them down and hinder
their maneuverability.
Most of the water cannon anti-
piracy systems can be remotely
controlled from a safe position on
ships
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

4. Electric fence
A non-lethal system
consists of an electric
fence which surrounds
the ship and prevents
pirates from climbing.
The system is a
collapsible fence which
can be folded and kept
safe when not in use.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

5. Nets – Boat Traps

Boat trap is a type of
ballistic net which can
be used to stop pirates’
boats when they come
near to a merchant
ship. When in water, the
net ensnares the
propellers of the boats
which disable the
vessel, preventing it
from moving forward.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

6. Slippery Foam – Mobile Denial System

Slippery foam or Anti-traction material is a non-lethal substance
which can be used to make the deck or sides of a ship slippery
to avoid pirates from climbing it. The highly viscous substance
substantially reduces traction of anything that comes in contact
with it, making it difficult to walk or stand.

7. Foul Smelling liquid – Liquid Deterrent System (or using Stun

Gun)
An anti-piracy technology by the International Maritime Security
Network of US involves showering approaching pirates with
slick, foul-smelling green liquid, which stinks and burns. The
burning sensation and the nasty stink forces pirates to jump
into the water, thus stopping a possible pirate attack.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

8. Anti boarding device –

Razor Wire Canister
Anti-boarding device is
an anti-piracy method
which uses canisters
with sharp razor wires to
prevent pirates from
boarding the ship. The
wires act as a barrier
between the pirates and
the ship, which thwarts
forward movement of
pirates.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

9. Compressed Air – Ship

Bourne Shore Launcher
The Ship Bourne Shore
Launcher is a product of a
UK based company. The
Buccaneer Ship Bourne
Shore Launcher is a cannon
shaped device which uses
compressed air to fire a
variety of projectiles. The
power and lethality of the
projectiles used can vary
according to the distance of
the pirates from the ship.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

10. P Trap Anti Piracy

P-trap concept is a non-
lethal system which
helps prevent pirates
from boarding ships.
The system carries thin
lines which float at the
water level around the
sides of the vessel.
When pirate
skiffs/boats come in
contact with the lines,
the later gets entangled
with the engine and
disable the vessel.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

11. Anti Piracy Curtain

Designed by a division of Japan’s NYK group along with hose
manufacturer Yokoi, anti-piracy curtain is a unique method to keep
pirates from climbing the ships. The system consists of a series of
hoses which are dangled on the port and starboard sides of the
vessel. Sea water is passed through the nozzles at a force of 0.2
Mega Pascal, which makes the hoses go in unpredictable whirling
motion, generating enough force to seriously hurt anyone who gets in
the way.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

12. Non-lethal / Stun

Grenade
Stun grenade or flash
grenade is a non-lethal anti-
piracy device which
produces a blinding flash of
light and loud noise. Stun
grenades are used to
temporary disorient pirates
senses without causing any
kind of permanent injury.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

13. Dazzle Gun

Dazzle gun is a type of laser weapon which uses green light
to disorient and temporary blind the pirates. The
concentrated blast of green light can be used during both
day and night.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

14. Rubber Ball Grenade

Rubber ball grenade as a non-lethal weapon sprays rubber
bullets on detonation. The anti-piracy grenade also produces
light and sound which can be used to deter pirates from
coming towards the ship.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

15. Active Denial System – Pain

Ray (Electromagnetic wave)
Officially known as the Active
Denial System (ADS), the Pain Ray
is a non-lethal weapon which
transmits a narrow beam of
electromagnetic energy to heat
the skin without causing
permanent damage. The wave
penetrates beneath the skin which
causes unbearable burning
sensation, forcing pirates to run
away or jump overboard.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

16. Anti-Piracy Fire Hoses

Ship’s fire hoses or special Anti-piracy fire hoses are often
used to fight pirates trying to board the ships. These high
pressure water hoses are extremely powerful and effective to
fight pirates. Special anti-piracy fire hoses also come with
semi-automatic and remote control system.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

17. Molotov Cocktail

Technically not a hi-tech anti-
piracy weapon, Molotov cocktail
has been used by crew of a few
merchant ships which were not
provided with anti-piracy weapons
or armed guards. Molotov cocktail
can be made on ships using empty
glass bottles, flammable
substance such as gasoline, and
source of ignition such as burning
cloth wick. It can be thrown on an
approaching pirate boat to set it
ablaze and disturb
their maneuverability.
ANTI PIRACY WEAPONS

18. Tasers – Electric Shock

If pirates do get on board ships, crew and ship’s cargo can
be protected using tasers – a non-lethal weapon which
delivers an electric shock that temporarily causes the pirates
to lose neuro muscular control. The device
can definitely used as the last resort to protect the ship’s
crew from pirates
HOW TO REACT WITH
PIRATES
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
Activate the ship’s security alarm system
Alert the following organizations to the fact that an attack is
likely to take place
• The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)
• The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA)
• The organizations should be further advised if the threat
increases or fails to materialize
• Consider whether a distress message should be broadcast
ATTACK IMMINENT:
PREVENT BOARDING ATTEMPT
Maintain maximum sustainable speed
Consider evasive maneuvers while maintaining maximum
speed to create a confused wash
Maneuver to remove any lee from either side of the ship (sea
state dependent)
Activate fire pumps to commence use of fire hoses and
water monitors to cover areas of the vessel vulnerable to
attempts to board. The water spray and jets are likely to
hamper the pirates’ physical attempts to board and may
deluge their boats, swamping them or causing damage to the
engine
ATTACK IMMINENT:
ENSURE CREW SAFETY;
RETAIN CONTROL OF SHIP
Crew alerted and told to go to their pirate attack muster
station
Roll call carried out to ensure that all crew members are safe
and accounted for – once complete, all positions to report to
the bridge to confirm
Citadel secured
ATTACK IN PROGRESS
Continue evasive measures
‘Mayday’ call on VHF Channel 16 and 8
Report immediately to UKMTO and MSCHOA
Distress message via the DSC (Digital Selective Calling)
system and inmarsat-C as applicable
Activate all defensive measures available

*Attacks have been thwarted in several cases where

defensive measures were used and pirates chose not to
press the attack
*It is important to try and resist the pirate attack for as long
as possible without further endangering the crew
PIRATES ONBOARD
Try to remain calm
Stay together so far as it is practicable to do so
Crew members operating outside secure areas to remain in
constant communication with the Bridge
OFFER NO RESISTANCE
Cooperate with the pirates
Leave CCTV recorders running
PIRATES ONBOARD

DO NOT:

Use firearms, even if available,

Use flash photography, which may be mistaken for muzzle
flashes by the pirates or by any military forces sent to assist
Use flares or other pyrotechnics as weapons against pirates
IN THE EVENT OF MILITARY
ACTION
Unless otherwise directed, all personnel should keep low on
the deck, cover their head with hands (always ensuring that
hands are empty and visible)
Be prepared to answer questions on identity and status, as
military personnel may take some time to differentiate ship’s
crew from pirates
HOW TO COPE WITH
PIRACY