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

Opinion on the future status of the

situation in high-risk areas

A few last comments

Somali-based piracy attacks
dropped mainly due to:
Armed security personnel
Active military presence
However the threat still exists.

have

significantly

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!