Videotel reviews its Piracy & Armed Robbery
training package to reflect the changing ways pirates are operating,
especially in the Indian Ocean
As the Somali pirates once again escalate their
activities, taking advantage of the calmer seas that mark the passing of the
monsoon season, and with a number of nasty incidents occurring elsewhere such
as off the coast of West Africa, Videotel's launch of a revised version of its
Piracy & Armed Robbery training package is particularly timely.
A great deal has been learned in recent months about
the tactics employed by pirates operating in high-speed RIBs and armed with
high-powered automatic weapons and even rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). In
the light of experience gained in repelling these attacks, not always
successfully, Videotel has been able to put together a package that shows what
preventative measures should be deployed.
Videotel has invited experts to comment on many other
controversial subjects now being widely discussed such as whether to arm crews
or carry trained guards, often former military personnel. Those who
participated in the making of the film, which is available in both video (VHS)
and DVD format or as an interactive CD-ROM, include leading maritime
organisations, EU NAVFOR (Somalia), the US Navy and a number of major shipping
companies. Among the owners are some with direct experience of actual or
attempted hijackings.
Examining the issues
Piracy & Armed Robbery Edition 2 is centred
around the key issues associated with piracy and the problems seafarers may
encounter when confronting an attack, and the consequent issues if an attack is
successful. The Somali pirates have brought with them new problems since many
of their attacks involve the ship and crew being held for weeks or months while
a ransom is agreed; previously the 'hit-and-run' robbery, often accompanied by
high levels of violence, was the greater risk.
Videotel highlights the steps being taken by the
maritime industry and ship owners alike, often with military assistance, to
protect seafarers from these threats. Clear descriptions of the work undertaken
by EU NAVFOR and the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) should reassure
seafarers that substantial resources are being committed to keeping them safe
when in the dangerous waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The programme emphasises the need for ships' crews to
be well trained and well prepared before entering high risk areas and stresses
the need to contact the relevant reporting centres immediately if any
suspicious activity is observed. The programme also explains the wider efforts
of international organisations and governments to eradicate piracy from the
seas.
The programme examines different attacks and suggests
ways in which ships can minimise the dangers when they are in known high risk
areas. An Anti-Attack Plan, which makes access to the ship very difficult, will
often mean that the pirates withdraw and search for an easier target.
Whether an attack is an opportunity seized by petty
criminals wanting cash/valuables or an assault by highly organised armed gangs
intent on hijacking the ship and/or its cargo, the result is often traumatic
for the ship's crew. Consequently the programme also addresses medical issues
such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that can result from a pirate encounter.
To learn more about Videotel and its extensive range
of products, visit http://www.videotel.co.uk.
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