Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships

Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships, 1st Edition 2000

For use by Terminal Operators and Other Shore authorities
Code of Practice for Countermeasures for use by Terminal Operators and other Shore Authorities

Practical countermeasures and comprehensive check-lists to help reduce armed robbery and piracy attacks on merchant ships.

Executive Summary

Around the world today is, on average, about one piracy attack or armed robbery against a ship every day and one seafarer fatality every week. Most if these crimes occur in port areas, on ships either alongside or at anchor; the remainders of the attacks are mounted by gangs working from shore bases.

Considerable advice to shipmasters on deterring, reporting and responding to such attacks has been published. Such measures are, by general agreement, all that most shipowners and Masters can reasonably pursue. But clearly they do not get to the core of this serious problem.

This Code of Practice explains why it is in the interest of shore authorities in the locations involved to undertake preventative actions, notwithstanding the various practical problems arising, and identifies the types of action which may be most appropriate. It includes practical countermeasures, appropriate active response measures to deter and apprehend those intent on armed robbery against ships.

While this Code is written primarily for member of OCIMF who are terminal operators, its contents are equally applicable to other operators of shipping terminals and to port authorities, police, coastguard and relevant civil, military and other authorities within whose jurisdiction these criminal acts are planned or committed.