Beluga sea piracy training

Gulf of AdenSafety Measures on Board

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Introduction:Presently the average number of Beluga ships which travel through the Gulf of

Aden transit corridor is about 1.5 vessels per week.To meet the challenges of a passage through the GoA, Beluga highlights the

training of all ship officers and Masters during the regular monthly training and briefing sessions. All possible measures of prevention an attack and briefing on actions during the attack are teached by authorised Beluga lecturers.

Basis for the training sessions are expirience reports from vessels which already passed the area and training instructions from official sides.

Apart of the successful hijacking of BBC Trinidad last year we had only 1 case were a Beluga vessel was forced to conduct evasive manoeuvres to avoid a close approach by suspicious small boats.

The communication with naval forces in the area is done by contact the UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Transport Organisation) in Dubai and the MSCHOA (Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa)

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Actions:

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The preparation of the Gulf of Aden passage follows a standard 4 stage routine for Beluga all ships in transit.

West-bound means route from Asia to Suezcanal

East-bound means from Suezcanal to Asia

All Beluga ships have a contact list available with the full details of the other ships of the fleet and Ships command is encouraged to directly report their sightings during the individual passage to other ships which are approaching the transit zone.

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STAGE 1:4 days before passage:- the ship transmits a complete SSAS test and a communication test.- the ships starts to adjust own speed to be able to meet an officially

announced guarded transit „convoy“ (please see example for group-transit-schedule next page)

The aim of the early reduce in speed is to avoid any longer stay or drifting in the meeting point area as there will be no navy vessel waiting for a group transit.

The scheduled group transits shall help to avoid the passage of identified hotspots of increased piracy activity during daylight hours.

- the ship starts communication with UKMTO and MSCHOA by sending an initial transit report. (sample of requested information)

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4 days prior entrance to MPSA, following parties are informed about the ETA at „Point A / B“(depending on route):

- Navy Forces: to: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

- Beluga Fleet Management:to: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

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Sample of details to be included in the first official report to before mentioned addresses:Vessel Movement Form Fields marked with (*) are Compulsory ETA at Point A / Point B / 12N / 58E / 10S (please select) * at TIME (UTC) *ETD of Transit Corridor / Indian Ocean (please select) * at TIME (UTC) *Direction Eastbound / Westbound / Southbound / Northbound (please select) *Do you intend to join the group transit system? YES/NOIMO Number * MMSI Number * Flag State * Ship Name * Call Sign *Primary Email Contact * Secondary Email Contact Crew numbers and nationalities Draft Freeboard of lowest accessible deck * Planned Transit Speed * Vessel's Maximum Speed Cargo *Hazardous cargo details (if applicable) Ship's Master *Ship contact number *Ship contact email Owner name Operator name Operator address Operator telephone number Operator email DPA name DPA telephone number DPA email etc.

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During the time until arrival at the east or west starting point of the guarded transit corridor the vessel prepares as follows:

- lock down ship

closing of all stores and entrances to holds in forecastle and deck area- prepare firehoses on deck and check of fire pumps- if possible fill wing ballast tanks and test overflow- prepare pyrotechnic signals on the bridge- closing of all open wells in the hull structure (Vermessungsöffnungen) by

means of ply-wood- checking of internal communications like PA systems etc.- clear all decks of items which can be used by pirates to gain access to

accommodation.

- check of all cargo related lashings

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Possible Equipment

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Possible Equipment

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STAGE 2: Crew briefing and drills

- behaviour during the passage- light discipline- deck work to be avoided- lock discipline

- brief introduction on the expected situation

- crew actions during an attack- test of internal pirate alarm- identify a „citadelle“ inside the accommodation and store additional

food, water and means of communication at this place (VHF, Mobile phone)

- prepare Lifeboat for immediate use

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STAGE 3: THE GUARDED TRANSIT PASSAGE

- 6 hrly reporting to all parties (as per initial report)- light discipline- shaft generator disengaged- navigational watch with two officers and two look-outs- engine room manned- continuous operation of fire pumps and hoses on deck- vsl prepared for evasive manouevres- accommodatiojn area locked down- LRAD ready for operation (if available)- no work on deck- watch schedule in force

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STAGE 4: AFTER THE PASSAGE

- all security measures back to normal MARSEC 1- debriefing of crew- final report to Beluga with detailed information about any naval and

suspicious sightings.

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Actions by BELUGA during the passage:

The most importand item for vessels under passage is information about any incident or suspicious occurence in the transit area.

The office communicates any reports from UKMTO, MSCHOA, IMB directly and immediately to the ship.

Ships are advised to report any suspicious occurence to the office immediately as well.

Any sighting will be forewarded to vessels in transit as soon as we have it in the office.

The ships commands (of all vessels) receive a so called SECINS every week, the SECINS contains regular updates about the situation in the Gulf of Aden and reports about world wide threats to shipping as released by the Office of Naval intelligence.