6 If Attacked by Pirates
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1332 – Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Water off the Coast of Somalia – (16 June 2009) - Annex 1 – Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Coast of Somalia (February 2009) - Recommended Best Management Practices - 6 If Attacked by Pirates

6 If Attacked by Pirates

  a. Follow the ship’s pre-prepared contingency plan.

  b. Activate the Emergency Communication Plan/Call in order of priority:

  • i. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Dubai.

  • ii. The Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA).

  • iii. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

  c. Activate the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), which will alert your Company Security Officer and flag State.

  d. If the Master has exercised his right to turn off the Automatic Identification System (AIS) during transit of the piracy area, this should be turned on once the ship comes under pirate attack.

  e. Sound emergency alarm and make a PA announcement ‘Pirate attack’ in accordance with the ship’s emergency plan.

  f. Make ‘Mayday’ call on VHF Ch. 16 (and backup Ch. 08, which is monitored by naval ships). Send a distress message via the DSC (Digital Selective Calling) system and Inmarsat-C as applicable. Establish telephone communication with UKMTO.

  g. Prevent skiffs closing on the ship by altering course and increasing speed where possible. Pirates have great difficulty boarding a ship that is:

  • i. Making way at over 15 knots.

  • ii. Manoeuvring – it is suggested that as early as possible Masters carry out continuous small zigzag manoeuvres whilst maintaining speed. Consider increasing the pirates’ exposure to wind/waves and using bow wave and stern wash to restrict pirate craft coming alongside.

  h. Activate fire pump defensive measures.

  i. Muster all remaining crew in defined safe muster area/citadel.

  j. Maximize ship speed. Evidence to date from failed attacks is that the pirates will give up if unable to board within 30 – 45 minutes. If you can buy time until the military forces can arrive, this often leads the pirates to abort their attackfootnote.

Parent topic: Recommended Best Management Practices
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