How to Prevent Piracy on the High Seas
Recent Escalation of Maritime Crime Highlights Need for Deterrence
Boarding and capturing a vessel of this size displays a versatility not seen in modern times. It leaves little doubt however that this was indeed an act of piracy. Much modern crime against merchant vessels, fishing boats and yachts has taken the form of burglary in port, or a sort of hold up in anchorages or coastal waters. The pirates then robbed sailors of their personal possessions and forced captains to open ships´ safes.
This vessel was taken, in its entirety, some 450 miles SE of the Kenyan port of Mombassa and then transported to the port of Eyl. An act clearly far beyond a simple maritime mugging.
But what can be done to prevent it? There are several tried and tested methods. Unfortunately they all have inherent problems. The end consumer will ultimately have to bear the costs. The Sirius Star incident, involving the loss of such a costly cargo, instantly raised the price of oil by $1 per barrel.
This is hardly new. The port of Tarifa in southern Spain gave the word tariff to western nations when a nest of corsairs charged protection money to ships entering and leaving the Mediterranean.
Methods of Deterrence
- Convoys
- Naval escorts
- Self-protection
- Private security
- Security devices
- Avoidance
Convoys are difficult to organize. They entail many ships sailing together which can cause market shortages and gluts. There is increased pressure for berths and cargo handling facilities. Loaded ships have to lay at anchor, feeding and paying their crews until the convoy’s departure time. And someone has to organize them. As this is something of an international problem who will that be?
Naval Protection
This has already proved contentious. As most merchant ships sail under flags of convenience, are owned in a different country, often managed in yet another, and carrying multi-national crews, levels of responsibility are difficult to define. Especially as international maritime law is vague and was often written for a different era.
Self-protection is probably the worst idea of all. In days of fighting sail most seamen had a wide variety of experience. They could work their ships and take a turn at the guns. They would have been expected to protect their vessels as best as possible and would not have to worry about causing injury to any maritime intruders. This is not the case today.
Private security faces similar hindrances.
Nevertheless, there are forms of private security that don’t rely on armed guards. There are various devices that could ward off intruders. A form of electric shield is one such device, although not all ships can take advantage of these. Chemical carriers and tankers, with highly volatile cargoes, might be vulnerable to electrical discharges in their vicinity.
Whatever the solution it will certainly add to the costs of carrying freight. One Norwegian company, Oldfjel SE, has opted for its own means of protection. It will avoid the area altogether and send its ships all the way round the Cape of Good Hope.
This will mean added fuel costs, more wages and a longer period between deliveries. According to an Associated Press report Terje Storeng, Odjfells president, says that this will “ incur significant extra costs but we expect our customers´support…”
This probably means costs being handed on to the end consumer.
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