How to Stop Modern Piracy

The romantic image of the well-dressed, swash buckling pirate of yesteryear is a far cry from the AK47-toting gangs that plague sailors primarily in the Indian Ocean near the Horn of Africa. Pirates typically attack from smaller skiffs launched from a larger mother ship, though they may also use previously hijacked vessels. Sailors can help prevent piracy by avoiding certain areas and reporting any signs of pirates.

Instructions

    • 1

      Sign up to a real-time piracy assessment tool such as Drum Cussac's Automated Piracy Threat Assessment System (APTAS). This allows users to plot their course and assess the potential risks before setting sail.

    • 2

      Avoid sailing in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and the Arabia Sea. As of 2010, piracy activity was dropping in the Gulf of Aden while incidents along the east coast of Africa and in the Indian Ocean as a whole had increased.

    • 3

      Avoid anchoring in high-risk ports.These include the Chittagong anchorages in Bangladesh, the Douala Outer Anchorage in Cameroon, Vila do Conde in Brazil, Callao in Peru, Puerto La Cruz in Venezuela and Port Au Prince in Haiti.

    • 4

      Maintain a 24-hour visual and radar watch if sailing in high-risk areas. Early detection enables seafarers to take evasive action, increase the vessel's speed, and request assistance.