This document provides an overview of training on anti-piracy best practices for ship crews transiting high-risk areas. It covers definitions of piracy, common pirate tactics, recommended defensive measures before and during transit, procedures if attacked, and post-incident reporting. The training aims to educate crews on avoiding, deterring and handling piracy incidents through practices such as increased vigilance when off Somalia, using evasive maneuvers, locking down the ship, and contacting authorities after any attack. Contact details are also provided for organizations that can provide assistance in the event of pirate activity.

1. 1

2. Introduction
All guidelines and instructions in this training are for your general
understanding of the present situation (July 2009) in the piracy
risk areas.
Circumstances can differ for each vessel and for each Ship-
owner.
Please always refer to the specific situation on the ship you are
assigned to, as per recommendations and instructions of the
vessel’s DOC holder, the instructions from the Master on board,
the Ship Security Officer and the respective Ship Security Plan.
2

3. Course overview - part 1
I. Training objectives
II. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
• Case study
• Break
3

4. Course overview – part 2
III. Recommended Best Management Practices (BMP) to deter
Piracy
1. Prior to transit – General Planning (officer training)
2. Prior to transit - Voyage Planning (officer training)
3. Prior to transit - Defensive measures
• Case study
• Break
4

5. Course overview – part 3
4. In Transit – Operations (officer training)
5. If Attacked by pirates
6. If Boarded by Pirates
7. In the Event of Military Action
8. Post Incident Actions and Reporting
Time for questions
• The training for officers takes about 4 hours, the training for ratings about 2 hours
5

6. I. Training objectives
The scope of the training is to provide:
• General information regarding the Piracy
• Guidance and best industry practices for vessels passing
through the gulf of Aden (GoA) and other known pirates
infested areas.
• Training on how to avoid, react and cope with piracy and other
related incidents.
At the end of the training seminar you will have acquired:
• 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, particularly when transiting the
Gulf of Aden, off the Coast of Somalia and other pirates
infested areas.
6

7. II. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
What is Piracy?
• Piracy is a term used to describe 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 or the crew hostage for
ransom.
7

8. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
8
Recent Piracy Attacks Areas

9. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
Pirates prone areas
Africa:
• Gulf of Aden (GoA)
• Tema (Ghana)
• Lagos & Bonny River (Nigeria)
• Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania)
South East Asia and Indian Sub Continent
• Bangladesh
• Indonesia
• Malacca Strait
• Malaysia
• Philippines
South and Central America and the Carribbean waters
• Brazil
9

10. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
10

11. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
The factors that make a ship more vulnerable are:
• 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
11

12. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
Typical Attack profiles and lessons learnt
• It is generally thought that from sighting pirates to being
boarded, takes approximately fifteen (15) minutes.
• 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
• Pirates use a “mother ship” carrying personnel, equipment and
smaller assault craft
• Majority of attacks have taken place between first light and last
light
• No successful attacks have occurred on ships at 15 knots and
more
12

13. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
13
Pirates operate using small, fast and maneuverable skiffs
with powerful outboard engines.

14. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
14
Types of vessels used as mother ships from which pirates
operate small open boats for carrying out attacks

15. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
15
• The pirates are firing automatic riffles and Rocket Propelled
Grenades (RPG) in an attempt to board and hijack vessels

16. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
16
• 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.

17. Piracy – tactics, targets, equipment
17
Gulf of Aden (GoA)
•Somali pirates are attacking vessels in the northern Somali coast
(GoA).
•Once the attack is successful and the vessel hijacked, the pirates
sail the vessel to the Somali coast and thereafter demand a ransom
for the safe release of the vessel and crew.

18. CASE STUDY
(BBC Trinidad)
Case study
Questions:
Who are the parties involved, how did they achieve their objective ?
Seafarers and their families
(feedback from crew involved)
(Feedback from another case)
(Out of the Scene negotiation)
18

19. Antipiracy Preparedness & Response Training
BREAK
19

20. III. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
20
Introduction
Whilst recognising the absolute discretion of the Master at all times to
adopt appropriate measures to avoid, deter or delay piracy attacks, the
following check lists of BMP are provided for ship owners and ship
operators, Masters and their crews.
Not all may be applicable for each ship, therefore as part of the risk
analysis, an assessment is recommended to determine which of the BMP
will be most suitable for the ship.

21. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
1. Prior to transit - General Planning
(to be done as per recommendations and instructions of the vessel’s DOC holder)
a. Coordination & Reporting
• IMB Piracy Reporting Centre - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) and UKMTO Dubai
b. Risk Assessment
c. Company crisis management procedures
d. Advanced notice of the passage plan
e. Safety of the crew and passengers
1.1. Company Planning
1.2. Ship’s Master planning
2. Prior to transit - Voyage planning
21

22. III. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
3. Prior to transit – Defensive measures
(Follow the procedures laid down in your SSP)
a. Ensure sufficient watch keepers
b. Increase lookouts c. Man the ER
22

23. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
Prior to transit – Defensive measures
d. Minimise external communications e. No work on open deck
23

24. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
Prior to transit – Defensive measures
f. Increase readiness and redundancy by running auxiliary machinery
g. Secure and control access to bridge , ER, accommodation, steering gear
24

25. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
Prior to transit – Defensive measures
h. Designate a piracy attack muster point – “citadel” away from external
bulkheads and portholes
i. Use maximum lighting during the night hours
25

26. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
Prior to transit – Defensive measures
Additional commercially available measures
j. Consider use of dummies at the rails
i. Fire pumps and/or hoses to be pressurized around stern ready for discharge
overboard
26

27. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
Prior to transit – Defensive measures
Additional commercially available measures
k. Consider reinforcing accessible portholes with gratings
l. Use “crazy fenders” hanging over the side of the vessel
27

28. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
28
Prior to transit – Defensive measures
Additional commercially available measures
m. Use razor/barbed wire around stern and lowest points of access
n. Passive equipment like sandbags to protect the navigation bridge from
bullets of the pirates

29. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
Prior to transit – Defensive measures
Additional commercially available measures
o. Accommodation always locked and the access to the crew limited to 1
entrance.
p. Secure all storage areas on open deck with combination padlocks
29

30. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
Prior to transit – Defensive measures
Additional commercially available measures
q. Consider providing night vision optic for use during the darkness hours
r. Consider operational use of CCTV (if fitted)
30

31. Discussion
In the case study – why did the pirates chose the vessel ?
What defensive measures were taken / could have been taken?
Your own experiences?
31

32. Antipiracy Preparedness & Response Training
BREAK
32

33. III. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
4. In transit – Operations
a. Pirates prone areas – BMP Actions check lists
Africa:
• Gulf of Aden (GoA)
• Tema (Ghana)
• Lagos & Bonny River (Nigeria)
• Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania)
South East Asia and Indian Sub Continent
• Bangladesh
• Indonesia
• Malacca strait
• Malaysia
• Philippines
c. South and Central America and the Carribbean waters
• Brazil
33

34. 4b. Gulf of Aden IRTC & Group transit Explanation
34

35. Gulf of Aden IRTC & Group transit Explanation
35

36. Gulf of Aden IRTC & Group transit Explanation
36

37. 37
Gulf of Aden IRTC & Group transit Explanation

38. 38
Gulf of Aden IRTC & Group transit Explanation

39. 39
Gulf of Aden IRTC & Group transit Explanation

40. 40
Gulf of Aden IRTC & Group transit Explanation

41. 41
Gulf of Aden IRTC & Group transit Explanation

42. 42
Gulf of Aden IRTC & Group transit Explanation

43. III. Recommended BMP to deter Piracy
5. If Attacked by pirates
- BMP Actions Check list (MN, Beluga, Seatrade
6. If boarded by pirates
- BMP Actions Check list (example)
7. In the event of a military action
- BMP Actions Check list (BMP Aug. 09
8. Post Incident Actions and Reporting
-BMP Actions Check list (IMO MISC .1/Circ. 1334)
43

44. 7. In the Event of Military Action
- BMP Actions Check list BMP
In the event of military personnel take action onboard the vessel,
and unless otherwise directed, all personnel should keep low to
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.
44

45. 8. Post Incident Actions and Reporting
-BMP Actions Check list ( BMP Piracy Home Page Circ 1334 IMO )
Once it is known that an attack is over, and after securing the safety of
the ship and crew:
 Make post incident reports to:
 The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Dubai
 The Maritime Security Center – Horn of Africa ( MSCHOA)
 The International Maritime Bureau (IMB)
 carryout an internal debrief of the ship’s company
 offer professional counseling to those who may have been affected
by events.
 make a post incident report to owners/operators
 consider an appropriate mechanism for informing next of kin
45

46. 8. Post Incident Actions and Reporting
 A debriefing should be conducted by the owner/master, SSO and
CSO to learn from the attack and identify areas of improvement.
 Debriefing should be conducted immediately after the incident so
that the events are fresh and should involve the entire crew.
46

47. Post Incident Actions and Reporting
Shipowner should be aware that seafarer may suffer from trauma or
similar condition after being victimized under an attack from pirates
or armed robbers. Shipowner should offer advice from professionals
if the seafarer wishes such assistance.
47

48. 8. Post Incident Actions and Reporting
To reduce the risk from trauma the master has to debrief the crew
immediately after the attack or release of a vessel in order to get
crew to confront their experiences.
Counseling professionals to debrief crew as soon as possible after the
attack or release of the vessel in order to assist the crew to manage
their experiences.
48

49. Antipiracy Preparedness & Response Training
The situation is dynamic – the pirates learn fast and change their tactics –
therefore please study the latest reference material via the below links
• IMB Piracy reporting center – contact details
• Piracy home page Kuala Lumpur
• PIRACY - THE EAST AFRICA/SOMALIA SITUATION. PRACTICAL MEASURES TO AVOID, DETER
OR DELAY PIRACY ATTACKS (OCIMF).
• PRESENTATION: “GULF OF ADEN RECOMMENDED ROUTE”.
49

50. Antipiracy Preparedness & Response Training
Helpful telephone numbers:
1) United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UK MTO) (will relay to naval units).
e–mail: UKMTO@eim.ae
Telephone: +971 50 552 3215
Fax: +971 4 306 5710
2) Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSC – HOA)
Ops Centre Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) European Union Operation HQ Northwood
Headquarters Sandy Lane, Northwood Middlesex HA6 3HP ENGLAND
Tel: +44 (0) 1923 958545
Fax: +44 (0) 1923 958520
Email: postmaster@mschoa.org or opscentre@mschoa.org
50

51. Antipiracy Preparedness & Response Training
Helpful telephone numbers (cont.):
3) Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF- HOA) (has assets and will also relay).
e–mail: brett.j.morash@hoa.centcom.mil or brett.j.morash@hoa.usafrica.com.mil
Telephone: +253 358 978
4) Maritime Liaison Office – Bahrain (Marlo – Bahrain) (will relay).
Telephone: +973 1785 3927
Cell: +973 3944 2117
5) IMB Piracy Reporting Centre IMB/ICC-CCS 24 hour Anti Piracy Helpline
Telephone: +60 3 2031 0014
IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
e–mail: piracy@icc-ccs.org or: imbkl@icc-ccs.org
Telephone: +60 3 2078 5763
Fax: +60 3 2078 5769
51

52. Antipiracy Preparedness & Response Training
Questions ?
52