PIRACY?

Does Maritime Piracy make you think of a one-eyed sailor drinking rum and singing songs (or maybe Johnny Depp or Captain Phillips). Actually, Piracy is still a serious problem and a threat to ships and people. We have been told that for the next month we are in a “High Risk Area”. What does that mean? PIRACY, believe it or not.

Not to worry, we are traveling in designated waters that are patrolled by International navy vessels from the US and UK. Several international legal instruments are in place to combat threats posed by piracy. The key agreement is the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which prescribes an agreement for where and how ships can operate and do business. All West African countries have signed and ratified this Law. That's some comfort.

We have been told to stay off the open decks at night and they are keeping the lights off on decks in order not to attract attention/ We have had a drill already and they asked us to keep curtains closed and lights off at night. Lastly, armed Security has joined us for the duration … part of the Adventure.

Here is something interesting I found: International institutions are crucial for counter-piracy efforts, but they require long-term commitment. Combined Task Force 151 is a multinational naval task force, set up as a response to disrupt piracy at sea and to engage with regional and other partners to build capacity and improve relevant capabilities in order to protect global maritime commerce and secure freedom of navigation. CTF 151 responds to crises and contingencies; coordinates, plans, and executes operations; conducts theater security cooperation; and advances emerging Naval concepts at sea, from the sea, and ashore to support U.S. Central Command, 5th Fleet, and Marine Corps Forces Central Command theater objectives.

According to CTF 151, the last attack by pirates in the Somali Basin took place in April 2019 and was ultimately unsuccessful. The last successful piracy attack was in Spring 2017, marking just the first hijacking since 2012. The CTF 151 just finished their last readiness test in the area this past January!Okumaya devam et