Piracy has always been a serious threat and challenge to the shipping industry. Ship owners many times have to plough down tons of ransom money to save the ships ands the sailors. Out of 210 piracy-related incidents all over the world in 2012, 70 incidents were reported from off the Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden and, as of now, Somali pirates have been successful in capturing 11 vessels and 188 sailors as hostage. There are reports that say that the hostages have been ill-treated. In fact, many ship owners have resorted to employing private armed guards to protect their ships and their business as well .Of course, this move is not free from dangers. At times armed encounters to ward off piracy attacks have landed the ship-owners in greater and serious problems. The incidence of Enrica Lexie, the Italian vessel, can be recalled here. The two Italian marines on board the Italian ship shot down two fishermen off Kerala coast last February and they were arrested on the charge of murder. The crisis led Italy and India into a diplomatic friction. Earlier, the Shipping Minister, Mr.G.K.Vasan had informed the Parliament about the proposal to deploy armed guards on board the merchant vessels to protect them from piracy attacks. Now, the Shipping Ministry has initiated a pilot project. According to the project, the Central Industrial Security Force will be responsible for the security of the Indian merchant vessels. A government source said: “CISF will train 100 of its special commandos who will man Indian merchant ships and protect them against pirate attacks at sea”. The CISF personnel will be provided special weapons. India is yet to give formal legal provision for the presence of armed guards on ships carrying the Indian flag; however, the CISF will proceed with its pilot project. Already, CISF is holding responsibility for the protection of 14 seaports in the country. According to Mr.Hemendra Singh, CISF spokesperson, 6900 personnel have been deployed across the country in all these ports.
Monday, 17 September 2012
Indian Commandos to guard Indian merchant vessels
Piracy has always been a serious threat and challenge to the shipping industry. Ship owners many times have to plough down tons of ransom money to save the ships ands the sailors. Out of 210 piracy-related incidents all over the world in 2012, 70 incidents were reported from off the Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden and, as of now, Somali pirates have been successful in capturing 11 vessels and 188 sailors as hostage. There are reports that say that the hostages have been ill-treated. In fact, many ship owners have resorted to employing private armed guards to protect their ships and their business as well .Of course, this move is not free from dangers. At times armed encounters to ward off piracy attacks have landed the ship-owners in greater and serious problems. The incidence of Enrica Lexie, the Italian vessel, can be recalled here. The two Italian marines on board the Italian ship shot down two fishermen off Kerala coast last February and they were arrested on the charge of murder. The crisis led Italy and India into a diplomatic friction. Earlier, the Shipping Minister, Mr.G.K.Vasan had informed the Parliament about the proposal to deploy armed guards on board the merchant vessels to protect them from piracy attacks. Now, the Shipping Ministry has initiated a pilot project. According to the project, the Central Industrial Security Force will be responsible for the security of the Indian merchant vessels. A government source said: “CISF will train 100 of its special commandos who will man Indian merchant ships and protect them against pirate attacks at sea”. The CISF personnel will be provided special weapons. India is yet to give formal legal provision for the presence of armed guards on ships carrying the Indian flag; however, the CISF will proceed with its pilot project. Already, CISF is holding responsibility for the protection of 14 seaports in the country. According to Mr.Hemendra Singh, CISF spokesperson, 6900 personnel have been deployed across the country in all these ports.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment