Bulk carriers continue to feature heavily among the vessels attacked by pirates, most
notably in the Gulf of Aden, southern Red Sea and off the Somali coast, according to the
latest figures from the International Maritime Bureau.
Forty-eight bulk carrier attacks were recorded in 2008, second only to container
ships (49 incidents) as the most attacked ship type.
In the first six months of this year, however, it would seem that the general
problem of piracy is deteriorating and that bulk carriers and their crews are increasingly
the victims. Bulk carriers were attacked a staggering 64 times in the first half of 2009,
up from 14 at the half way point in 2008. At 39 attacks, tankers and chemical/product
carriers were the next most attacked vessel in the first half of
this year.
Notable attacks this year have included the hijacking of the
Malta-flagged Saldanhaon 22 February. All 22 crew were
taken hostage and the vessel was sailed to Eyl in Somalia. The
IMB reported that crew and vessel were released on 25 April.
“It is believed that a ransom was paid to secure the release”
commented the IMB.
A number of other bulkers and crew have been released
following the payment of ransoms, but there remain bulk
carriers and crew held in Somalia as hostages. More than 20
Filipino crew members of hijacked bulk carrier Irene E.M.
which was seized on 13 April in the Gulf of Aden are still
being held by Somali pirates and are understood to have very
little food and water supplies. The victims and their families
recently appealed to the Filipino government to secure help
from the international community to rescue the seamen.
At Intercargo, Lomas said owners should follow IMO
guidelines and industry advice. “Bulkers are slow which makes
them vulnerable,” he said. “We are very pleased with what
the authorities are doing to protect vessels. There’s good
co-ordination and some bulk carriers have been very
fortunate there were warships in attendance.”
The IMB said there were a number of tracking devices on
the market which used Inmarsat or other satellite systems
and recently endorsed ShipLoc, which provides a precise
location of a vessel at regular intervals.
The IMB has also backed ‘Secure-Ship’, a non-lethal
electrifying fence which surrounds the whole ship which the
IMB said deters boarders.
Captain Roberto Zanca, operations manager at Seaarland
Shipping Management based in the Netherlands, told DCI that
the growing attacks on bulk carriers could have insurance
cost implications. “The situation has, and is, affecting voyage
costs in term of insurance costs,” he said. “Aside from the
potential right for an owner to refuse transiting the Gulf of
Aden, which surely would affect the freight costs of a cargo
which would arrive at its destination via the Cape which
would take longer and involve higher bunker costs, there is
presently a significant increase of costs in relation to the
insurance on the ship passing the Gulf of Aden.
“The rate of extra premium payable to the insurer in
order to pass through a piracy prone area is strictly related
to the risk involved, mainly for the crew, ship and her cargo. In
light of the actual situation, such rates are almost on the
highest level and, depending on the insurance company and
the type of insurance established, may vary from 0.025% to
0.30 % of the ship's value.
“Such costs are normally absorbed by charterers and in
the end by shippers who incorporate it into the commodity
cost. Some additional insurance costs might also be allocated
to the ship owner in the event that a Kidnap and Ransom
insurance is opened for the passage through the Gulf of
Aden.” The Irene E.M.