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@Piracy_OBP on Twitter

OBP Director Jon Huggins says the gains made against Somali #piracy remain "fragile & reversible." http://t.co/ibsvY0hfSL
1 hour 52 min ago
Support of #piracy along Somali coast has plummeted... but piracy fight "almost won"? http://t.co/J185iRYQOT
3 days 20 hours ago
What is a #pirate? US Appeals Panel ponders... http://t.co/dz0uJUbca9
4 days 36 min ago
Prof. Abdi Samatar from U of MN discusses dialectics of Somali #piracy http://t.co/Hwg0yXfYW9
4 days 19 hours ago
Police in Germany arrest alleged Somali pirate accountant seeking asylum http://t.co/qCK3PJqErt
4 days 22 hours ago

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The latest from OBP

11/1/12 - OBP's Sister Program 'Shuraako' Launches to Create Jobs and Economic Growth in Somalia
9/27/12 - Invitation to piracyMMOWGLI
9/7/12 - MT Abu Dhabi Star
8/21/12 - FV Shamsi
7/24/12 - Penalties for Piracy - A Discussion Paper by Eugene Kontorovich

Naval Operations

Unchanged: In early 2012, regional naval operations were expanded close to and on the Somali coast, which helped to decrease the rate of piracy. Yet, many members of these operations worry that the decreased rate will put international support for the continuation of operations at risk. Additionally, coordination is improving with independent deployers such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Read more...
Naval forces deployed to protect shipping from piracy in the Indian Ocean’s High Risk Area. Currently deployed are EU NAVFOR, NATO, CMF and Independent Deployers Read more...

Vessel Self-Protection

Unchanged: More effective ship hardening following BMP4 guidelines and the use of private security guards defeated many individual attacks. Additionally, ISO guidelines for the use of PCASP have been drafted and are expected to be implemented in early 2013.  Read more...
Measures taken by the shipping industry and flag states to reduce vessel vulnerability to piracy, including adherence to Best Management Practices and guards onboard vessels Read more...

Relieving the Plight of Seafarers

Improving (slightly): While the crews of a number of hijacked ships have been released, the number of hijacked ships is low, and efforts have been made to rescue some of the remaining hostages, the treatment of those hostages in captivity remains dire, frequently exposed to violence and neglect. New efforts are underway  by UNPOS to assist with tracking and repatriation of at-risk hostages. Read more...
Efforts to mitigate impacts of piracy on seafarers, who risk being shot at, held hostage, and/or tortured, contributing to lasting physical or psychological effects  Read more...

Messaging Campaign

Unchanged: While messaging within Somalia as well as the international community remains largely uncoordinated, attempts to enhance communication efforts. Read more...
Initiatives intended to influence public opinion of piracy, by encouraging harmonized, coordinated counter-piracy messaging and advocacy efforts, both within Somalia and with the International Community Read more...

Principles of the OBP project

Transparency: Oceans Beyond Piracy is committed to sharing research and analysis with stakeholders. Only through real transparency and a strong evidence base can we find a sustainable solution. Withholding relevant data will encourage parallel and duplicative efforts.

Inclusiveness: OBP believes solutions to maritime piracy must come from the stakeholders themselves.  Therefore OBP is engaging and working with all relevant stakeholders to find a solution to piracy.

Shared Commitment: We believe that finding solutions will be difficult and must involve commitment and investment by all stakeholders. Through the One Earth Future Foundation, OBP is personally and financially committed to sharing the burden of sustainable solutions to piracy.

Independence: OBP remains engaged and independent of any specific stakeholder or special interest group. We are privately financed, and our finances statements are available for public scrutiny.

 

Regional Response

Improving (slightly): More regional countries are taking an active role in counter-piracy efforts, including increased maritime security efforts, piracy trials, and incarcerations of suspected and convicted pirates in more countries.  Read more...
The leadership role in transitioning counter-piracy operations to regional nations through developing operational training programs and capacity-building and establishing cooperation and coordination mechanisms Read more...

Somali Engagement

Improving: Somalia's newly minted government is still making efforts to stabilize the country. Despite positive signs, obstacles remain. Read more...
  Efforts to initiate and support counter-piracy efforts by Somali authorities, citizens, and organizations based on the understanding that a sustainable solution to piracy lies ashore  Read more...

Rule of Law

Improving: Trials are occurring in a number of countries, new prisoner transfer agreements are being formulated, and incarcerations are taking place in multiple countries. Read more...
  Efforts to curb piracy through the development of effective legal codes and judicial capacity. Progress will be measured by increases in effective prosecutions and pirates incarcerated Read more...

Coordination Process

Improving: The Contact Group continues to hold regular meetings but has decided to lengthen the chairmanship which should allow for longer-term planning. Coordination continues between naval forces in the Indian Ocean. Additiionally, coordination is improving between China, India, Japan, and South Korea.  Read more...
The development of coordination and de-confliction mechanisms of counter-piracy initiatives and encouragement of more effective information-sharing amongst active stakeholders Read more...

Become a member

Oceans Beyond Piracy encourages and welcomes dialogue from all visitors to our site. Join the Oceans Beyond Piracy Online Community to contribute to the ongoing conversation on contemporary maritime piracy and how to develop sustainable solutions to the problem. Registered users will have access to a discussion forum centering around eight primary focus areas for counter-piracy efforts. To sign up for a user account, click here.