Sorry, it's not Somali pirates – it’s much worse!
The Tuesday attack on Teekay LNG vessel MT Galicia Spirit off the Yemeni coast with rocket-propelled grenades has made the headlines and has been subject to many maritime security companies comments this week.
Sorry to say but there wasn’t a single Somali pirate anywhere near the incident. Most would actually hope that it was just that, Somali pirates attacking. Even ship owners are hoping for that! Why? It’s Simple. Somali pirates, however bad, and however much damage they have caused to the area and the pain they have caused to ship crews, were still the best option in this case. Somali pirates you can pay off. They attack vessels because they want money, getting out of trouble comes with a price tag.
This was not pirates. This was “the worst case scenario attackâ€. Yemenis, most likely Houthis, with a mission to sink a large vessel in the Bab el Mandeb Strait. A terrorist attack like that has much wider implications than a pirate attack. It's done for political or religious reasons and it's done without a single thought of survivors or monetary rewards for the attacker. There is no price tag for the “get me out of here cardâ€, that card does not even exist in this case.
It's actually not the only bad news in that small stretch of sea this week. On Wednesday we read reports on RiskMap.com that advised that ISIS-linked militants had seized the coastal village of Quandala in the Puntland region. This is located some 75km east of Puntland’s main port Bosaso, right in the Gulf of Aden across the sea from Yemen. It’s the first time ISIS-linked militants have taken control of a coastal village in the Gulf of Aden.
If that’s not bad enough? Consider this;
What if the gas tanker attack on Tuesday was NOT the work of Houthis? What if this attack was Yemeni ISIS? We then also have ISIS militia taking control of a village in Puntland in the GOA too, more or less on the same day. It would be a brand new threat at a level that shipping has seldom faced before.
Onboard ship security has just become even more important and the need to make sure that any maritime security company being used has an updated SOP that corresponds to the relative threat in the area. If you are unsure, give SeaMarshals Risk Management a call.
References:
You can read about the gas tanker attack here:
http://splash247.com/rpg-fired-gas-ship-off-yemen/
You can read about the ISIS militants in the Puntland village simply by going to
http://www.RiskMap.com and zoom in on the north of Somalia.
security consultant mps movies
7yvery touchée place.
CEO la 360° GOS
7yIt is not for us to decide what happen there... We we all believe that we are experts but the situation is so complex that is outside our expertise. There is a strong military presence in GOA especially in Bab-el and I think that if this was a terrorist act NATO and other military forces here must declare this act as it is. As for the operators in the maritime security I must say that there still are some good guys here that can deal with a similar situation. The problem is yes... the money, but that ship with good pay rates has left... unfortunately for thous of us that remain here working we deal with Indian or Filipino or Nepalis or God knows what other nations as operators. And on the correct side of the page this article was suppose to be a commercial advertise for Sea Marshals Risk Management . If they pay for they operators the correct pay rate and work only with NATO country's operators they got my respect .
Actively Looking for Security Challenges. Personal Business Owner at TAC Security Management, Mitigation and Consulting
7yI performed Ship security as a lead and operator for 3 different companies. Each had their strength and weaknesses and I agree with all comments. Companies believe that simply having security on a vessel is enough of a deterrent to ensure security. Even worst many will after a incident happens, blame the carrier or the vessel for the reason they were unable to supply proper weapons, wire and support mechanisms to the team. The reality is it has nothing to do with saving money, rather filling pockets prior to retirement and laziness. It is easier to say, sorry not equipment available, than pay the logistic costs to make it happen. Issue used, un-serviceable equipment, rather than replacement items. And yes, there are teams and operators that do not take care of their equipment, break, loose even pocket items.... meaning the companies are in a position to then require replacements. But guess what.... suck it up and get the guys the tools needed. As far as operators are concerned, when you pay for a mercedes, you expect a mercedes. When you pay for a VW beetle, you expect a VW beetle. No one in their right mind, buys a VW Beetle expecting Mercedes performance.... and yet security companies do this all the time.
Maritime Safety and Security Trainer at South West Maritime Academy
7yIt's also a shame that those best qualified to protect those vessels have been underpaid out of the Marsec industry. The current level, in the main, of underpaid, poorly qualified and disinterested operators will struggle to deal with this threat.
PMPF Base Commander | M.A Peace and Conflict Management
7ylooks like terrorist attack not ransom seekers