The escalating use of
violence by pirates off the
East and West coast of
Africa is forcing ships to
fight fire with fire.
According to Associate
Professor of Criminology
at the University of South
Africa, Henry Fouche, the
level of force used by pirates
is increasing.
“They are using bigger
ships to gain access to
vessels and higher artillery
weapons such as RPG
rockets and automatic
weapons to gain control,”
he said. “The attacks are
random and very difficult to
prevent as they can happen
any time and anywhere.”
It is for this reason that
more and more shipping
lines are moving away
from the softer approach
to fighting off piracy that
includes wrapping barbed
wire around the deck,
shining bright lights at
attackers or even firing at
them with water guns, to
“harder” methods such as
carrying armed guards on
board.
According to Jason
Stramrood, Africa marine
operations manager of
Maersk Line, it is ultimately
about the protection of the
vessel, its crew and cargo.
“Armed guards on board
remain a last resort, but as
the piracy attacks increase
and the violence used
escalates, shipping lines
have no other choice, which
is why this approach is being
entertained.”
Stramrood said they had
placed armed guards on a
number of vessels to see the
impact and it had definitely
given crews more peace of
mind.
“Of course the
implications of having
armed security on board a
vessel must also be taken
into consideration because
engaging in gun battles with
pirates in the middle of the
ocean is not what anyone
wants for this industry.”
He said it was also a
complex process to put
armed guards on vessels.
“It is not about getting a
few ex-military people and
giving them some guns. One
has to take the ports you are
visiting into consideration
and what licences are
needed to bring a vessel with
weaponry into a country.
Also, while at sea, where
do they keep the weapons,”
he said. “Where does one
embark and disembark the
security people and the
declaration of the weapons
at every port. All of this is
a logistical nightmare and
it affects the movements of
where you can go.”
But, he said, with crews
fearing for their lives it was
proving to be the only way
in some cases.
“We have very good
security plans in place and
have also spent a lot of time
and effort in the training of
crews to allow them to be in
a better position to deal with
hostility.”
Stramrood said at Maersk
Line there was also the
80 knots policy that was
not veered from when in
waters known for piracy. “A
vessel with a high freeboard
travelling at 80 knots per
kilometre is very difficult to
stop and board. At the same
time we stick to the transit
corridors and try to avoid
areas where the attacks
occur.”
According to Fouche this
is one of the aspects proving
difficult to control as attacks
are becoming more random.
CAPTION
The attacks are random and very difficult to prevent as they can happen
any time and anywhere.
