What does it cost to secure a ship against pirates? An estimated $1,500-2,500 per day per person (depending on who one uses and the number of security team members), and the shipowner has to pay for each ship on each transit. For an escort vessel, $20,000 or more per day. The expense could be dizzying for owners with a number of ships to protect, but it need not be so. James Canning Sr, president of FTS-Maritime Security, has an idea that could dramatically reduce the costs.
Shipowners, including small operators who normally cannot armed ship guards or escort vessels, are to form a kind of consortium with each member paying an annual fee for the security services. Mr Canning says he took the concept from the gated communities in the US, where security costs are shared by individual households. He explains how FTS-Maritime Security plans to carry out the scheme:
‘We use at least three vessels, one on standby in the Red Sea, another near Sir Lanka and one near the Horn of Africa. For (shipowners) needing or wanting teams on their vessel, the teams will get on one vessel and disembark when they reach the other vessel. For vessels that cannot have teams or would rather have the escort, the escort vessel handles those. As the number of companies who join the association increases, so shall our number of escort vessels. Shipping companies will not have to pay a separate fee for each transit or for each vessel as our personnel will be paid a normal salary and will be stationed on our vessels in the area anyway.’
The set-up will most certainly require some unity amongst shipowners and a willingness to cooperate with one another. We see such cooperative effort in the pooling of assets by shipping lines for long-haul and feeder services. Why can’t it be extended to the area of maritime security? The truth is that armed private maritime security, together with the allied naval forces, has become the lynchpin of the campaign against piracy. To think otherwise is sheer naivete. But security always costs money. Mr Canning has offered a practical solution. ~Barista Uno
Peter, full information on this is on the web page. The concept is to use both guards and escorts. With having a vessel in the Red Sea and one near Sir Lanka, clients could receive armed teams from one vessel and those teams would be able to disembark when they reach the other vessel. With having the third vessel near the Horn of Africe, vessels wanting escorts would be able to receive those escorts. Companies who have joined the association would only need to contact the operations center when they are in need of an escort or armed team. As more companies join, more vessels and teams could be placed into service. Right now we are exploring this to see if there is enough interest in having service at an reasonable cost.
James Canning
President
FTS Maritime Security
Mr. Canning has a sound concept. I hope managers and owners of shipping companies will take advantage of this concept. It is cost effective and will save all shipping companies money on security and insurance costs.
Be interested to see how this concept actually works. If you have several vessels in the convoy, are they departing from the same port? If so, how long is any one particular vessel (shipping company) wait for the others to RV with them ? Time is money. Or in the case of RVing with the security vessel, for the convoy escort, what is the cutoff time for late arrivals?
What is the coverage of the security (escort vessel ) on the convoy? If a vessel is under attack, being boarded, does the escort vessel engage, which will result in rounds being fired at the client vessel? What happens if one of the scheme members is delayed by a day or 2, I can’t see the other vessels willing to wait too long.
The answer is till the same, boots on the ground (or in this case on the deck )!
Mr. Grimes
These are some good questions.
First I would like to point out that this is still in the Market Study Stage. Before we place vessels and crews in this program we need to ensure that there are enough agencies willing to join an association willing to utilize the service and justify the cost.
The number of vessels to be placed will be determined by the number of companies in the association, but a minimum of three would be needed for putting the concept into operation.
We have ports that we can operate from as far as fueling and such; however the vessels located in the Red Sea and near Sir Lanka would be pretty much in stationary positions so that they could meet with and transfer security teams on and off the clients’ vessel.
The vessel located near the Horn of Africa would be the one utilized for conducting escorts and also transferring personnel when needed.
For vessels requiring security teams, we would only need a few days’ notice so that they could RV with the vessel, for any vessel requiring an escort; we would like at least several days’ notice to ensure the escort is in position. That way there is no wait time for the client.
The two stationary vessels would also be able to conduct short escorts while waiting for the main escort vessel if need be.
Again, as the number of clients joins the association, we would increase the number of vessels to meet with demand.
You also asked how long any one particular vessel, (shipping company) would have to wait for the others to RV with them?
I assume your speaking of convoys. Convoys are something that could be done and has been done in the past. For any convoy, a time and date would have to be set and all companies there at that time would be under convoy, for those who do not make the convoy, we would have to use a security team.
As you stated, yes Time is Money, this is designed to cut time and therefore cut cost.
For any convoys or lone escorts, the goal is for the escort vessel to be at location prior to the client’s vessel.
You asked:
What is the coverage of the security (escort vessel) on the convoy? If a vessel is under attack, being boarded, does the escort vessel engage, which will result in rounds being fired at the client vessel?
Our escort vessels are to be equipped with fast boats (RIB’s) and experienced teams to man them. In any case of an escort or convoy the RIB’s are to be on stand-by. If and when an unknown vessel is spotted either on radar or visual, the RIB’s are to be deployed.
Under our SOP, it is the duty of the escort vessel and RIB’s to place themselves between the unknown vessel and the clients vessel.
It is also in our SOP, the unknown vessel will be given a warning that it is approaching a vessel or vessels under the protection of anti-piracy escorts. If the vessel disregards this warning then any and all actions will be taken to keep the vessel from attacking or boarding the client’s vessel. This action is authorized under US Coast Guard regulations for US Flagged vessels and it is also authorized under the International Code of Conduct which FTS is a signatory of.
So yes, we will engage and we will keep them from being able to fire on the client’s vessel.
You asked: What happens if one of the scheme members is delayed by a day or 2? I can’t see the other vessels willing to wait too long.
If a member of the security association cannot make the departure time for a convoy and they require security, we will ensure that a security team is placed on their vessel for protection.
If you would like to review our SOP please feel free to contact me at jcanning@ftsmarsec.com
You will have to sign a non-discloser form but I will provide you with a copy.
James M Canning
President
FTS Maritime Security Inc.
http://www.ftsmarsec.com
I spent allot of time chasing pirates everyday in the Gulf of Aden when I was in the Canadian Navy. I would love to go back and help ships navigate through risky areas using all that I have learned as well as some pretty impressive non-lethal weapons that worked for us. I have a passport and am willing to fly on last minute notice.
As for what works best. The convoy method with a Warship escort is the best and most expensive way from my experience.