Page 194 - Technology Roadmap Transportation

TECHNOLOGY VISION 2035

varying interests. It broadly deals with securing 4.4.2 Current Counter – Piracy Measures
the legitimate movement of ships on the world’s A number of measures have been taken by all
oceans. Adequate maritime governance and law concerned to reduce incidents of Somalian piracy
enforcement capacity at sea is therefore essential and mitigate its impact.
in order to ensure security of ships against threats • An international combined naval task force
such as that of piracy, terrorist attacks etc. In with its base in Bahrain has been set up and
order to ensure that security of ships is achieved Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) has
in a manner that facilitates global commerce and been established in the Gulf of Aden for
preserves the freedom of the seas, co-operation patrolling high risk areas on a routine basis by
and co-ordination on a multilateral and bilateral the coalition forces.
basis between national governments, international
organizations as well as non-governmental • Internationally Recommended Transit
organizations is a must. Corridor (IRTC), consisting of 5 nautical
mile (nm) wide eastbound and westbound
4.4.1 Impact of pirate attacks on shipping and transit lanes separated by a 2 nm buffer zone,
trade has been created for warship patrols to be
Piracy is a criminal act which not only affects the effective.
victims but also has severe financial and other • Ship-owners and masters have been advised
repercussions. Somali piracy has developed into
an international organized business operation to register their vessels with the Maritime
Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA)
and crime syndicate, which has badly affected the prior to passing the Gulf of Aden.
International as well as Indian shipping and the
seafarers’ welfare. • A document, “Best Management Practices
(BMP)” has been developed by various
Impact on Indian shipping and trade shipping industry organizations in consultation
India is the twelfth largest importer in the world. with combined naval forces. The document
Approximately 20,000 vessels call at Indian ports prescribes planning and operational practices
in a year carrying about 90% of its total trade by for ship operators and masters of ships
volume, and 70% by value. This accounts for about transiting the high risk areas and gives
51% of its GDP. For the year 2014-2015, India’s guidance for implementation of the same.
total imports were worth US$ 448 billion as The document is updated from time to time
against export of US$ 310.3 billion (Department to reflect the changing piracy situation in the
of Commerce). An estimated US$ 110 billion regions.
worth of Indian trade transits through the Gulf of • Concept of using citadel on board ships has
Aden and about 75% of its fuel supply is imported
from the Middle East. With the spread of piracy been introduced. A citadel is a designated pre-
attacks further east into the Indian Ocean, a planned area purpose built onboard the ship
where, in the event of imminent boarding by
number of Indian industries and other stakeholders pirates, all crew may seek protection. A citadel
have been increasingly impacted by the crime in
multiple ways. Indian imports and exports have is designed and constructed to resist entry of
incurred additional costs by way of increased war determined pirates. It is equipped with basic
amenities for the crew and reliable two way
risk premium and longer transit times.
communication system capable of lasting for a
specified period of time.
According to data from the International Maritime
Bureau (IMB), pirates took over 21 vessels in 2014, • Deployment of privately contracted armed
up from 12 the previous year, with 442 seafarers security personnel on board ships has been
taken as hostage. Four seafarers were killed in permitted as per the guidelines issued by the
the incidents, 13 were injured and nine were maritime safety committee of International
kidnapped from their ships. The bureau’s annual Maritime Organization.
piracy report said that while downward trend in • A number of counter-piracy organizations
total number of attacks continued, the risk of being
attacked while at sea remains a danger. The World and trust funds have been created tat
Bank reported in 2014 that since 2005, pirates comprehensively deal with deterrence,
have netted between 315 ~ 385 million USD in suppression of piracy, prosecution of pirates
and for providing humanitarian assistance to
ransom paid from 149 ships seized so far.
seafarers and their families who have been
affected by piracy.

192 WATERWAYS