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The 2010 STCW Manila amendments will require crew to have additional security certification before December 31, 2016.
Dangerous pirate waters update#
Soon crew will have to be better trained in security, thanks to an update the standards of training certification and watchkeeping (STCW) requirements. "We'd rather someone report something and it turn out to be nothing." We want crew to be security aware and report the things they see," he says.

"As has been seen many times, the wrong actions at the wrong time can easily result in injury or loss of life."ĭavid Goldie of Akula agrees that the biggest danger to superyachts in terms of pirate attacks is crew complacency. While kidnap and ransom might seem like a remote possibility, conduct after capture also teaches personnel conflict resolution, thus preparing them for any situation which might turn violent – such as an armed robbery of the vessel," says Gerry Northwood of MAST. "To protect the interests of guests and crew, all personnel on board should be given some training in conduct after capture. Barbed wire, strobe lights and sound alarm deterrents are also used to keep attackers at bay.
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Yachts can armour themselves by getting internal covers for large windows or buy ballistic film, which Goldie describes as being like a cling film that makes windows bullet proof. Superyachts are designed as pleasure craft, not designed with armed threat in mind, so they are easy targets."Īnother issue is how fast the yacht travels – some superyachts only reach a maximum speed of 17 knots, while the pirates' skiffs can run at 35 to 40 knots. "There are big swim platforms, lots of glass that's not bulletproof, glass sliding doors into the owner's suite. "The problem is, yachts are designed for easy access," says David Goldie, general manager of superyacht security company of Akula Yachts. Superyachts designed with huge swim platforms that give easy access to the water for guests to swim and board tenders will also give easy access to potential attackers. "A yacht has always been inherently more vulnerable than a commercial ship due to its relatively low freeboard and perceived high value," Phil Cable of MAST says.
Dangerous pirate waters how to#
Yachts are intrinsically more vulnerable to pirate attacks, so it's important to know the most susceptible areas on board and how to protect them. We advise you speak to your insurance broker for specific advice on how this impacts your policy. But it's important to note that insurance companies won't give yachts this "war" coverage, as it's known, unless a vessel has taken on security. What this means in practical terms is that you are likely to see a reduction in any additional war risk premium on your yacht insurance. "Fundamentally, as a yacht owner one should regard the high seas as an area where self-help and protection need to remain firmly in focus." "Somali piracy remains a possibility in the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and southern Red Sea, and the indications are that given the right opportunity, they will return to the kidnap and ransom business model that served them so well from 2008 to 2012," Cable says.
Dangerous pirate waters free#
"There is, of course, a clear link between these changes to the HRA and the reduction in threat in the Indian Ocean, but caution and a sense of perspective must be exercised before assuming that the area is free from risk."Īccording to MAST, the current catchphrase among military circles is that 'piracy is suppressed, not eradicated'. "Although the reduction of the HRA should be welcomed, it is important not to over emphasise the significance of this event," says Phil Cable, CEO of MAST, Maritime Asset Security and Training Ltd. The message from maritime security companies currently is: do not let your guard down if travelling in the famously dangerous waters off Somalia, because the risk of piracy hasn't been stamped out. However, the old HRA zone is still a “voluntary reporting area” and vessels still need to proceed with caution. As of October 2015, the High Risk Area (HRA) in East Africa has been reduced in size, with the Eastern limit shrinking from 078✮ to 065✮.
