Shipping companies have started a unique exercise to provide safe harbour to its crew to fight the pirate menace on the high seas.
Firms that have operations in corridors where pirates are active have designated a room in each of their ships as ‘safe house’ where crew members can lock themselves in case of an attack. The new facility is equipped with latest communication system and can withstand armed attacks for at least 24 hours. During this time, the crew can facilitate a counter attack on pirates by contacting the navy.
The formation of safe house in ships has been forced upon on sea liners in wake of increased pirate activity, especially on the stretch of the Indian ocean closer to the North African shores. Being a busy commercial route, the pirate activity has forced several companies to take a longer route at additional cost. For India also the experience has not been good. Pirates that have taken more than 140 Indian seafarers hostage since year 2008.
?Usually, engine room is considered as safe house. This has been strategically planned by the industry because once the crew takes control of the engine room, pirates cannot board the ship easily. (Being at the bottom of the ship, engine room is the first entry point for pirates). Just in case if they manage to get on-board by climbing etc, they cannot move the ship,? Indian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA) chief executive officer Anil Devli told FE. INSA is an association of 36 companies that account for 90% of Indian tonnage.
The industry has implemented the concept in ships that are used on the corridors where pirates are active. For example, ships plying on Somalia corridor have a designated safe house, where sufficient food is stored and civil amenities like toilets are constructed.
The solution has been evolved as the government has been found wanting on the fight against piracy on the policy front. Since 2008, 70 ships with Indian crew and 145 Indian seafarers have been hijacked by pirates. Indian navy and coast guard apprehended 75 pirates. This month, Indian security forces rescued 29 people from Somali pirates.
The issue of piracy was also discussed on Monday at a meeting between external affairs minister SM Krishna and Somalian deputy prime minister Abdiweli Ali. During the meeting, Krishna asked for Somalia’s help in freeing 53 Indian hostages from pirates in that country. The government is also preparing a policy to fight the menace of pirates.
