K.Giziakis, K. Bountri
Department of Maritime Studies
University of Piraeus

Part I:
Theoretical Approach o Introduction o Piracy attacks o Causes o Pirates’ Modus Vivendi o Anti-piracy measures o Piracy Cost o Piracy in West Africa
Part II:
Experimental Method o Greek Shipping
Industry o Methodology of research o Study results

Effectiveness of antipiracy measures

Measures implemented by Greek Shipping

•
Piracy can be traced back in time to the age of maritime exploration of mankind.
•
Piracy definition by the International Maritime Bureau.
•
22.000 vessels transit (yearly) through High Risk Areas.
•
Hotspots:

Indonesia

Somalia

Nigeria

Bangladesh

Malaysia
Responsible for the 59% globally reported piracy attacks

•
General conditions:
 Low economic growth.

Poverty.

State/Governments unable to deal with such phenomena.
•
Somalia:

Average Somalian earns $600 per year.

Main bread-winning activity: fishing.

However, illegal fishing by foreign trawlers on the seaboard reduces the fish stock.

Toxic and chemical dumping off the coast of Somalia leads to the ecosystem’s disruption and fish stock erosion.

•
Monsoon/season-dependent “job”

From March until June

From October to December
High Season
• “
Mother Vessels
”
High-speed skiffs ( up to 25 knots )
•
Each attacking group is composed of 6-8 persons.
•
Attacks take place mainly in the cover of twilight.
•
Their armament includes :

AK-47 assault riffles

RPG-7 rocket launchers

Semi-automatic weapons

•
The necessity of European participation vessels fly the European flag.
20% of all

EU NAVFOR ( responsible for Operation “ATALANTA” )

Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa ( MSCHOA )
• Company’s measures before the voyage.
•
Measures upon entering High-Risk Areas.
• Ship’s measures:

Enhanced bridge protection.

Visual contact with surrounding waters.

Increased vessel’s speed.

Razor wire, water spray, foam monitor, CCTV, citadel, armed or unarmed securit y


€4.6 billion
(source: Ocean beyond piracy)

•
28 incidents in 2013. 58 attacks in 2012.
•
Most of the reports seem not to be reported.
•
The Gulf of Guinea is a major route for oil tankers.
•
The pirates’ income comes from oil theft.
• The stolen cargo will be sold in the black market.
•
Violent attacks happen, even if the ships have armed security on them.
• Poverty/Corruption/Governments’ inability to control their territory.
•
West Africa Governments have not welcomed the idea of western naval patrols.

•
1 st in EU, concerning gross tonnage.
•
7 th globally, concerning gross tonnage.
•
7.000-8.000 vessels transit through High Risk
Areas.
•
More than 21 ships owned by Greek Shipping
Companies have been hijacked.

•
32 Greek Shipping Companies were asked
…via questionnaires.
•
Examining:

Effectiveness of anti-piracy measures.

Measures already in effect/applied in the Company.
•
The scale was:
Not Effective
Maybe
Effective
Effective Very Effective
Extremely
Effective

Based on the results of this survey:
•
66% of the Participants had more than 6 years experience in the maritime industry.
•
The majority of the Companies have up to 15 vessels.
•
43% of the Companies owned bulk carriers and another 43% owned tankers.
•
The average fleet’s age for the 60% of the Companies was between 4-10 years.
•
Most of the Companies had been founded before 1980.
•
The 85% of the Participants’ vessels transit through High-Risk
Areas ( 27 maritime companies ).
•
40% of them have been subjected of piracy attack or attempt.

Greek Shipping rates the effectiveness of anti-piracy measures
•
The most effective measures were:

To avoid high risk areas.

Naval forces to destroy pirate skiffs.

Armed security.

Crew training.
•
Effective measures:

Risk assessment

Anti-piracy plan at the office.

Registration with naval forces.

Designation and use of citadel.

Participation of vessel in a convoy system.

Greek Shipping rates the effectiveness of anti-piracy measures
•
The following measures are considered as a good protection:
 Vessel’s freeboard more than 10 meters.

Use of water cannons.

Enhanced bridge protection.

Use of razor/barbed wire as a fence.

Maneuvering practices.

Increasing vessel’s speed.

Greek Shipping rates the effectiveness of anti-piracy measures
•
The majority regards the following as inadequate measures:

Closed circuit television ( CCTV ).

Blinding / dazzle weapons.

Dogs onboard.

Unarmed security.
 To enhance the International Legal Framework.

To assist Somalia in setting-up a functional
Government.

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
100% 100%
Risk Assesment before Vessel’s transit
92% 92% 92%
Registration with naval forces
(EUNAVFOR, MSCHOA,
UKMTO)
Anti-piracy plan/crisis management at the office
Crew training in antipiracy measures
Designation and use of a convenient citadel
Anti-Piracy Measures

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
83% 83%
75% 75% 75%
Anti-Piracy Measures
Increasing Vessel’s movement speed
Use of razor/ barbed wire used operate as an electric fence
Use of water spay or water canons
Use manoeuvring practices
Use of ARMED security personnel

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
67%
58%
50%
Anti-Piracy Measures
Enhanced bridge protection
Participation of the vessel in a convoy system
Vessel’s freeboard more than 10 metres

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
33%
25%
17% 17%
Anti-Piracy Measures
0%
Avoid transiting all high risk areas
Use of UNARMED security personnel
Closed circuit Television
Blinding Weapons / Duzzle
Weapons
Dogs onboard vessel

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
28%
47%
25%
Worse The Same Better

•
Somali-based piracy attacks have significantly dropped mainly due to:

Armed security personnel

Active military presence
However the threat still exists.
•
Piracy will become extinct through international assistance for the region’s economic development and stability;
Not through dealing with each individual attack or hijack on its own basis.

•
The Greek Shipping Industry appears to fully implement all suggested piracy counter-measures, giving priority to:

Risk assessment.

Anti-piracy Plan prior to the voyage.

Armed security personnel.
•
With the majority believing that the maritime piracy situation wil remain the same, their credo seems to be:
“Better safe than sorry”
Food for further thought ( taking into consideration the increased piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea ): “ Where does the international community want to fight Piracy, on land or at sea?”