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Best Management Practices Industry-approved techniques to avoid, evade, and defend against piracy. by MR. GILES NOAKES %,0&2 &KLHI; 0DULWLPH 6HFXULW\ 2IÀFHU During 2008, the number of pirate attacks on mer- chant ships soared throughout the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, and within the wider North West Indian Ocean. The majority of attacks were ini- tially clustered around the northern side of the Gulf of Aden but quickly spread further off the east coast of Somalia. As the number of attacks grew, the maritime indus- try and other entities including the U.S. State Depart- ment and the United Nations searched for ways to counter this threat. BMP1 Using existing maritime industry guidance, maritime industry associations and other stakeholders created an early version of what is now coined "best manage- ment practices" or BMP to assist companies and ships in avoiding, deterring, and delaying pirate attacks. Concurrent to this effort, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), created pursuant to a United Nations Security Council resolution, held LWV ÀUVW PHHWLQJ LQ -DQXDU\ 6LQFH WKH PDULWLPH industry had been dealing with the problem for some considerable time and had many existing sources, BMP1 was drafted in time for the CGPCS meeting.1 On Jan. 15, the contact group praised the effort in its meeting report, "The CGPCS applauds the work of the maritime industry and the IMO to establish self-defense stan- dards for commercial vessels transiting the region. … Of note is the adoption by the world's leading ship- ping, cargo, and insurance organizations of a set of common best practices." 2 www.uscg.mil/proceedings Ongoing Industry Efforts ,Q WKH \HDUV VLQFH WKLV ÀUVW HIIRUW WKH PDULWLPH LQGXV- try has reviewed current practices, gathered lessons learned, and produced several updates. The current edition, the pocket-sized BMP4, was specifically designed with ship operators and seafarers in mind. Produced in consultation with interested stakehold- ers including the European Union Naval Force, the NATO Shipping Centre, and the United Kingdom Best Management Practices Maritime industry analysis of successful pirate attacks uncovered common vulnerabilities, including:  low speed,  low freeboard,  inadequate planning and procedures,  visibly low state of alert or lack of evident self- protective measures,  slow threat response. To counter these, best management practices include: ८ mounting watches, ८ maintaining good speed, ८ adding physical barriers, ८ keeping up to date with pirate activity. Spring 2012 Proceedings 19 Prevention