Modern Maritime Piracy:

Countermeasures and Preventive Actions

by the Greek Shipping Industry
K.Giziakis, K. Bountri
Department of Maritime Studies
University of Piraeus

Contents- Presentation structure

Part I:
Theoretical Approach
o Introduction
o Piracy attacks
o Causes
o Pirates Modus Vivendi
o Anti-piracy measures
o Piracy Cost
o Piracy in West Africa

Part II:
Experimental Method
o Greek Shipping
Industry
o Methodology of
research
o Study results
Effectiveness of antipiracy measures
Measures implemented
by Greek Shipping

Part I: Theoretical Approach

Introduction
Piracy can be traced back in time to the age of maritime
exploration of mankind.
Piracy definition by the International Maritime Bureau.
22.000 vessels transit (yearly) through High Risk Areas.
Hotspots:

Indonesia
Somalia
Nigeria
Bangladesh
Malaysia

Responsible for
the 59% globally
reported piracy
attacks

Causes of Piracy
General conditions:
Low economic growth.
Poverty.
State/Governments unable to deal with such phenomena.

Somalia:
Average Somalian earns $600 per year.
Main bread-winning activity: fishing.
However, illegal fishing by foreign trawlers on the seaboard
reduces the fish stock.
Toxic and chemical dumping off the coast of Somalia leads
to the ecosystems disruption and fish stock erosion.

Pirates Modus Vivendi

Monsoon/season-dependent job
From March until June
High Season
From October to December
Mother Vessels
High-speed skiffs (up to 25 knots)
Each attacking group is composed of 6-8 persons.
Attacks take place mainly in the cover of twilight.
Their armament includes:
AK-47 assault riffles
RPG-7 rocket launchers
Semi-automatic weapons

Anti-Piracy Measures
The necessity of European participation
20% of all vessels fly
the European flag.
EU NAVFOR (responsible for Operation ATALANTA)
Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA)
Companys measures before the voyage.
Measures upon entering High-Risk Areas.
Ships measures:
Enhanced bridge protection.
Visual contact with surrounding waters.
Increased vessels speed.
Razor wire, water spray, foam monitor, CCTV, citadel, armed or
unarmed security

Somali-based Piracy cost (2012)

4.6 billion

(source: Ocean beyond piracy)

Gulf of Guinea

28 incidents in 2013. 58 attacks in 2012.

Most of the reports seem not to be reported.
The Gulf of Guinea is a major route for oil tankers.
The pirates income comes from oil theft.
The stolen cargo will be sold in the black market.
Violent attacks happen, even if the ships have armed security on
them.
Poverty/Corruption/Governments inability to control their
territory.
West Africa Governments have not welcomed the idea of
western naval patrols.

Part II: Experimental Method

The Greek Shipping Industry

1st in EU, concerning gross tonnage.
7th globally, concerning gross tonnage.
7.000-8.000 vessels transit through High Risk
Areas.
More than 21 ships owned by Greek Shipping
Companies have been hijacked.

Methodology of Research
32 Greek Shipping Companies were asked
via questionnaires.
Examining:
Effectiveness of anti-piracy measures.
Measures already in effect/applied in the Company.

The scale was:

Not
Effective

Maybe
Effective

Effective

Very
Effective

Extremely
Effective

Introductory Elements

Based on the results of this survey:

66% of the Participants had more than 6 years experience in
the maritime industry.
The majority of the Companies have up to 15 vessels.
43% of the Companies owned bulk carriers and another 43%
owned tankers.
The average fleets age for the 60% of the Companies was
between 4-10 years.
Most of the Companies had been founded before 1980.
The 85% of the Participants vessels transit through HighRisk Areas (27 maritime companies).
40% of them have been subjected of piracy attack or attempt.

Greek Shipping rates the effectiveness

of anti-piracy measures
The most effective measures were:

To avoid high risk areas.

Naval forces to destroy pirate skiffs.
Armed security.
Crew training.

Effective measures:

Risk assessment
Anti-piracy plan at the office.
Registration with naval forces.
Designation and use of citadel.
Participation of vessel in a convoy system.

Greek Shipping rates the effectiveness

of anti-piracy measures
The following measures are considered as a good
protection:
Vessels freeboard more than 10 meters.
Use of water cannons.
Enhanced bridge protection.
Use of razor/barbed wire as a fence.
Maneuvering practices.
Increasing vessels speed.

Greek Shipping rates the effectiveness

of anti-piracy measures
The majority regards the following as inadequate
measures:
Closed circuit television (CCTV).
Blinding / dazzle weapons.
Dogs onboard.
Unarmed security.
To enhance the International Legal Framework.
To assist Somalia in setting-up a functional Government.

Measures already applied in Greek

Companies
100%
92%

100%

92%

92%

Risk Assesment
before Vessels transit

90%
80%

Registration with naval forces

(EUNAVFOR, MSCHOA, UKMTO)

70%
60%

Anti-piracy plan/crisis
management at the office

50%
40%

Crew training in
antipiracy measures

30%
20%
10%
0%

Designation and use of a

convenient citadel
100%

Anti-Piracy Measures

100%
90%
80%

83%

83%
75%

75%

75%

70%

Increasing Vessels
movement speed

Use of razor/ barbed wire used

operate as an electric fence

60%
Use of water spay or water
canons

50%
40%

Use manoeuvring practices

30%
20%

Use of ARMED security

personnel

10%
0%

Anti-Piracy Measures

100%
90%
80%

Enhanced bridge
protection

67%
70%
60%

58%
50%
Participation of the
vessel
in a convoy system

50%
40%
30%

Vessels freeboard
more than 10 metres

20%
10%
0%

Anti-Piracy Measures

100%
90%

Avoid transiting all high risk areas

80%
70%

Use of UNARMED
security personnel

60%
50%
40%
30%

Closed circuit Television

33%
25%

Blinding Weapons / Duzzle

Weapons
17%

17%

20%
Dogs onboard vessel

10%
0%
0%

Anti-Piracy Measures

Opinion on the future status of the situation in high-risk areas

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%

47%

50%
40%

28%

25%

30%
20%
10%
0%

Worse

The Same

Better

A few last comments

Somali-based piracy attacks have significantly dropped
mainly due to:
Armed security personnel
Active military presence
However the threat still exists.
Piracy will become extinct through international assistance
for the regions economic development and stability;
Not through dealing with each individual attack
or hijack on its own basis.

Conclusions
The Greek Shipping Industry appears to fully implement all
suggested piracy counter-measures, giving priority to:
Risk assessment.
Anti-piracy Plan prior to the voyage.
Armed security personnel.
With the majority believing that the maritime piracy situation wil
remain the same, their credo seems to be:
Better safe than sorry
Food for further thought (taking into consideration the increased
piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea): Where does the international
community want to fight Piracy, on land or at sea?

Thank you!