IMO,
please adapt to the Piracy problem.
Threat is
growing in widening areas. It is increasingly difficult to predict when and
where you are heading into trouble. That is why I feel that we must equip all
vessels, educate and train Masters and crew, in addition to having the
assistance of “third parties”.
Off course
in some areas with the bigger threat, we need assistance from professionals as
well as escorts. But in other areas, we should be made able to fend for
ourselves. The Master will always have the overriding authority, and he will decide, conduct and be held responsible.
He is allowed to send trained crew into smoke filled compartments into fire, and risk their lives.
That is expected of him, he and his crew have advanced training.
But most Masters are not always allowed (by vessel flag state or company) to carry weapons for protection of crew and vessel, using the proved best deterrent if under attack. Why? Civilised political and economic rhetoric is not working. Piracy is a growing very profitable business, it is here to stay, and we have to adapt. How many more mariners will have to be tortured and killed while the global organisations push papers on summits and conferences?
A Master is required to decide when it is appropriate, beneficial or useless to “put up a fight”, and in the “IRTC” (Gulf of Aden), Masters usually have the weapon capacity to do so. But statistics clearly show, pirates take their business elsewhere, where there are easy targets, and there vessels are “wing-clipped”, sitting ducks. Vessel hardening is an obstacle that can be tried, but facing flying bullets and flares and is a proved better deterrent.
-The Ship Security Officer (SSO) training should be up dated. More weight on piracy, incl. international law. Train in use of light and medium weight machine guns,
maybe up to heavy cal. 50.
- IMO should require vessel to carry weapons on board, over rule flag or owners (SOLAS requirement).
- IMO to adopt a new pennant (Big and conspicuous) or introduce the new combination under the chapter “warnings”, in the international code of signals (MY 9) meaning,
“I am armed, if approached within 200 meters from my vessel, I will open fire”
-AIS-transmission should include “Weapons on board” .
Yes,
initially there might be collateral damage. We mariners did not choose this
fight, but we should have the right to defend, and protect ourselves everywhere.
