Military protection ‘put together at speed’ is no solution to piracy

Using the armed forces to protect commercial ships creates new problems, Confitarma chief tells conference

DEPLOYING military personnel on board commercial vessels is a rushed solution and the Enrica Lexie incident proves it, according to Confitarma president Paolo d’Amico.

In a heartfelt opening address to the Shipping and the Law conference in Naples, Mr d’Amico said the biggest problem regarding piracy was the fact that decision-makers have not experienced the atrocity of a hijacking for themselves.

“People are so far away and we have to make them aware how tough it is for seafarers,� he said. “I have spoken to the Italian Ministry of Defence and said if we keep talking and don’t come to a conclusion then the two Italian vessels that have been hijacked will become four, then five, then six.�

Mr d’Amico said introducing military personnel on board commercial vessels brought with it a whole new set of problems.

“It was done in a rush and not well planned. One issue was any changeover of teams, as clearance to transit weapons from some coastal states had not been arranged. This meant teams were changing via ship-to-ship transfers in the middle of the ocean,� he said.

“The system works, but it is not as good as we would like it to be. It is more difficult for the military teams than for private contractors. Private maritime security companies have demonstrated that they can develop contracts and systems that work. I don’t know how they do it, but they do.�

A major problem for Italy, and for the wider shipping industry, is the issue of rules of engagement for PMSCs. “We are fighting for this, as it is imperative,� Mr d’Amico said. “The military system is far from perfect.�

In his address he said that the Enrica Lexie incident, over which two Italian marines have been held in India after the fatal shooting of two Indian fishermen, was the consequence of putting a system together at speed.

“There is no agreement across countries,� he said. “India is now considering the use of military personnel and the outcome of its decision will be very important to us as it is visiting the same problem. We must take this as an opportunity to understand and improve the system.�

Mr d’Amico said he believed that piracy was here to stay for a long time. “It is a tough challenge as it is moving out of the Indian Ocean and into West Africa,� he said.

“Operations are getting bigger and wider, but it is not the speed at which the rules are decided that is imperative.�

Original article can be found here