Piracy: the entire Indian Ocean in a high-risk area
(BRUXELLES2) The latest edition of the BMPs - Best practices for protection against piracy - published by the anti-piracy HQ of EUnavfor Atalanta and the industrialists of the maritime sector takes note of a fact: piracy is now active throughout the Indian Ocean. The "high danger" zone is now very wide since it extends from the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz in the north (10°S and 78°E) to the Mozambique Channel in the south.
Lgood anti-piracy tips
This guide includes a small cheat sheet summarizing in one page the simplified instructions in the form of six major tips: do not be alone, do not be detected, do not be surprised, do not be vulnerable, do not be approached, do not be control. Thus it is necessary to report to the British PC UKMTO (by mail or telephone) and to register on the European system MSCHOA and to use the recommended corridor of international transit (IRTC, in the Gulf of Aden). It is necessary - recommends the guide - to keep the AIS automatic tracking system open (unlike some marine practices, to keep an eye on the naval warning system Navwarns which indicates the locations of pirates, to use only navigation lights, to implement protective measures for the ship, and to provide additional protective personnel to the crew of sailors. To avoid collision, two methods have been proven: increase speed, use diversionary maneuvers.
Delay the arrival of pirates on board
He then lists a set of "recommended" practices to prevent pirates from gaining a foothold on board: reinforce the protection of the deck, with various fences, by protecting the windows of the cockpit; control access to the deck, the installations and the machinery spaces (all doors leading to the machinery must therefore be as secure as possible); put up physical barriers (such as barbed wire); using water or foam cannons, setting up an internal television circuit... When the pirates are on board, all is not lost, the use of the citadels and the fact of rendering the on-board instruments unusable and navigation is often very useful, recommends this guide.
