PIRATE ATTACKS DRILL ASSUMPTION -DEMO PART 4

[１３] Coping with pirate attacks when the ship is at anchor

(Assumption)

Discover pirates with firearms and other weapons are climbing the anchor chain

when the ship is at anchor off a port, report to the bridge at once and escape

inside the ship.

※ As regards ships moored at berths, pirates will usually take flight after they

have been detected, since security authority will in no time attempt to take

them into custody once reports have been made.

※ If pirates are carrying firearms and other weapons, however, overaggressive

countermeasures can only result in making the situation more dangerous.

※ When encountering pirates, the first step is to ensure your own safety. This

accomplished, briefly report the situation to the watchkeeper or others who

can contact with people outside. They should give priority to reporting it to

the coast guard authorities and inform all crew as soon as possible.

※ Immediately after all these measures are taken, issue audio, illumination

and other possible warnings to the pirates, such as sounding a blast, raising

the alarm, and turning on lights, among others.

＜Drill scenario＞

Crew on duty on deck ⇒ (Contact the bridge with a transceiver.)

“Three pirates with firearms have boarded this

ship from the bow. They are at the bow.” “I

will escape inside the ship.”

Crew on duty at the bridge ⇒ (Raise the alarm onboard the ship, and

make voice announcement.)

“Three armed pirates are at the bow. All crew

come up to the bridge. Do not go outside.”

(to the master) “I will report to coast guard

authority.”

(Contact the coast guard authority by radio.)

“Present position latitude XXX degrees XXX

minutes north, longitude XXX degrees and

XXX minutes east. This is M/V XXX at anchor

off XXX port. Armed pirates have intruded

the ship. We request assistance.” (just

procedures only) (Being aware that the pirates

could shoot, turn all deck lights on and sound a

blast, keep low, protect yourself by taking

shelter as much as possible.)

Master ⇒ “Monitor the surroundings, boat movements.”

Watchofficer ⇒ (monitoring the radar) “The small boat is heading north.”

Master ⇒ “We will wait and see what happens.”

(Few minutes passed.)

Master ⇒ “All crew wear protective gears. Organize yourselves in

groups to search the inside and outside of the ship.” (just

procedures only)

Each group ⇒ “We cannot locate any person either inside or outside the

ship. Everything is normal.”

Master ⇒ “Drill is over.”

[１４] Confirming stations to deter pirates from boarding (simplified drills)

(Assumption)

Assuming that the alarm has been raised onboard the ship, station crew so that

they can confirm their designated positions and duties with no specific

instruction being made.

※ Inform in advance of all crew but the watchkeeper will participate in this

drill and instructed them where to assemble.

＜Drill scenario＞

Master ⇒ (Raise the alarm onboard the ship.) “This is a drill.

Assume that a boat, which could be pirates, is approaching.

All crew go to your stations as designated.” (Suppose

the crew are to assemble on the bridge, and confirm that

the crew have assembled there to some extent.)

Master ⇒ “Declare your station, role and place where you are

assigned to lock.”

Crew 1 ⇒ “I am in charge of the engine room and operation of

emergency fire pumps, and I am assigned to check locks

on upper deck, starboard side and on the stern.”

Crew 2 ⇒ “I am in charge of the stern deck and discharging of water,

and I am assigned to check locks on the boat deck on the

starboard side in case escape into the ship becomes

necessary.” (Have other crew recite their stations, roles

and duties, etc.)

Master ⇒ “Later, assemble by position unit, confirm location of

equipment and machinery in about 10 minutes. After that,

dismiss accordingly, and drill will be over.”

Master ⇒ (Make an onboard announcement in 10 minutes.)

“Drill is over. All crew return to your regular stations.”

※ It is necessary for each ship to assign basic stations and roles to crew in

advance, as is the case with general emergency operations.

[１５] Raising alarms verbally onboard ship

(Assumption)

For future reference, carry out this drill to gauge how well warnings and

messages from the bridge can be heard in noisy operational stations and

quarters.

※ Dispatch crew to their respective designated positions (including living

quarters) where they are usually stationed under normal operation of the ship.

(In preparation for the drill, select positions in advance, and assign them to

crew.) Identify which position has difficulty receiving warnings and

messages.

※ Adjust the volume of the warning system so that the most appropriate

volume (a volume that can be heard throughout the ship) can be determined.

※ It cannot be denied that some crew make good announcements and others

do not. In carrying out this drill, choose a crew whose normal speech can be

easily understood as an announcer.

＜Drill scenario＞

Master ⇒ “We will carry out a drill for sending warning messages

onboard this ship. All crew go to designated positions.”

(a few minutes later)

Watchofficer ⇒ (Raise the alarm onboard ship.) (in a normal volume)

“This is a drill. Pirates have boarded from the stern on the

starboard side.” (Repeat twice.)

(Raise the alarm onboard ship.) (in just a little higher volume)

“This is a drill. Pirates have entered XXX. (Repeat twice.)

(※ Make these announcements at a volume and tone

similar to the first one. Do not make them louder on

purpose.) (Raise the alarm at a still lower volume.) (Raise

the alarm onboard ship.) (with volume a little more high, but

maintain similar tone) “This is a drill. There are three pirates.

They have knives.” (Repeat twice.) (a few moments later)

Master ⇒ “Drill is over. Return to normal positions. All crew but

watchkeeper to come to room XXX.”

※ When all crew have assembled, listen to their opinions on the quality of the

warning from each place, and determine how to convey a warning to positions

where it is difficult to hear.

※ As for the crew on duty, request them to assemble after their duties and

listen to their opinions on the warning announcement. At the same time, make

a brief report about the results of the drill on the ship bulletin board to call

their attention.

※ At the bridge, based on the results of the drill, mark the position of the most

appropriate volume for making a warning announcement, and inform the crew

about it for emergency purposes.

[１６] Preparing anti-piracy equipment in advance

(Assumption)

Carry out this drill for setting up and using equipment and machinery, among

other items, in advance when navigating waters where piracy often occurs.

※ Equipment which requires certain procedures will not be properly prepared

unless such exercises are carried out on a daily basis. Such equipment tends to

be placed in storage and left unused.

If this is the case, ships cannot make the most of their equipment. It is

necessary then, to identify such equipment in your ship and to let crew

accustomed to handling it without reading instruction manuals, etc. each time.

Keep in mind that if you do not make frequent use of equipment, you will

lose your ability to apply it effectively. Therefore, try to utilize the equipment

installed on your ship as often as possible.

Following are examples of such equipment.

○ Tension sensors

Tension sensor-type devices are among the most popular movable anti-piracy

equipment. When pirates attach a rope or a hook to a ship in attempts to board it,

taut wires strung around the ship will detect the tension generated by the

rope/hook, activating a sensor to raise the alarm.

○ Secure-Ship

“Secure-Ship” is an electric fence developed by the IMB that surrounds the

deck of a ship. It generates a high-voltage shock that, while not powerful enough

to kill or wound intruders, will help to deter boarding attempts.

○ Portable searchlights

Portable searchlights are among the items that ships carry that should be

utilized more effectively. Make full use of portable searchlights if the ship is

equipped with them.

On the other hand, devices that are comparatively easy to set are followings as

such.

○ Scarecrows

Fixing life-size dolls at the handrails or at other locations may convince

pirates that crews are on alert if seen from a distance. This is intended as a

deterrent against pirates.

＜Drill for setting scarecrows＞

Make scarecrows look like crew as much as possible, dress them up and set

them firmly where they can be seen from a distance.

○ Rat guard

Build walls using wooden boards or metal plates at the top of anchor chains

and hawsers (for when a ship is at anchor) and outer passages and stairways to

the bridge (for when it is navigating) to shut off access routes and so that the

intruders may not climb onto the deck or enter into the ship easily.

＜Drill for setting rat guard walls＞

Crew should understand where to set up “rat guard” walls to make them

function most effectively. They should also learn how to set them and have a

clear understanding of their effectiveness.

They should also know where to stow “rat guard” walls when they are not in

use and how long it takes to set them.

As for ships that do not carry “rat guard” walls, it may be a good idea to

create “rat guard” systems with appropriate materials, such as wooden boards, to

make access more difficult.

[１７] Handling warning functions of GMDSS related-equipment (No.1)

(Assumption)

Assuming that the ship is under a sudden attack by pirates. Crew managed to

escape send a distress signal by EPIRB.

※ Assemble at the place where the EPIRB is located so as to confirm its

location. Have an instructor teach all the crew how to dispatch a distress

signal in order to be ready for emergency, including pirate attacks.

※ As it is prohibited to transmit an EPIRB signal on a trial basis, ensure that a

signal is not sent by mistake during this drill.

 ...CONTD