[Video] Piracy Mitigation Strategies - Piracy Off West African Coast

Published Sep 23, 2013 11:11 AM by The Maritime Executive

Maritime piracy remains a significant problem around the world, threatening the lives of seamen while carrying a price tag of about $6-7 billion a year. That sum includes both monies lost and stolen and that spent on international security efforts that have proven to be necessary to stanch where possible the challenge created by these maritime marauders.

Today West African piracy seems to be eclipsing that off the coast of Somalia, although the threat in the East remains real—Hollywood and other cinema centers helping to underscore just how bad the threat was, and could be again if attention wanes on the Gulf of Aden. In June, the annual Human Cost of Maritime Piracy report underscored the fact that more seafarers were attacked in West African waters than off Somalia’s coast in 2012. Amidst this rise in piracy and armed robbery—31 incidents as of early August, including four hijackings— the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) underscores the surge in kidnappings at sea, with a wide range of types of vessels being targeted.

Maritime TV and Piracy Daily webcasted this panel with four expert analysts of a dangerous situation that maritime owners, operators, and crew are all seeking to better understand as they guard against being the next victims.

Guest Panelists include:

Captain Pottengal Mukundanis Director of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB)

Robert M. Gauvin is the Executive Director of Piracy Policy in the Office of Vessel Activities at the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Mr. Gauvin is responsible for long-range projects of national and international concerns involving U.S. and foreign vessel commercial operations.

Dr. John A.C. Cartner is the author of the invaluable work of reference, The International Law of the Shipmaster. He practices maritime and international law in Washington, D.C. and London.

Captain William H. Watson is the president of AdvanFort International, a Private Maritime Security Company. He also serves on the Maritime Working Group steering committee of the U.S. State Department's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) and is a member of Oceans Beyond Piracy Working Group.

Maritime TV, the maritime industry’s Internet TV channel is producing together with Piracy Daily, a live, interactive 10-part webcast series addressing international piracy,“Piracy Mitigation Strategies – A Video Webcast Series” from December 2012 - December 2013. The series is produced live from the studios of Maritime TV near Washington D.C. in addition to other venues.