<<
>>

@Piracy_OBP on Twitter

#Arab states urged to unite against Somali #pirates. http://t.co/kpxiIxGdzW
1 week 19 hours ago
#Aussie Navy rescues two men from ship vulnerable to pirate attack off coast of #Somalia. http://t.co/NCeRVG3qaK
1 week 22 hours ago
Navy responding to #Quest was not going to allow #pirates to take hostages to Somali shore. http://t.co/NGji2Mgc4U
1 week 22 hours ago
Nigerian Navy says fishing trawlers are now being converted to tankers for #oil theft off of #Nigeria. http://t.co/svf9AlVsZa
1 week 1 day ago
Anti-#piracy code may soon be coming to #WestAfrica - http://t.co/Ti3VBkquEz
1 week 1 day ago

Featured Video

See video

Upcoming events

18 June 2013: Human Cost of Piracy 2012 Report Launch - London, England
 
27 June 2013: CGPCS Working Group 1 Meeting - Nairobi, Kenya
 

The latest from OBP

6/6/13 - Shai Faize Noori
5/20/13 - What happened to Somalia's pirates? - The Economist Explains
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

Naval Operations

Improving: Naval patrols by the big three, EU NAVFOR, NATO Operation Ocean Shield, and CTF-151, as well as efforts by independent deployers such as China, India, Japan, and Korea, have aided in bringing Somali piracy numbers down drastically in 2012. As of May 2013, there has not been a hijacked vessel in one year. While great progress has been made it is important to note that the gains are reversible and that the mandates of both EU NAVFOR and NATO Operation Ocean Shield expire in December 2014.  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

Improving: The continued progress of the Federal Government of Somalia has improved the coordination of counter-piracy messaging; in March 2013 the FGS, for the first time, participated in the discussions and planning of counter-piracy messaging. Working Group 4 and the Somali government have committed to harmonizing official counter-piracy messaging both within Somalia and the international community.  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: The Federal Government of Somalia continues to take steps to stabilize the country. Through engagement in the Kampala Process the regions were able to come together and develop a Maritime Resource and Security Strategy. This strategy will provide the basis for their maritime security framework. Although improvements have been made, the Federal Government of Somalia still relies on support from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other partners to help them address their security issues.  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 on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) continues to serve as the forum to coordinate counter-piracy activities. The emergence of the Working Group 1’s Capacity Building Coordination Platform, launched in spring 2013, has helped to streamline the coordination process by providing an online platform that includes regional needs, projects, and donors.  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.