Marine Log - November 2008 - (Page 66)

MARITIMESECURITY such circumstances. But some problems can be ameliorated, it says. Low crew numbers have become increasingly common as higher insurance premiums and fuel costs cut into shipowner’s margins. Without a full complement of crew it is impossible to maintain a sufficient watch in dangerous waters, making evasive measures less effective. The volume of recent Gulf of Aden piracy has allowed the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence to determine factors that represent maximum risk of becoming a hijack victim. Of these, vessel speed at time of attack and time of day are the most significant. Analysis over a two month reporting period included 21 incidents representing both firing incidents and vessel seizure. Suspicious approach incidents that did not involve gunfire were not used in this risk quantification process. All but one hijacking occurred during daylight hours. The single exception took place at 0430 local time during a period of 94% lunar illumination. The average service speed of the 10 vessels that were fired upon but not boarded was 15 knots. The average service speed of the 11 vessels that were successfully boarded by pirates was 14 knots. Attacks over the study period occurred in clusters east of longitude 046 degrees 38 minutes east and west of longitude 050 degrees 32 minutes east. Attack activity within these boundaries is likely due to a combination of factors that impact small boat operations such as currents, prevailing winds, sea state, and distance from pirate staging areas. In addition to increasing standard anti-piracy precautions, says ONI, all vessels are advised to proceed through the entire Gulf of Aden at maximum possible speed. Vessels with characteristics that put them at higher risk, like maximum speeds of 15 knots or less, as well as those with low freeboard, are advised to minimize risk by transiting as much as possible of the eastern Gulf of Aden in hours of darkness. The international shipping community has increasingly looked to a stepped up naval presence as an answer to the solution. The international naval presence in the area has, indeed, been increased. As this was written, both the European Union and NATO were sending ships to the region and a Russian warship was on its way, too. However, two of three Royal Malaysian Navy warships (sent after two MISC vessels had been hijacked and subsequently released) have been withdrawn. “Shipping companies must invest in security aspects and not depend fully on the RMN to protect their ships each time they are threatened by pirates,” commented Vice Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin, of the Royal Malaysian Navy. In this, he echoed the sentiment of U.S. Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, Commander, Combined Maritime Forces, who suggested in September that the shipping industry consider hiring security teams to protect vessels against Somali pirates, Since the inception of the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) on August 22, Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 had, by mid-September, helped deter more than a dozen attacks in the Gulf of Aden. However, other ships were still successwww.marinelog.com DON’T TAKE A RISK insure with FISK! • Commercial Watercraft • Workers Compensation: USL&H and MEL/Jones Act • Worldwide Package Policies • Excess Liability/Umbrellas • General Liability/Ship Repair • Contractor’s Equipment Coverage: Waterborne & Submerged • Full Range of Employee Benefits: Life, Health, Disability, Dental, Vision & More John W. Fisk Company Insurance 4833 Conti Street New Orleans, LA 70119 Toll free: 888.486.5411 Phone: 504.486.5411 Fax: 504.482.1475 Since 1952 www.jwfisk.com 66 MARINE LOG NOVEMBER 2008 http://www.jwfisk.com http://www.jwfisk.com http://www.jwfisk.com http://www.marinelog.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marine Log - November 2008

Marine Log - November 2008 Contents Editorial Second Thoughts Update Inside Washington Looking Back at 130 Years Generation NeXt What's Ahead? Media Kit 2009 Defying the Naysayers Rampant Piracy Takes Shipping Hostage The Last Chapter of the New Carissa International Workboat Show Preview Newsmakers Tech News Contracts Events Website Directory ML Buyer's Guide ML Marketplace Marine Salvage

Marine Log - November 2008

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