The New version of BMP has been just released and it is more or less on lines of the earlier version with some minor changes.
The methodiolgy remain relaince on Navy escorts and assitance mainly monitor and deter methodlogy.
The issue of employing extra security crew is left as optional and armed security is not recommended.
This coming post monsoon season will ascertain how effective the above methods are going to be and what new methods the pirates will adopt.
I personnally believe counter attack is best form of defence - as there is hardly any counter once teh ship boarded teh BMP recommends to fully co- operate with the pirates- leaving the ship and crew to long ransom negotiations and crew at mercy of hijackers.
Mean while insurence premuim continue to soar and ultimately the problem will remain to be vessel's and her crew's
Perhaps the post monsoon figures will help to do a rethink of strategies or may be we will see lesser hijacking with increased ransom demands in which case the goal of international forces would have been achieved.
http://www.intertanko.com/upload/BMP%20Very%20Final%20Version%202%20Dated%2021-8-2009.pdf
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
NEW BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTISES ( PIRACY GULF OF ADEN) RELEASED VERSION 2 DATED AUGUST 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Piracy Vs Terrorism
Have been out for quite sometime and glad to be back to ponder over this new twist to the tale.
Was going through the latest edition of Maritime London this morning and see the that Lords EU committe on money laundering and terrorism want to make payment of ransom money illegal if teh money falls into hands of terrorist organisation...
I presume onus of proof of money falling into terrorist hands will be on the owners or party making ransom payments- this seems a bit far fetched and irrational.
How does one know if the money paid will fall into terroist hands or not or how does a ship owner know and furtehr more how does he proove it one way or the another- It may be a daunting task in best of fiscal regimes and in Somalia....
Although paper goes on to say that at present there is no link between pirates and terrorsists outfits so it implies that ransom payments are legal-but not quite
1. how long does it take to establish a link between two activities
2. how does one know that a link exists or not - let us assume that link does not exist and ransom is paid however it comes to light that link existed at the time of payment -does the payment become illegal then
3. how does one differentaite between the pirates and terrorist - terrorist organistaion may be behind the pirates by funding then directly or inderectly or may be they may have their own set up how do we differentiate between those who are supported and those who are not supported assuming that we knew the difference
A shipowner is already a victim once his vessel is hijacked and perhap the committe is trying to victimise the victims - it is hardly fair.
The onus of responsibility of piracy is bieng clearly shifted here- it is the job of the world to fight and erdicate the piracy an issue which has been lingering on for years and once we have have established that it cannot be done - either for the lack of political will or for lack of adequate interest ( viz oil /gas etc etc) it has not been done and possibly will not be done after all what is less than 2% chance of an piracy attack happening matter to the world - yeah suffering of a few hundred sea farers ( tops) a few million dollars in ransom payouts- it still seems a cheaper option to fight the problem.
Losers- crew- shipowners-charterers to an extent
Gainers- pirates and people behind them ( who knows who are they) -security companies - insurers ( did any one see the K & R premiums or war risk premiuims)
It may not be the BLACK HAWK DOWN syndrome - the world has seen wars far worse and yet never mentioned and if there was a sufficient motive to address how big is Somalia -not as big as Iraq or Afghanistan and why only Americans have to be involved in every - bad war let us do it differently this time let us get all countries willing and able to fight it to address it.
The funding can come from anywhere but the issue can be fought using the neighboring countries or even let us pass a UN resolution and keep army bases off the terrorist bases and let us check on every boat going out for motive and weapons after all teh coast line from ASMARA to MOGHA DISHU is only 1500 natutical mile long and say if a base is set up every 250 natutical miles we need only 6 bases and let say each base is equipped with communications- fast boats- small military team of 25 persons and entrusted with responsibility to check every vessel -boat- skips going out to sea for fishing or leisure activity has to reports and be inspected for weapons and number of people on board -the cost may not be as daunting as naval vessels patrolling the region and the problem will be addressed sooner than later.
After the bases the problem of mother ships will remain - these ships cannot be at sea for ever theyt will need to refuel -restock and it is anybodys guess how these vessels are supported at sea at present. Once positively identified they need to be tracked and put out of service or sunk.
The local Government has to co-operate or at least seen as co-operating.
Of course this cannot be done by shipowners or small intrest groups it has to be done at UN level and governments of the world need to co-operate to addrees the solution.
This may be a far better way to address and postively preventing money going to terrorist organisation as opposed to current idea of Governemnts shunning away from their reponsibilites and victimising the victims.
Your thoughts and ideas most welcome
Was going through the latest edition of Maritime London this morning and see the that Lords EU committe on money laundering and terrorism want to make payment of ransom money illegal if teh money falls into hands of terrorist organisation...
I presume onus of proof of money falling into terrorist hands will be on the owners or party making ransom payments- this seems a bit far fetched and irrational.
How does one know if the money paid will fall into terroist hands or not or how does a ship owner know and furtehr more how does he proove it one way or the another- It may be a daunting task in best of fiscal regimes and in Somalia....
Although paper goes on to say that at present there is no link between pirates and terrorsists outfits so it implies that ransom payments are legal-but not quite
1. how long does it take to establish a link between two activities
2. how does one know that a link exists or not - let us assume that link does not exist and ransom is paid however it comes to light that link existed at the time of payment -does the payment become illegal then
3. how does one differentaite between the pirates and terrorist - terrorist organistaion may be behind the pirates by funding then directly or inderectly or may be they may have their own set up how do we differentiate between those who are supported and those who are not supported assuming that we knew the difference
A shipowner is already a victim once his vessel is hijacked and perhap the committe is trying to victimise the victims - it is hardly fair.
The onus of responsibility of piracy is bieng clearly shifted here- it is the job of the world to fight and erdicate the piracy an issue which has been lingering on for years and once we have have established that it cannot be done - either for the lack of political will or for lack of adequate interest ( viz oil /gas etc etc) it has not been done and possibly will not be done after all what is less than 2% chance of an piracy attack happening matter to the world - yeah suffering of a few hundred sea farers ( tops) a few million dollars in ransom payouts- it still seems a cheaper option to fight the problem.
Losers- crew- shipowners-charterers to an extent
Gainers- pirates and people behind them ( who knows who are they) -security companies - insurers ( did any one see the K & R premiums or war risk premiuims)
It may not be the BLACK HAWK DOWN syndrome - the world has seen wars far worse and yet never mentioned and if there was a sufficient motive to address how big is Somalia -not as big as Iraq or Afghanistan and why only Americans have to be involved in every - bad war let us do it differently this time let us get all countries willing and able to fight it to address it.
The funding can come from anywhere but the issue can be fought using the neighboring countries or even let us pass a UN resolution and keep army bases off the terrorist bases and let us check on every boat going out for motive and weapons after all teh coast line from ASMARA to MOGHA DISHU is only 1500 natutical mile long and say if a base is set up every 250 natutical miles we need only 6 bases and let say each base is equipped with communications- fast boats- small military team of 25 persons and entrusted with responsibility to check every vessel -boat- skips going out to sea for fishing or leisure activity has to reports and be inspected for weapons and number of people on board -the cost may not be as daunting as naval vessels patrolling the region and the problem will be addressed sooner than later.
After the bases the problem of mother ships will remain - these ships cannot be at sea for ever theyt will need to refuel -restock and it is anybodys guess how these vessels are supported at sea at present. Once positively identified they need to be tracked and put out of service or sunk.
The local Government has to co-operate or at least seen as co-operating.
Of course this cannot be done by shipowners or small intrest groups it has to be done at UN level and governments of the world need to co-operate to addrees the solution.
This may be a far better way to address and postively preventing money going to terrorist organisation as opposed to current idea of Governemnts shunning away from their reponsibilites and victimising the victims.
Your thoughts and ideas most welcome
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Piracy acts off Somalia
The recent spurt in piracy of Somalia has evoked heated debates and some action last seen Maersk Albama. The Masters act was commendable no doubt so was the US marines or navy - the whole episode ended with Bar B Que and beers.
But this is not the usual scenario- usually the vessel with lower profile and backing end up hijacked held hostage - negotiations -and usually hush hush ransom is paid - often running into millions of dollars. There is no single bussiness where so much money can be earned with so little effort- the result the hijacker get stronger and bolder with each ransom paid. This can be amply seen in their area of operations which is slowly increasing to cover as much as 450 nautical miles from the base line.
Whole fraternity talks - and talks about it and the piracy goes on unrestricted.
What are possible scenarios to the future of the hijackers or hijacking
There is no easy solutions and I think that we cannot will it away- piracy is here to stay unless we address the issue by making individual ships stronger to combat the hijackers.
The only way at the present seems to be posting trained semi armed guard on board.
They say success is infectous - once we start having stories about the overcome hijacking attempt as in case of Maresk Albama surely the realisation will creep in that it is not easy and possible then we can expect to see death of hijacking and terrorism at sea.
But this is not the usual scenario- usually the vessel with lower profile and backing end up hijacked held hostage - negotiations -and usually hush hush ransom is paid - often running into millions of dollars. There is no single bussiness where so much money can be earned with so little effort- the result the hijacker get stronger and bolder with each ransom paid. This can be amply seen in their area of operations which is slowly increasing to cover as much as 450 nautical miles from the base line.
Whole fraternity talks - and talks about it and the piracy goes on unrestricted.
What are possible scenarios to the future of the hijackers or hijacking
- First likely scenario is hijacking will go on and on till the hijackers get very rich or old (which ever comes first ) to have a distinct lack of interest in hijacking.
- The local government will intervene and overcome the hijackers- an unilkey scenario- teh government is non existant and lack will and resolve to address the issue -who knows they may be standing to benefit by the hijacking and hojackers may be contributing to the national economy.
- Foreign govenment ( US- EUROPE ETC ETC) may get tackle the issue- a possibility but a remote one-to do this the whole area need to be patrolled and there lies the problem- the area is too wide and undefined and chances are that is soem section is patrolled teh hijackers will get active in other regions. Apart from the area problem -who will these military protect - their own fleet- the only high profiled vessel for which they may have advance information or all vessel transiting the region. All vessel includes small crafts- coaster- coastal vessel and dhows- these may or may not have a planned transit.
- Ship crew to protect themselves- apart from legal issues and UNCLOS issues the crew already are over worked with watch keeping, maintenenece, reports etc etc to take an additional responsibility resisting armed confilct. The management companies have tried to address these by including terrorism and avoidence in their critical operations manuals but the success is elusive. If the crew could handle these issues effectively - then we could not have escalation in first place. Further more motivation of hijackers and ships crew are different - for hijackers it is easy target and easy money for ship crew even if they avert an hijacking attempt is just a job followed if at all by a " çommendation" and if they fail possibly loss of life and limb. Last but not the least with advent of specialisation the crew are skilled at operations and management of ships and not prevention of a motivated willed armed attack.
- The vessels themselves protect themselves- there are companies who are willing to provide trained combat trained soldiers who stay on board for the desired duration of transit. These ex soldiers with a will to fight charge a fee for each transit. This may be an option as hijacker do not know which vessel has extra reinforcement on them and eventually this alone may act as detterant. However in the present scenario most owners are acting to wish piracy away- they hope that military patrols etc will solve the problem which is essentailly not theirs - until the vessel is hijacked.
There is no easy solutions and I think that we cannot will it away- piracy is here to stay unless we address the issue by making individual ships stronger to combat the hijackers.
The only way at the present seems to be posting trained semi armed guard on board.
They say success is infectous - once we start having stories about the overcome hijacking attempt as in case of Maresk Albama surely the realisation will creep in that it is not easy and possible then we can expect to see death of hijacking and terrorism at sea.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Old Age
One thing about age is it always advances- no matter what or who or where the age always advances.
Advance is always good - one gets a feel of looking forward ahead until one come to sunset years- then there is a looking forward in a way but it is more looking forward to the end - how can one look forward to the end - end is end - one cannot look forward to it. Looking forward to end sounds odd.
Coming back to sunset years - the body has grown weak, all near and dear ones have deserted or prtend not to acknowledge existance, the money in the bank has devalued so much that it is as good as not being there, descendents are occupied with own persuits of life and here one comes to a stage of looking forward to the end.
The senses have lost their sharpness, the nervous system has grown weak and the will to live diminishing each day it is then a person look for support - support to wait for the end or look forward to the end but the support is noty easily forthcoming.
Those who die young - in battle or accidents or explosions or to some illness are blessed in a way that they do not have to look froward to the end - they do not have to wait for end.
In a way sunset years are good in that there is sense of living out to the full-except the last waiting bit which is sad depressing and the wait is terrible in concept and belief.
There is no way out for this phase of life and in a way is ordained by destiny or even Gods will- soem may not have waiting for end phase whilst in case of other it may linger for years.
In the end it is sorry and inevitable...... till the end comes and death does us part from life.
What happens after the end - another beginning another start or just an end the final one who knows. Those who travelled that wy never cam back to tell us or did they.
Advance is always good - one gets a feel of looking forward ahead until one come to sunset years- then there is a looking forward in a way but it is more looking forward to the end - how can one look forward to the end - end is end - one cannot look forward to it. Looking forward to end sounds odd.
Coming back to sunset years - the body has grown weak, all near and dear ones have deserted or prtend not to acknowledge existance, the money in the bank has devalued so much that it is as good as not being there, descendents are occupied with own persuits of life and here one comes to a stage of looking forward to the end.
The senses have lost their sharpness, the nervous system has grown weak and the will to live diminishing each day it is then a person look for support - support to wait for the end or look forward to the end but the support is noty easily forthcoming.
Those who die young - in battle or accidents or explosions or to some illness are blessed in a way that they do not have to look froward to the end - they do not have to wait for end.
In a way sunset years are good in that there is sense of living out to the full-except the last waiting bit which is sad depressing and the wait is terrible in concept and belief.
There is no way out for this phase of life and in a way is ordained by destiny or even Gods will- soem may not have waiting for end phase whilst in case of other it may linger for years.
In the end it is sorry and inevitable...... till the end comes and death does us part from life.
What happens after the end - another beginning another start or just an end the final one who knows. Those who travelled that wy never cam back to tell us or did they.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Alternative Energy- A basic thought
The world current known energy sources are finite.
It is a matter of time before they exhaust themselves leaving our children in eternal darkness ( after sunset).
Imagine a world where modes of transport as we know them -cannot run- all wrecks. Also the cooking- heating- powere etc etc all affected.
Years ago in mid 80 when I was in Sierra Leone the contry had no supply of fuel for a short span of time ( about a month) and streets/roads petrol pumps etc had cars- cars and more cars. The cars died when and where they exhausted their fuel. The sight was ugly - the problem then temprory ( bad logistics) and had a solution to it.
But now we are on brink of global exhaustion of known energies ( a few decades away I am told) then what - the sight will be uglier- the problem permanenet and no solution.
The solution are only two
The cost itself at some point may become a detterent to the new oil.
The second option- easy to suggest but to answer what where how when who will be difficult to answer. So far what ever our imagination has yielded is not efficient or non friendly.
It is very soon going to be our problem
It is a matter of time before they exhaust themselves leaving our children in eternal darkness ( after sunset).
Imagine a world where modes of transport as we know them -cannot run- all wrecks. Also the cooking- heating- powere etc etc all affected.
Years ago in mid 80 when I was in Sierra Leone the contry had no supply of fuel for a short span of time ( about a month) and streets/roads petrol pumps etc had cars- cars and more cars. The cars died when and where they exhausted their fuel. The sight was ugly - the problem then temprory ( bad logistics) and had a solution to it.
But now we are on brink of global exhaustion of known energies ( a few decades away I am told) then what - the sight will be uglier- the problem permanenet and no solution.
The solution are only two
- More exploration
- or locate alternative sorce of energy
The cost itself at some point may become a detterent to the new oil.
The second option- easy to suggest but to answer what where how when who will be difficult to answer. So far what ever our imagination has yielded is not efficient or non friendly.
It is very soon going to be our problem
What can be more intresting than recession- it is the in thing - the most happening thing and most people seem to be experts on the subject.
I met my auditor this evening and after first cup of tea the subject turned to -R-and he opined that what we see is only a CORRECTION. Correction of what - greed- ignorance-misinformation - or too much wrong information. Who can say - after all most of theguys who saw the last one are not around anymore ( or nearly not around). Then to add further if the prices go below 2004 levels then it will be a recession- again do the prices go down ever.
The world population grows by each day and so will the demand for essentials- food shelter - clothing- schools- jobs - energy etc etc. So if the demand grow then supply has to catch up - in short term price will go up not down until the enhance supply catches up with demand ( if it ever does) so technically there cannot be recession.
There are quite few stories doing rounds on the internet explaining or trying to explain the recession- they make a good read and are quite humourous but the reality is who understand recession.
Vanishing money is a concern- but where did the money vanish. If it existed it should still exist until and unless someone destroyed it. Who will in his right senses destroy money- the best lubricant in the world. SO let us assume no one destroyed the money - but it did vanish -or else how do we have credit crunch .So perhaps what vanished did not exist- if it did not exist how did it vanish.
So why are lamenting the loss of soemthing that did not exist.
Then recession does not exist as well- it is perhaps the media hype or too much of easy communication with out responsibility.
See you again ________
I met my auditor this evening and after first cup of tea the subject turned to -R-and he opined that what we see is only a CORRECTION. Correction of what - greed- ignorance-misinformation - or too much wrong information. Who can say - after all most of theguys who saw the last one are not around anymore ( or nearly not around). Then to add further if the prices go below 2004 levels then it will be a recession- again do the prices go down ever.
The world population grows by each day and so will the demand for essentials- food shelter - clothing- schools- jobs - energy etc etc. So if the demand grow then supply has to catch up - in short term price will go up not down until the enhance supply catches up with demand ( if it ever does) so technically there cannot be recession.
There are quite few stories doing rounds on the internet explaining or trying to explain the recession- they make a good read and are quite humourous but the reality is who understand recession.
Vanishing money is a concern- but where did the money vanish. If it existed it should still exist until and unless someone destroyed it. Who will in his right senses destroy money- the best lubricant in the world. SO let us assume no one destroyed the money - but it did vanish -or else how do we have credit crunch .So perhaps what vanished did not exist- if it did not exist how did it vanish.
So why are lamenting the loss of soemthing that did not exist.
Then recession does not exist as well- it is perhaps the media hype or too much of easy communication with out responsibility.
See you again ________
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thank God It is Friday
Friday- aah the weekly day of prayers- rest- rejuvenation and family.
Leisurely wake some odd chores followed by weekly Biryani followed by siesta ( again ) and then the stroll on garden beach or park.
As the day ends to close - the dread of a long week of traffic- deadlines and long wait for the next Friday. A few lucky ones do have luxury of two day weekend or one and half day but for the most people it is just Friday.
Friday is not just another day of the week- it is the only day associated with the dreadful date " 13th" - all other days of the week have no such associations. Apparently this is one the ' English' beliefs - as quite a few non English ones consider ''13th" as lucky- the other ones are triple sixes (devils numbers) and triple one ( Nelson) . It is difficult to say what the origins of these beliefs are but some belief is better than no belief. These believes makes the culture richer more revered and off course sophiscated.
Leisurely wake some odd chores followed by weekly Biryani followed by siesta ( again ) and then the stroll on garden beach or park.
As the day ends to close - the dread of a long week of traffic- deadlines and long wait for the next Friday. A few lucky ones do have luxury of two day weekend or one and half day but for the most people it is just Friday.
Friday is not just another day of the week- it is the only day associated with the dreadful date " 13th" - all other days of the week have no such associations. Apparently this is one the ' English' beliefs - as quite a few non English ones consider ''13th" as lucky- the other ones are triple sixes (devils numbers) and triple one ( Nelson) . It is difficult to say what the origins of these beliefs are but some belief is better than no belief. These believes makes the culture richer more revered and off course sophiscated.
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