Maritime Piracy is a serious and prominent issue for the maritime industry which is common on the coast of Somalia and on the rise in the Gulf of Guinea. Pirate attacks, though reduced significantly, are still a threat and thus worry European ship owners leading them to call on the EU parliament and council of ministers; endorsing European Commission/European External Action Service (EC/EEAS.)
While most ship owners and EU staff such as the ECSA believe that this mission would reverse the piracy situation and make seas safer, there is a peripheral that comes in the form of additional legislation coming from the EU. Along with placement of an active reporting mechanism to quantify attacks. Tightening of Ship and Port security remains the main theme though.
A reporting mechanism appears to be a good idea as, according to INTERPOL, (2014) data gathering is the key to fight the attacks where evidence collection and data exchange can facilitate and improve security measures in ships and ports.
Data collection and its improvement would help quantify and analyse attacks but would it contain the situation? INTERPOL claims that pirate networks would be traced and taken out using data collection; so does this mean that some sacrifices would be needed as to analyse an attack it has to happen first.
Piracy is a stigma of maritime business that poses a serious threats to seafarers and thus requires special attention, much like radical terrorism; hinting on possible sacrifice required. However, this method is flawed as a single such sacrifice will cost billions in losses. Along with that, piracy changes with new tactics, weapons and other operations, demanding constant evolution of methods.
So far, the new measures that are deemed appropriate to combat and reduce piracy lies within reporting mechanism and data collection, with increase of security in ports and on ships. Increase of security will upgrade instant-action defenses but the focus on data collection and reporting, though will provide more information on pirates and their operations, will bring its drawbacks.
Drawbacks will include the aforementioned sacrifices and losses in billions to boats that would possibly receive less attention from this initiative. Along with that, increase of armed guards, arguably will increase damage to vessels during engagement as they operate in an ambiguous legal environment where professionalism is not guaranteed in their actions.
This new initiative by the EU and on demand of European ship owners will make each ship a potential target; making it the time to be prepared and find a good, experienced consultancy and ship management service which will decrease losses and keep you vessel safe. Along with this it is the time to invest in quality counter-measures as it would fortify your vessel and make it endure to also help in the fight against piracy in reporting the aftermath, if it happens.
