Defensive measures

Best Management Practices 3 (BMP3) is now available for the public in booklets and on www.mschoa.org.  It represents a real step change; the booklet will significantly encourage wider adoption of self protection measures by ships transiting the High Risk Areas and ultimately help reduce the number of pirated ships off the coast of Somalia.

The purpose of the Industry Best Management Practices (BMP) is to assist ships to avoid, deter or delay piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia, the Gulf of Aden (GoA) and the Arabian Sea. Experience, supported by data collected by Counter Piracy Forces, shows that the application of the recommendations contained within this booklet can and will make a significant difference in preventing a ship becoming a victim of piracy.

BMP has become fully recognized as the standard for guidance and protection for shipping from piracy off the coast of Somalia across the Global Maritime Community. 25,000 copies of the booklet will be published and the intentions of Industry are to make the booklet freely available and ensure wide and effective distribution of this booklet is achieved so that the booklet will become standard documentation on the bridge of all Merchant Ships.  Where possible, this booklet should be read with reference to the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa website (www.mschoa.org), which provides additional and updated advice. As intelligence has been gathered and lessons learned evaluated, industry has been able to update and revise this guidance, which has been harmonised and coordinated by all concerned parties during the revision process.

Major General Buster Howes, Operation Commander EU NAVFOR comments: “EU NAVFOR welcomes the development of Best Management Practice 3.  It enhances the measures that merchant ships can take in order to deter pirate attacks.  The adoption of these self-protection measures is the single most effective way to help EU NAVFOR and other coalition forces to deter piracy and to respond effectively if ships are under attack”.

The revision of this document has been conducted by and with full participation and agreement by the 13 Industry Organisations who are signatories to it, as well as in full consultation with combined naval forces – EUNAVFOR, the NATO Shipping Centre and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of  African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and to protect vulnerable vessels in the Gulf  of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

MV Delmas Nacala

Two vessels, MV Delmas Nacala and FV Reiman beat off sustained pirate attacks on the evening of 31 March, the attacks being conducted by two separate Pirate Action Groups (PAG). Both vessels are registered with MSCHOA and were reporting to UKMTO.

The attack on the MV Delmas, Antigua and Bermuda flagged and deadweight of 22525 tonnes, occurred in the early evening of 31 March approximately 600 nautical miles east of the Seychelles. Two attack skiffs were identified by the ship which took evasive zigzag action and increased speed. The pirate skiffs pursued the Delmas and commenced firing with small arms and Rocket Propelled Grenades. Despite the pirate’s persistence in their attempting to attach attack ladders to the ship, Delman resisted with appropriate counter manoeuvres and increased speed. It is understood that all the crew are safe and well.

Almost simultaneously that evening, approximately 600 nautical miles to the North West of the Delmas attack, a separate Pirate Action Group attacked the FV Reiman.  Reiman, a Taiwan flagged vessel, with Indonesioan and Taiwanese crew, identified a mother skiff which began an assault using small arms fire. The Reiman also used speed and manoeuvre tactics to evade and beat off this attack. It is understood that the crew are safe and well although one individual has an injury to his leg.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Rear Admiral Peter Hudson with MPs Julian Brazier and Julian Lewis.

On the afternoon of Wednesday 17th March EU NAVFOR hosted a visit by two Shadow Ministers from the UK House of Commons.

Mr Julian Brazier MP, Shadow Minister for Transport (Aviation and Shipping), and Dr Julian Lewis MP, Shadow Defence Minister, were greeted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA. The MPs were given a tour of the new Operational Headquarters building, specifically designed for Operations and into which EU NAVFOR moved recently. During their visit they were given a briefing on the operation and EU NAVFOR’s fight against piracy, visiting the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) which also houses the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA).

The MPs had the opportunity to meet several of the international staff from many EU member states, including the civilian Merchant Navy representatives who work within MSCHOA. Mr Brazier said, “We are extremely impressed with what we have seen today. The EU NAVFOR has achieved a really impressive reduction in the number of hijacks in the Gulf of Aden.”

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

UBT Ocean

A Marshall Island flagged chemical tanker, UBT Ocean, is reported to have been hijacked on Friday morning 300 nautical miles from Dar El Salam.

The Norwegian owned UBT Ocean was not registered on MSCHOA. UBT Ocean has a crew of 21 and they are all from Myanmar/Burma.

UBT Ocean with deadweight of 9,380 tones was heading from United Arab Emirates to Dar El Salam when, yesterday morning, contact with the ship was lost.EU NAVFOR is monitoring the situation.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia

Rear Admiral Peter Hudson with Major General Li Ning (left)

On the afternoon of 2 March, EU NAVFOR hosted a visit by the Major General Li Ning, Defence Counsellor Chinese Mission to the European Union.

The Chinese delegation was greeted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson CBE, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA. The delegation was given a tour of the new Operational Headquarters building, specifically designed for Operations and into which EU NAVFOR moved recently. During their visit the Chinese delegation was given a briefing on the operation and EU NAVFOR’s fight against piracy visiting the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) which also houses the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA).

Maj Gen Li Ning had the opportunity to meet several of the international staff from many EU member states. He also met the civilian Merchant Navy representatives who run MSCHOA and who work alongside their military colleagues.
The Chinese delegation was extremely impressed with the Operational Headquarters and the professionalism of the European multinational anti piracy team. The Head of delegation stated that he “looked forward to continuing the excellent cooperation with EU NAVFOR and other coalition partners and to strengthening the bonds of friendship between EU NAVFOR and the Chinese task force in the Gulf of Aden”.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Suspected pirates

Recent photographic evidence from anti piracy coalition forces show that pirates continue to roam the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in search of prey.

Earlier today a coalition helicopter photographed suspicious skiff activity in the Gulf of Aden in the middle of the IRTC and other suspicious activity has been witnessed by EU NAVFOR units.

An alert has been issued to all ships in the area and Masters of merchant vessels have been warned to keep a good lookout and adopt best management practice (BMP) when transiting through the area in accordance with the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) MSCHOA website www.mschoa.org.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EUNAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Rear Admiral Hudson and Lux Defence Minister Jean-Marie Halsdorf

On the afternoon of 10th February EU NAVFOR hosted a visit by the Luxembourg Defence Minister Jean-Marie Halsdorf, members of Parliament Marc Angel, Felix Braz, Felix Eischen and a number of other Luxembourg representatives.

The Defence Minister was greeted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA and was given a tour of the new Operational Headquarters building, specifically designed for Operations and into which EU NAVFOR moved only two days ago. During their visit the delegation was given a briefing on the operation and EU NAVFOR’s fight against piracy visiting the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) which also houses the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA). The Minister had the opportunity to meet several of the international staff from many EU member states, including the civilian Merchant Navy representatives who work within MSCHOA).

The Defence Minister was impressed with Operation Atalanta and emphasised the positive contributions and cooperation between all players in this multinational operation. Admiral Hudson stated that “I am delighted to welcome Defence Minister Jean-Marie Halsdorf to the OHQ, the first VIP to visit our new headquarters and thank him for the extremely valuable contribution of Luxemburg Maritime Patrol aircraft to anti piracy operations”. Minister Halsdorf indicated, in this context, that Luxembourg was actively considering extending its contribution for another six months.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

Picture Gallery:

M/V Ariella

Early on the morning of 5 Feb 2010, the M/V ARIELLA came under attack from Somali pirates who were able to get onboard and attempted to take control of the ship.

The ARIELLA was sailing in a “Group Transit” within the International Recognised Transit Corridor (IRTC) under the protection of Coalition navies. An alert went out, picked up from an Indian Warship TABAR who sent out a general message on the Mercury communication system. An EU NAVFOR French Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) was quickly on the scene and confirmed a sighting of armed pirates on the deck of the ARIELLA. The MPA made contact with Battle Watch Officers from the NATO Danish Warship ABSALON from CTF 508.

The NATO ship ensured that the crew onboard were safe before the decision was made to send in the specialist teams.  At the same time as NATO ship ABSALON boarded ARIELLA, sailors from the Russian Navy ship Neustrashimyy who was operating nearby, successfully boarded and detained a second pirate skiff. The ongoing co-operation between the maritime partners, the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and NATO Combined Maritime Force 151 (CMF 151), together with maritime nations, such as the Russian and Indian navies led to the successful release of M/V ARIELLA.

M/V ARIELLA is an Antigua and Barbuda Flagged vessel owned by Splosna Plovba, International Shipping and Chartering Ltd, Slovenia. She has a crew of 25 and the nationalities are 1 Bulgarian, 15 Filipino, 1 Slovakian, 1 Indian and 7 Ukrainian and they are all safe. The ship was registered with MSC HOA, was in contact with UKMTO and was part of a Group Transit when she was attacked.

EU NAVFOR strongly recommends that all vessels that transit through the high risk areas, namely Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin and Indian Ocean implement their ships security plan that follows all guidance and advice that is set out and contained in Best Management Practices (BMP). Reference should be made to MSC HOA website www.mschoa.org.

EUNAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

RAdm Peter Hudson and General Hakan Syren

On the afternoon 18 January, General Hakan Syren, the chairman of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) visited EU NAVFOR’s Headquarters in Northwood, near London.

The General was received by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta. His visit included a presentation on the operation and EU NAVFOR’s part in the fight against piracy, and also a visit to the Joint Operations Centre which includes the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA). He had discussions with several of the international staff who works in the OHQ who are appointed from many EU Member states. General Syren also visited the site of the newly built OHQ due to be opened in early February.

The General was impressed with the progress of Operation Atalanta and stated: “I very much enjoyed my tour of EU NAVFOR’s Operational Headquarters and was extremely impressed with the professionalism and cooperation of so many participating EU Member States military personnel, as well as the close working relationship with representatives of the civilian maritime organisations. Operation Atalanta has achieved a great deal in its first year and there is every indication from what I have seen that the second year will be as successful if not more so”

ASIAN GLORY was well outside the normal EU NAVFOR operating area. The ship has a crew of 25 persons (8 Bulgarian, 10 Ukraines, 5 Indians, 2 Romanian) and all are reported to be well. The ship was registred with MSC HOA and was transiting north west towards the International Recommended Transiting Corridor that she was expected to enter 3 Jan.

 The main tasks of EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy wherever possible.