Piracy in The Gulf of Aden &

Somalia “What can We do about it”

Tokyo Annual Tanker event May 2009

Capt. Howard Snaith –

Director Marine, Ports, Terminal, Environmental & Chemical Section

Seaborne Crude Oil Trade Flows 2006

Gulf of Aden transits 2007

Westbound tankers traffic 2007

 

Eastbound tankers traffic 2007

Type tanker No. Type tanker No

Chemical tankers 1,228 Chemical tankers 990

Gas tankers 157 Gas tankers 197

Crude oil tankers 814 Crude oil tankers 1052

 

VLCCs 450

 

VLCCs 390

Suezmaxes 273 Suezmaxes 244

Aframaxes 386 Aframaxes 356

Others 76 Others 62

Product tankers 589 Product tankers 817

Other tankers 46 Other tankers 150

Total 5,201 Total 4,176

Source: LMIU= C. 800 tanker transits per Month= C. 800 tanker transits per Month

Ship Type Piracy Attacks

Ship Types Involved in East Coast Africa Pirate Activity Dec 2008 onward

Tanker22%

Bulk Carrier28%

Container16%

Ro-Ro4%

Passenger1%

General Cargo15%

Tug2%

Fishing3%

Other9%

Success Rate Dropped Following IRTC

Seasonal Weather Conditions

Indian Monsoon

Jan Feb Mar April/May June July Aug Sept Oct/Nov Dec

NE NE NE Change SW SW SW SW Change NE

Members Registered with MSCHOA

% of INTERTANKO Members Registered with MSCHOA -April 2009

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

16th January 20th January 27th January 9th February 30th April

By April 2009 - 52 % Of INTERTANKO Members are registered with MSCHOA.

Expected capture rate approximately 60% but all members should register .

What can you do?

30% of all vessels transiting the GoA are “NOT” registered with MSCHOA or reporting to MTO-Dubai !

• Ships which are not registered• Ships which are not reporting

• Ships which are not undertaking SPM’s are,Prime Targets.

To date 23 vessels Hijacked were not registered with MSCHOA and not reporting positions

80% of attacks thwarted by self protected measures

Register with MSCHOA

Self protective measures to prevent attack/ hijacking

• Contingency plan and drills• Ensure crew familiarity• Exercise before entering risk areas• Armed security guards?

– No arming of ship’s crew– Private security services acceptable– Private armed guards - quality controls/Legal aspects? – Government armed guards at owner’s discretion.

Preferably from flag state– Unclarified legality/jurisdicion in case of crew member or

pirate being killed by mistake/damage to ship/insurance

Self protective measures to deract, deter, delay Piracy attack/ hijacking

Industry - Best management Practices

Widely circulated in the industry by:

• INTERTANKO• OCIMF• ICS• BIMCO• SIGTTO• INTERCARGO• CLIA• Joint War Committee• IMB• IUMI• MSCHOA• MTO-Dubai

Take heed of the recommendations

OCIMF/INTERTANKO Booklet

• Free booklet• 12,000 Copies issued• All members vessels have copies• A reprint of a further 12,000 completed• Working with industry partners to

circulate further, SCA + Others

Take heed of the recommendations

Next Steps

• Register with MSCHOA

• Ships to report positions to MTO-Dubai

• Prepare-pre plan

• Contingency Plans

• Self protection measures

• Bunkers/Victualing/Fresh water

Forthcoming Additional Measures

1. Anti-Piracy Chart

Routing chart imminent from MSCHOA:• Weather Guidance will be provided• Reporting instructions included• Plotting Capabilities• Relevant Information & Guidance

3. Navigational WarningsMSCHOA worked with AWNIS Staff Officers at UKHO to improve promulgation of the voluntary reporting procedures. We also aim to update relevant Notices to Mariners and ALRS Volume 6 in due course.

2. Self Protection MeasuresMSCHOA compiling a database of self protection measures used by merchant shipping in the region.  Aim to establish what works and what doesn't across the range of ship types

Combating Piracy

The current system does work and has industry support

But Your feedback and recommendations for continuous improvement always appreciated