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Frequently asked questions about Piracy
General questions
Q - The increase in piracy will be a greater threat to UK shipping and UK crew members – what is being done about this?
A - In most parts of the world, incidents of piracy and maritime armed robbery are decreasing; however, there has been an increase in attacks off Somalia and in the Gulf of Guinea.
Clearly any act of piracy causes great concern and that is why we are working with our international partners to tackle the problem directly at sea through Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151), the EU and NATO.
Government departments are working closely with the UK shipping industry, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and wider international community to reduce the risk to merchant vessels transiting around the Horn of Africa.
Q - What advice is the British Government giving to British shipping companies in the area?
A - Guidance from Department of Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Ships should continue to implement the guidance contained in Maritime Guidance Note 298 (Measures to Counter Piracy, Armed Robbery and other Acts of Violence against Merchant Shipping).
Ships should register with the Maritime Security Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) website and transit through the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in addition to adhering to the latest Maritime Advisories in force throughout the piracy threat region.
The UK Government endorses the advice prepared by the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia which provides specific advice on how to prevent, deter and delay acts of piracy off the Horn of Africa. The Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa website contains general advice to shipping companies and the UK’s Maritime Trade Operation based in Dubai advises mariners on planning their passage through the Gulf of Aden.
The Shipping Defence Advisory Committee, jointly chaired by the Industry and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and supported by other Government Departments is proving to be a good forum for liaison and a two-way mechanism for providing advice. The Shipping Industry is also providing merchant officers to the EU Operation Head Quarters
Q - What will happen if piracy off Somalia gets worse?
A - The threat from all illegal activity at sea in the Gulf region is constantly reviewed and employment of units adjusted accordingly – Royal Navy units be they part of an international mission or operating independently will be prepared to meet HMG’s obligations regarding piracy should the situation dictate and, if requested, may provide support to other Government Departments engaged in resolving incidents.
Q - Are RN ships involved in counter piracy operations?
A - Yes, the Royal Navy is providing a direct contribution to a number of international efforts to counter piracy.
Currently, HMS Cornwall is the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) conducting NATO’s counter piracy mission, Operation ALLIED PROTECTOR, in the Gulf of Aden; UK Cdre Steve Chick is the Commander of SNMG2.
A Royal Navy frigate took part in the first phase of the EU counter-piracy Operation ATALANTA (between December 2008 and March 2009), and we have offered a warship to cover a period in the second half of 2010.
The UK also contributes a Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel, currently RFA Waveknight, providing logistics support to Royal Navy and other coalition navies participating in a range of maritime security operations.
Q - How can the Government prevent the payment of ransoms?
A - The UK government does not make or facilitate substantive concessions to hijackers, including the payment of ransoms.
Although there is no UK law against third parties such as ship owners paying ransoms, we counsel against them doing so, as we believe that making concessions to pirates only encourages future hijacks.
Q - What happens if a UK hostage is taken?
A - Each hostage situation is different, and dealt with on a case by case
basis.
A cross-government team stands ready to respond to the kidnap of British nationals, whether on land or at sea. Our primary aim is always the safe return of the hostages.
Q - How can effective action be taken to freeze the assets of pirates?
A - The ransom demands are typically paid in cash.
Nevertheless, the international community is seeking ways of clamping down on criminals benefiting from the proceeds of crime.
Q - Are we seeing a failure of the Naval forces in the region?
A - No. We shouldn’t lose sight of the very important work the international maritime forces are doing to protect the vast majority of shipping in the region. They are deterring and suppressing a large number of attacks, as well as detaining pirate suspects.
The long term solution is to address the root cause of piracy – instability in Somalia. Whilst we may see successful pirate attacks we must also remember that the international forces are preventing many other attacks. But we simply cannot prevent every attack in such a large area.
Q - What are your views on what else the international community needs to do?
A - Addressing the root cause of piracy in Somalia is the long term solution.
In the meantime there are many different things we and the international
community are doing to address the problem. It is a combination of all these measures, co-ordinated effectively, which will help to address this problem.
We continue to encourage the international community and the shipping industry to take actions to address this problem.
Q - What is the UK doing to assist the coordination of all the military vessels in the region?
A - UK officials are playing a leading role within the international Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, which is discussing a coherent international response to this difficult problem.
The UK, with the support of the International Maritime Organization, is leading a Working Group addressing activities related to military and operational information coordination, including taking forward work on regional capacity building.
Coordination between international naval forces is considered effective, notably between Operation ATALANTA, NATO, and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), resulting in an unprecedented amount of multi-national cooperation.
Q - What are we doing on land in Somalia?
A - The UK has contributed £10million to the UN Trust Fund for supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Working to help establish the rule of law in Somalia is a key part of the fight against piracy. World Food Programme provides urgent humanitarian aid to some of the worst hit areas of Somalia, and Royal Navy assets ensure these deliveries are made.
Q - What would the Royal Navy do if faced with a situation where an act of piracy was taking place or upon encountering pirates?
A - The Royal Navy can take robust action to come to the aid of a victim vessel under attack by pirates in international waters.
This can again range from deterring and disrupting the attack to the use of reasonable force to defend the victims. Vessels can be boarded and any piracy equipment can be seized and, if it is not practicable to keep it, destroyed. The Royal Navy is also able to provide assistance in resolving an incident that has involved UK ships or citizens should it be required.
In cases in which suspected pirates are detained during operations, if it is considered that there is sufficient evidence on which to charge them they will be detained and transferred under the terms of an arrangement with the Kenyan and Seychelles government for prosecution.
Every incident of piracy is different and Royal Navy personnel undergo maritime security training that provides them with the ability to deal with circumstances that require such intervention.
Q - Under what circumstances will the Royal Navy capture and detain pirates?
A - If it is considered that there is sufficient evidence on which to charge suspected pirates they will be detained and subsequently transferred to a regional state for prosecution. The UK has an arrangement with the Kenyan and Seychelles government which allows the transfer of suspected pirates to these countries.
Conversely, if after thorough investigation there is insufficient evidence on which to charge suspected pirates, they will be released. Any piracy equipment, such as ladders and weapons, which are found will be seized and, if it is not practicable to keep it, destroyed.
Q - Under what legal framework can you deter, disrupt and in some cases destroy pirate equipment?
A - The guidance given to ships draws on UK law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Q - What is the IRTC?
A - The IRTC is the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden where the international coalition forces will focus effort on countering destabilising activities, including piracy.
European Security Defence Policy (ESDP) Operation - Operation ATALANTA
Q - What role is UK playing in the EU operation to Somalia?
A - We are pleased to be at the forefront of the European Union mission – Operation ATALANTA – established to escort World Food Programme (WFP) vessels bringing aid to Somalia, protect vulnerable shipping, and to counter piracy in the region.
We are providing the Operation Commander and the Operation HQ at Northwood. We support the Operation Commander’s midterm assessment that ATALANTA is performing well.
Q - When did the operation launch?
A - The operation was launched by a Joint Action at the Foreign Minister’s General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 8 December 2008 with a one year mandate, and on 15 June 2009 the GAERC decided to extend the operation for further 12 months.
The UK will continue to command the operation from Northwood.
Q - What are the key tasks for the EU operation?
A - The key tasks of the operation will be to ensure the protection of World Food Programme and other vulnerable shipping, but also to provide deterrence by presence and surveillance.
Q - How long is the EU operation going to last?
A - There is no easy solution to piracy off the coast of Somalia which is a symptom of the underlying problems in Somalia, themselves requiring an international response.
Any EU operation would be intended to enhance the security and safety of the international waters in the region for international shipping, including World Food Programme aid. The EU operation is currently scheduled to last until December 2010.
Q - Is the UK providing a ship to the operation?
A - HMS NORTHUMBERLAND was deployed for the first period of the operation, but has now returned home.
The UK has offered a warship to support the operation for a period in the later half of 2010. The MOD will continue to provide associated support to the counter-piracy operations, through the use of tankers and Maritime Patrol Aircraft, as and when assets become available.
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) – Combined Task Force (CTF) 150/151
Q - What do the Combined Maritime Forces do?
A - The Combined Maritime Forces is a 23 nation Coalition and was established in 2001 to contribute towards Operation Enduring Freedom.
The focus of the CMF is to provide maritime security in what is a vital artery of
world trade including the main shipping routes to/from the UK. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons and material.
In addition much effort has gone into supporting regional countries in developing their maritime security capabilities. A by-product of the CTF 150 presence has been to deter the use of the sea for illicit activities such as human/drugs/arms trafficking and piracy.
Q - What is the difference between CTF 150 and CTF 151?
A - CTF-150 conducts counter terrorism, counter narcotics and counter smuggling operations in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
As a result of the increased focus on piracy in the region late last year, CTF-150 tasking was rapidly overtaken by counter-piracy operations. CTF-151 was established, with a specific counterpiracy mission, to delineate and clarify the separate missions.
Q - What role is the UK playing in CTF 150 and 151?
A - The Royal Navy routinely provides a frigate or destroyer as part of CTF 150, together with additional units on transit through the area.
HMS CUMBERLAND’s national mandate is comprehensive and enables the ship to
conduct all aspects of maritime security operations including both counter piracy and counter smuggling operations. As such, she can and will be utilised to support both CTF 150 and CTF 151 dependent on operational requirement.
The UK provides the Deputy Commander CMF (Cdre Tim Lowe RN), who is also the UK Maritime Component Commander in Bahrain. In addition to Royal Navy support, the UK provides a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, currently RFA WAVEKNIGHT, which provides vital logistics support to RN and other coalition warships in the Gulf of Aden.
Q - When did the operation launch?
A - CTF 151 was established on 1 Jan 2009, under the command of Rear Admiral Terence 'Terry' McKnight USN and is currently under the command of Turkish Rear Admiral Caner Bener.
NATO
Q - What has NATO contributed to countering piracy?
A - NATO has contributed Standing NATO Maritime Groups (SNMG) to the counter-piracy effort off Somalia through Operation ALLIED PROVIDER (SNMG2 October - December 2008) and Operation ALLIED PROTECTOR (SNMG1 April - July 2009 and SNMG2 from July 2009).
The UK has supports an enhanced role for NATO in counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa.
Q - What role is the RN playing in SNMG2’s counter-piracy activities?
A - The Royal Navy is currently commanding SNMG2 with a dedicated platform, HMS CORNWALL, from June 2009 – June 2010.
Q - Will the NATO operation not cause duplication in the region?
A - Coordination with, and adding value to, international efforts is of paramount importance.
NATO is providing an effective and value-added contribution which integrates with and is complementary to other task forces, nations and organisations, As well as its counter piracy operations, NATO is examining other areas of support such as capacity building.