Despite the Indian Navy’s success in combating the dreaded Somali pirates yesterday, leading players from both private and public companies are putting their security measures in place

Sharad Matade

Increasing intensity of Somali pirates' activities in the Gulf of Aden, one of the busiest trade routes in the world, and Indian waters has alarmed the government and ship-owners, and they have started taking various concrete steps to protect assets, and most importantly, save the lives of seafarers.

"Piracy is an international issue and it has been menacing the international shipping industry as well as the Indian shipping industry," S Hajara, chairman & managing director, Shipping Corporation of India Limited, told Moneylife.  

Now, Somalia pirates have spread their operations in the west coast of the Arabian Sea, making Indian ships more vulnerable to their piracy operations. In a major development which proves the extent of piracy, yesterday, the Indian Navy arrested 61 pirates and rescued 13 sailors from captivity in the Arabian Sea, about 600 nautical miles west of India.

However, the nationalities of the pirates have not been disclosed yet. According to a report, in 2009, Somali pirates collected around $600 million in ransom.

To tackle this issue, ship-owners are taking some small but concrete steps such as increasing speed of vessels and creating strong-rooms for sailors when they are attacked.

"Whatever best market practices we have got, we are putting it to protect ships such as putting barbed wires on ships. Another step is (creating a) 'safe house'. One of the engine rooms or bridges is designated as a safe house, where, in case pirates board the ship, crew members gather and lock themselves, out of the reach of pirates, and guide the Navy to undertake a rescue operation," Anil Devli, chief executive officer, Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA) told Moneylife.

"We are not seeing any drop in shipping activities through piracy affected areas," added Mr Devli.

The government is also taking some serious security measures to protect ships from pirates. However, some intensive actions are needed, feel industry experts.

"Various measures have already been discussed in the Ministry of Shipping," Dr Satish B Agnihotri, Director General of Shipping, told Moneylife. However, he refused to offer any further comments.

"The Indian Navy has become very active in patrolling the seas. The Indian government should set up a north-south corridor along the Indian coasts, which will ensure that the corridor and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) are manned by our security force," added Mr Devli.      

However, private owners' demand to allow guards with weapons has not been approved.
 
"The government is taking their own steps. We have asked the government for armed guards to be deployed on those ships which travel though piracy-affected areas, but nothing has come yet," Anjali Kumar, a spokesperson for Great Eastern Shipping Co Ltd, India's largest private sector shipping firm, told Moneylife.

"The company is also taking all safety measures for our ships," added Ms Kumar. However, she refused to share detailed information on the safety measures.

Piracy is not just a threat for the ship or its sailors; it is also proving expensive for companies as insurers are increasing premiums for insurance coverage.

"By taking safety and security measures on a large scale, we can demonstrate to the Joint Water Committee that the Indian Navy is extremely proactive and therefore, we can lower insurance premiums," said Mr Devli.   

As piracy is an international concern, all countries, which have been facing the problem, should come together and tackle the issue, say industry sources.

"We look forward not to our government, but all countries' governments (being involved). The United Nations should ensure that international navigational passages are safe and secured," said Mr Hajara.

Though piracy activities are increasing, Indian seafarers have not been discouraged from pursuing this profession.

"Despite threat to lives, seafarers are venturing into pirate infested areas on the back of the high patrolling by the Navy," Abdulgani Y Serang, general secretary, National Union of Seafarers of India told Moneylife.
 
India should also take some lessons from Israel. Israeli ships are usually not attacked as they are always prepared to face pirates.

"Israeli seafarers, at their young age, are taught how to fight with pirates with weapons and protect oneself," added Mr Serang.