Vessel Security and Maritime Insurance

By Roger L. Tomberlin
Today, the international community fails to realize that sea piracy still has not been eliminated.  Not only has piracy never been eradicated, but the number of pirate and terrorist attacks on ships has tripled in the past decade alone elevating piracy to its highest level in history.  Contrary to the stereotype, intelligence [...]

Suppressing Maritime Piracy: Exploring the Options in International Law

Colorado based One Earth Future (OEF) Foundation recently released its workshop report on “Suppressing Maritime Piracy: Exploring the Options in International Law”.  The report captures the discussions and recommendations of a distinguished group of international law and governance professors, legal experts, and judges who met in Washington D.C. for a workshop convened through the efforts [...]

IMB report: Maritime piracy doubled in first half of 2009!

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported on Wednesday that pirate attacks around the globe have doubled in the first half of 2009. The bulk of the upsurge has come from increased activity in the Gulf of Aden and Somali coastal waters, where 130 incidents occurred since January. The report attributes a lull in activity in [...]

Fighting Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Beyond

The Heritage Foundation’s Maritime Security Working Group published on June 24, 2009 Special Report #59, examining the issue of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the appropriate U.S. response. Though the report’s proposals are focused on the Gulf of Aden, they have implications for combating piracy worldwide as the recent successes of the Somali [...]

Piracy Study: Piracy – An ancient risk with modern faces

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), a leading insurer of ships and cargo, has released a study suggesting its clients adapt their approach to marine insurance as the threat of piracy off the Horn of Africa continues to grow. In addition, the study points out that crews entering dangerous waters must be prepared to handle [...]

Armed guards plan to tackle piracy

Vulnerable cargo ships off the coast of Somalia may be given armed guards by an EU task force being sent to combat the huge surge in piracy there. The British naval commander in charge of the operation, vice admiral Philip Jones, said the EU’s warship flotilla would seek to place “vessel-protection detachments” on board some [...]

Cruise Lines react to threats of piracy

Luxury cruise operators are the latest industry to react to threats of piracy off the coast of Somalia and other unrest in South Asia. At least one luxury cruise line has altered their scheduled itinerary, and another has taken the step of evacuating passengers from it’s ships prior to transiting the gulf of Aden and [...]

Piracy Update: Pirates attack Cruise Liner MS Nautica

The Associated Press is reporting that the MS Nautica, an Oceanic Cruise Lines passenger liner, was en route from Egypt to Oman when two small vessels in the Gulf of Aden attacked it Sunday (Nov. 30, 2008). The ship’s Captain observed the approach of the attackers at approximately 1,000 yards and increased speed. The attacking [...]

Piracy and the Rules of Engagement

Each day there seems to be new reports of piracy near the coast of Somalia. The pirates have learned over time that a hostile takeover of an unwitting crew and cargo is big business. With each successful attack, they get their prize – ransom.

UNOSAT published Piracy Map

The Operational Satellite Applications Program of the UN (UNOSAT) published a satellite map of the pirate attack density in the Gulf of Aden. This 3D perspective map illustrates the relative spatial density of reported pirate incidents in the Gulf of Aden for 2008 (current as of Nov. 21, 2008). Incidents that have occurred within 5km [...]

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