Maritime News

US Navy Ship Rescues Chemical Tanker 

The guided missile destroyer USS Mason came to the rescue of MV Central Park in November after it had been boarded by 5 pirates in the Gulf of Aden.  The 12,000 ton ship was reported to be carrying a cargo of phosphoric acid at the time of the attack.

On closing with the vessel the USS Mason demanded the pirates surrender, which forced them to attempt to escape in the small craft from which they boarded Central Park. The pirates were chased and later arrested by crew from USS Mason. On questioning the pirates they were confirmed to be from Somalia. The crew were unharmed.

IMB Report Shows Piracy On the Rise

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported a 10% global increase in piracy activity against shipping during 2023 reversing a trend that had seen activity reach modern lows.  Most of the attacks are believed to have been opportunistic but with an especially alarming rise in the number of crew being taken hostage in these incidents.  Most at risk were bulkers, which accounted for 40 of the vessels attacked, but tankers and container ships were also targeted as were smaller vessels including commercial fishing boats.

IMB noted the increasingly violent nature of some of the attacks. For example, in April 2023 the Singapore-flagged product tanker MT Success 9 was attacked around 307 nm south-southwest of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.  The vessel was boarded by twelve pirates wearing ski masks and gloves and armed with guns.  The crew was restrained with cable ties and kept hostage as part of the oil cargo was stolen. Before leaving the vessel, the pirates also destroyed the tanker’s navigational equipment. 

Links to both of these stories are in Further Reading.

Boat Chat Focus - Piracy On The Rise

The rise of piracy in several hot spots around the world comes on the back of a worsening global security outlook and a cost of living crisis being felt by many nations.   Attacks recorded in 2023 by the IMB were up by 10% on 2022 totals but still stand at less than 25% of the level recorded in 2000.  Big ships remain the primary targets for pirates looking to steal cargo, resources and hold crew hostage for ransom payments.

The ambition, tactics and professionalism of modern pirates has increased and any large vessel targeted by pirates has a less than 50% chance of escaping unscathed.  Many large modern ships operate with very small crews and have limited options for self-defence.  Many crews are reported to deploy anti-boarding measures such as razor wire and deck spikes, whilst some look to private companies to provide a military style enhancement on passage through high piracy areas.

The current situation is further complicated by the Iranian government backing some of the rebel groups that operate in the region.  It remains a high piracy risk for shipping transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.

Readers of a certain age may recall the tragic death of round the world sailor Malcolm Robertson in Thailand in 2012, bludgeoned to death by pirates trying to steal the dinghy from his 44 foot yacht. 

Or that of Sir Peter Blake, five-time Whitbread Round The World Race sailor and double America's Cup winner, shot by thieves who boarded his vessel in Brazil in 2001.  Piracy is nothing new and has been a plague on the waves for centuries.

Piracy is rightly, and thankfully, not a concern for the vast majority of small craft sailors rarely venturing beyond European waters.  For those with wider ambitions and for the globetrotting crews of big ships and superyachts, it deserves some thought.  There is plenty of advice accessible online for crews of all size of vessels but there are a few thoughts that might feature in the planning of all crews.

The most demanding question is whether the crew should consider fighting back. Any response to the pirates runs the risk of escalation and as most pirates arrive armed this increases the risk of shots being fired. Conventional non-lethal forms or response include using water fire hoses to dissuade boarders and to swamp small craft, sonic and electromagnetic weapons (often called ‘pain rays’) and stun grenades.  Semi-lethal options include Molotov cocktails and rubber ball grenades and finally there are numerous fully lethal options involving small calibre weapons of varying range and lethality.

Large vessel crews often enjoy a meaningful height advantage (higher ground) over the pirates and have superior all-weather surveillance capabilities. For small craft sailors the time available to detect, engage and dissuade the pirates is typically much less and quick thinking is needed.  Better still; preparation and a little deception can bring meaningful results and reduce the risk of violence.  For sailors uncomfortable with carrying weapons here are a few tried and tested suggestions:

• Most obviously, avoid areas known to be prone to piracy

• If passage through such areas is unavoidable, try and travel in convoy with others

• Share the security and anchor watch with other vessels

• Make yourself known to any warship or patrol vessel in the area

• Stow and lash your dinghy on deck or secured in its davits

• Make sure your transom boarding ladder / passerelle is raised and locked at night

• Secure all deck hatches large enough for a small teenager to enter through

• Fit 12V fans to cool bunk areas in hot weather allowing hatches to remain closed

• Stow anything that could be used as a weapon against you (winch handles, knives etc.) below when closing up

• Keep your handheld VHF to hand - worth having one with a DSC emergency call capability (you will need a MMSI number for this)

• Have some red pyrotechnic flares to raise a secondary alarm

• Consider fitting a duplicate fake safe box with old credit cards, a few dollars and that Rolex watch you bought for 50 dollars in a market in Thailand in it

• Fit a cockpit movement sensor with an audible alarm

Surveyor’s Top Tips

Piracy and the risk of hostile boarding will probably not feature high in the minds of many boat buyers.  That said, petty theft can be pretty aggressive and seem like the same thing!

There are some simple observations that the diligent surveyor might wish to pass onto their Clients to help them think about security in general and the risk of boarding in particular.

• Are all access sized hatches (anything greater than 250mm) lockable from the interior?

• If so, can they be opened from the exterior when unlocked?

• Are the hatches fitted with toughened glass / thick acrylic panels?

• Can the companionway hatch / doors be secured from within the vessel?

Product Review

Icom IC-M94D VHF Handheld Radio 

The Icom IC-M94D VHF Radio Marine Transceiver With DSC & AIS is the world’s first handheld VHF radio with built in AIS functionality. A class-leading 1500 mW speaker and ocean-conscious features, the M94D is perfect for small boats and leisure craft looking to stay safe and informed on the ocean. Additional features include Active Noise Cancelling technology, weather channel, dual and tri-watch functions, favourite channel and it supports 4-digit channels.  Check it out on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/48jXtrt

More Great Kit Ideas

For more great kit ideas for your boat, bookshelf or surveyor’s toolbox have a look at our page on Kit.Co

On The Bright Side Of Life… 🤣

Q: How do you make a pirate furious?

A: Take away his ‘p’.

Links To Further Reading

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