Mayank-Mishra-Managing The Human Element in A Hostage Situation

Capt.
Mayank Mishra
Head of Quality & safety/ CSO
Fleet Management Limited
Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Winner of Seatrade Asia & Lloyds List ‘The Ship Manager’ Award - 2009
Crew may refuse to sail through the Gulf of Aden?
Convince crew members- It’s a big task
Assure their safety
Who should pay for any specific additional anti-piracy
measures ?
Crew member reluctant to join ship which will transit Gulf of
Aden
Provide counseling services to the family members

In an unfortunate incident of Hijacking, a ship manager is
caught in a very uncomfortable situation of handling crew
& families when owners may under strict guidance not to
reveal any progress by Negotiators

"Radio exchange between Master & Charterer“
Charterer - Captain, this is your Charterer. Please note your voyage

instructions are to proceed through Gulf of Aden with utmost despatch. For
good order’s sake please note Charterer’s position that transit through Gulf of
Aden within the designated corridor is non dangerous. Please confirm.
Master - Many thanks Charterers instructions and useful view as to lack of

danger. I will pass on Charterer’s views to the wives and children of the three
hundred seafarers currently kidnapped by Somalian pirates.

Establish telephonic Conference with Ship staff prior
transit…. rather than sending Messages through Email.

Assurance from Office…Feeling of being taken care.

Company should establish Clear policy stating Practical
measures to Avoid, Deter or delay Piracy attacks.

•Our Company guidelines brief and train crew members
on how to deal with Pirates and what masters and their
crew can expect if taken hostage with their vessel.
•Preparation and drills can help prepare a crew for every

eventuality when making a high risk transit. In the event
of an attack, calm calculated actions are needed, with
well practiced procedures being executed

Carefully planned and well practiced drills can help
ensure the safety of a vessel’s crew, keeping them away
from dangerous areas and minimising their chances of
injury or capture. Other emergency actions such as fire
fighting are second nature to seamen, and anti-piracy
measures should be drilled until they become instinctive
thus ensuring that they are at their most effective.

Unlike military personnel, seafarers are not trained to
deal with the ordeal of capture and internment. This is an
alien experience which is dealt with in different ways by
different people and one which places tremendous strain
on the physical and mental wellbeing of any given
individual. Training and preparation can reduce these
pressures and best prepare seafarers practically and
mentally to survive their ordeal.

Just because a ship possesses an ‘International Ship
Security Certificate’, its doesn’t make it a secure
ship……..

Ship owners who are making security and the ISPS
Code work for them are also dispelling the misguided
assumption that security management doesn’t benefit
bottom line profits.
Good security management does benefit bottom line

profits
NOT by improving them but by protecting them.

As the old saying goes,
you only get out what you put in………
So if we really want to reap the benefits that

improved standards of security management
can bring, now is the time to take maritime
security beyond being merely a matter of
regulatory compliance.
• 24 X 7 Contingency cell ashore for vessel transiting through
Gulf Of Aden. Managed By experienced Master mariner &
support staff
• Monitoring/ tracking vessel’s position through satellite tracking

(Fleetview online)
• Contractual agreement with Media manager
• Contractual agreement with Professional counselors for crew

and their families….

24 X 7 Help desk to relay latest update to family
members, address the family concern by
empathetically listening to them, reassure them
regarding our sincere efforts to bring the crew back
safely.

To handle the following perceptions of Management by
Family members of hijacked crew:
• Inexperienced in managing the Hijack situation
• Unable to exert influence on those in control to resolve the
Hijack situation.
• Insensitive / Indifferent to the family’s emotional distress
• As managers, management will have “No” say in
negotiation process.

• Despair & helplessness in influencing the
outcome of the hijack situation
• Financial, social & familial stressors experienced

as a result of hijack.

• Validating their feelings & providing Emotional
support
•Reframing their familial stressor & reducing their

feelings of guilt
•Facilitating identification & resolution of problems

they could address Versus those beyond their
control (Such as date of release)
• Encouraging them to lead a normal life by
following their daily routines
•Emphasising the need to maintain their Physical

& mental health.

• Setting up protocol in office to avoid any circulations of
mis-interpretation
• Tackling broadcast of Unconfirmed rumours/ reports by
media.
• Misreporting by media on the crisis situation
• Relatives of the ship’s crew propagating Mis-
information through media.
• Media tends to rely heavily on one sided news from
crew family members

• Seafarers union propagating false news
based on inputs by words of mouth.
• Strikes threat / public anger outside manning

offices

01.01.2010: 0944 UTC: Posn: 12:31N –
047:17E: IRTC - Gulf of Aden. Pirates hijacked
a chemical tanker underway with its 24
crewmembers as hostage.

• Vessel’s safety & to avoid re attack by other groups
• Post crisis Counseling of crew members
• Dealing with emotional outburst of crew & family

members
• Placing Vessel in safe haven
• Dealing with law enforcement authorities/ media
• Logistic support to the vessel (Provision & Fuel)

• Re-gaining confidence of crew in marine
profession (especially of younger staff)
• Eradicating guilt feeling of being Hijacked
• Orientating negatively influenced mind of crew

• Health check up of Crew members
• Reassurance & Re-building self confidence
• Professional counseling of each crew member by

dedicated counselor
• Identification & fulfilling of needs of families & affected

crew members
• Appointment of Dedicated Medical counselor to verify

long term symptoms of trauma & depression
• Staff signed off at first port of call after Crisis
• Crew to be rested & being taken care prior

repatriating to home town
• Dedicated office staff appointed to take care of

various needs & to provide emotional support

THANKS


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Capt.

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Charterer - Captain, this is your Charterer. Please note your voyage

Master - Many thanks Charterers instructions and useful view as to lack of

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

•Preparation and drills can help prepare a crew for every

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Good security management does benefit bottom line

NOT by improving them but by protecting them.

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

So if we really want to reap the benefits that

• Monitoring/ tracking vessel’s position through satellite tracking

• Contractual agreement with Media manager

• Contractual agreement with Professional counselors for crew

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

• Financial, social & familial stressors experienced

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

•Reframing their familial stressor & reducing their

•Facilitating identification & resolution of problems

•Emphasising the need to maintain their Physical

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

• Strikes threat / public anger outside manning

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

• Post crisis Counseling of crew members

• Dealing with emotional outburst of crew & family

• Placing Vessel in safe haven

• Dealing with law enforcement authorities/ media

• Logistic support to the vessel (Provision & Fuel)

• Eradicating guilt feeling of being Hijacked

• Orientating negatively influenced mind of crew

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

• Reassurance & Re-building self confidence

• Professional counseling of each crew member by

• Identification & fulfilling of needs of families & affected

• Appointment of Dedicated Medical counselor to verify

• Crew to be rested & being taken care prior

• Dedicated office staff appointed to take care of

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong

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