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HMS Special ReportAfrica Area 1 Somalia Pirate Activity,Period 01 February20 September 2008


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2HMS Special Report Africa Area 1 Somalia Pirate Activity, Period 01 February20 September 2008

HMS Ltd, 2008

Africa Area 1 Somalia Model Report for Pirate Activity,Period 01 February 200820 September 2008

IntroductionTis report provides summative data on piracy attacks occurring in the Somalia maritime region.Collation and analysis is based on 59 maritime security incidents that occurred in proximity toand o the Somali coastline (Indian Ocean) including in the Gul o Aden. Incidents are describedusing selected column headings, where the aim is to provide actual inormation on which to ormstatistical summaries and corresponding analysis o, in particular, those actors dictating the eventsand outcomes o attacks on commercial shipping transiting the area.

Tis is a model report based on historical data collected or a specic time period. Future reportswill be based on current data and can be produced either weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually.Te report is supported by other documents including maritime-specic HMS Quick-Look Reports

assessing specic and signicant incidents and other maritime-ocused HMS Special Reports, whichare produced and distributed both via commissions rom clients and as part o HMSs scheduledmaritime research and analysis report list.

Tis report is presented in two parts:

Part 1

. Quick-look pages

. Statistic summaries, comment and analysis o the data

Part 1 begins by providing quick-look pages which describe the key points o the report and highlightimportant data. Also included in this section are the report data tables, which provide visualcomparisons with reerence to the more detailed text contained in the main body o the report.

Part 2

Part 2 comprises two reerence documents providing the data column descriptors and a summaryo attacks. Tese have been provided in this instance to show the criteria used or data collection.

Column headings may be changed to suit customer preerence and either decreased or expandeddata capture parameters set.


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Africa Area 1

ETHIOPIA

SAUDI ARABIA

YEMEN

OMAN

SOMALIA

DJIBOUTI

PUNTL

AND

Mogadishu

Eyl

Bossaso

Hobyo

Red

Sea

Gulf of Aden

Indian

Ocean

12 mile territorial limit

Africa area 1

500km

270nm


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Part 1


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Quick-Look Pages

Key Points

From the data extracted a number o conclusions can be drawn with regard to the prevailing pirate

activities in the Somalia region:

Tactics

Somali pirates are limited in the operating procedures employed in respect o the tacticsemployed to gain a boarding

Attempts to board are based on tried and tested tactics, which it would appear do not have thecapacity to develop signicantly

While successul, it is envisaged that these tactics will not change to any great degree anddespite being primitive they do work, although at some risk and with more than a 50% chanceo ailure

Casualties are rare, even when weapons are employed

Damage rom weapon eects is limited, though res are to be expected rom RPG rounds

Actions to deter and repel boarding

Countermeasures are well known and publicized within the industry and as the data shows, do

have a good chance o success i applied early enough in the attack by a determined master andwell-drilled crew

Key to eecting escape or repelling attack is an understanding o perpetrator methods ooperation and equipment enhanced by crew awareness and training

Te visible and pre-emptive employment o deterrent countermeasures can be used to reducethe risk o attack. Pirates in this area preer an easy target and although they are not araidto use orce do not requently show grim determination to achieve boarding o those targetsdisplaying a will and the resources to resist

While physical encounters can be won by the target vessel, more success can be achievedthrough denying the pirates close and intimate contact with the ship by recognizing the threatat an early stage. By increasing speed and manoeuvring evasively the master can oen avoidhijacking, with a decreased risk to the ship and the crew

Te end eect o boarding in most cases is to surrender to the pirates demands and await anegotiated release. Tis is the only option, as resistance to the lethal orce oered by the piratesis dangerous and in the circumstances utile


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Weapons

Te AK-47 assault rie and RPG-7 rocket launcher are the most common weapons employedin attacks

Weapons are used as a precursor to the boarding attempt

Wheras re is airly random, the bridge and crew accommodation is oen targeted

Successul employment o RPGs requires a range o under 300m. Penetration o the hull by theHEA warhead is possible i optimum attack criteria are met, but unlikely with doublehulled vessels

An understanding o weapon eects may give masters an added edge in their decision whetherto comply or evade


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Data Tables

0

5

10

15

20

25

SepAugJulJunMayAprMarFeb

Ratio of attacks by month, Feb-- Sep 2008

1

4

8 8

34

9

22

0

5

10

15

20

20.00--00.0016.00--20.0012.00--16.0008.00--12.0004.00--08.0000.00--04.00

Ratio of attacks by time of day

11

13

17

11

2

1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Yemen CoastGulf of AdenOff SomaliaCoast of Somalia

Areas of attack

4

40

5

10


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Documents

Special Report Africa Area - Sample Only