Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
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Champion's Point of View by CAPT PAUL THOMAS Acting Director, U.S. Coast Guard Prevention Policy Maritime piracy is a violent criminal enterprise that operates on a distinct business model. The safety and security of vessels and crews depend on the disruption of that model. There are proven methods and procedures that can interrupt the pirate operation, and the opportunity to thwart WKH SLUDWHV LV HTXDOO\ VKDUHG DPRQJ YHVVHO RZQHUV DQG RSHUDWRUV Á DJ VWDWHV DQG WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO community. In each of these areas, the Coast Guard is fully engaged and committed to the safety and security of mariners and vessels. The International Maritime Bureau reports that 49 vessels were successfully hijacked off the coast of Somalia in 2010—accounting for 92 percent of all ship seizures throughout the world that year. Additionally, pirates held more than 1,180 innocent mariners and seafarers as hostages that same year. While the number of attacks has increased, the success of those attacks has appreciably declined. The reduction in successful attacks can be attributed to the deterrent work of naval forces from around the world as well as the use of self-protection best management practices recommended by the shipping industry. The U.S. response to piracy is an issue of government-wide concern. As the lead federal agency for maritime safety and security, the Coast Guard works closely through the U.S. interagency to form a diverse counter-piracy action team. The team consists of representatives from more than 14 government agencies, including the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, Transportation, and Homeland Security. Meetings are held monthly as well as on an "as-needed" basis to discuss the FXUUHQW VWDWH RI SLUDF\ DQG LWV LPSDFW 7KH GHYHORSPHQW DQG WKH À YH XSGDWHV WR 0DULWLPH 6HFX rity Directive 104-6 were all coordinated through this interagency team. Additional guidance DOVR EHQHÀ WV IURP WKLV LQWHUDJHQF\ DSSURDFK 7KH &RDVW; *XDUG SXEOLVKHV SRUW VHFXULW\ DGYLVRULHV (PSAs), which provide supplemental guidance to ensure compliance with MARSEC 104-6. These PSAs are often developed and vetted via the interagency counter-piracy action team and provide LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ WRSLFV LQFOXGLQJ VHOI GHIHQVH DQG GHIHQVH RI RWKHUV À UHDUPV ODZV DQG ZHDSRQV carriage issues; minimum guidelines for security personnel; and post-attack coordination. Working with the maritime industry, the Coast Guard has hosted joint agency roundtable meet- ings, providing an open forum for the exchange of information and ideas. This cooperation and interaction helps to maintain maritime domain awareness and compliance with MARSEC Direc- WLYH IRU 8 6 Á DJ FRPPHUFLDO YHVVHOV RSHUDWLQJ LQ WKH +RUQ RI $IULFD UHJLRQ :KLOH WKH 8 6 Á HHW PDNHV XS RQO\ D IUDFWLRQ RI WKH WRWDO YHVVHOV WKDW RSHUDWH LQ WKH UHJLRQ ZH believe that our counter-piracy program has been very successful and encourage other nations to avail themselves of the work we have accomplished. All Coast Guard counter-piracy policy and guidance is posted on our CG Homeport website and is available to all stakeholders. In this issue of Proceedings \RX ZLOO À QG DUWLFOHV VSDQQLQJ WKH IXOO VSHFWUXP RI DFWLYLWLHV WR GHWHU prevent, respond to, prosecute, and recover from pirate attacks. The pirate attack on the S/V Quest DQG WKH KRUULÀ F PXUGHU RI 8 6 FLWL]HQV 6FRWW DQG -HDQ $GDP 3K\OOLV 0DFD\ DQG 5REHUW 5LJJOH are stark reminders that the scourge of maritime piracy requires swift and concerted efforts. The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. government are committed to deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy through prevention measures, response procedures, and prosecuting pirates in a court of justice. www.uscg.mil/proceedings Editorial Team Barbara Chiarizia Executive Editor Leslie C. Goodwin Art Director Sarah K. Webster Managing Editor Proceedings is published quarterly by the Coast Guard's Prevention Directorate, in the interest of safety at sea under the auspices of the Marine Safety & Security Council. Special permission for republication, either in whole or in part, except for copyrighted material, is not required, provided credit is given to Proceed- ings. The articles contained in Proceed- ings are submitted by diverse public and private interests in the maritime community as a means to promote maritime safety and security. The views expressed by the authors do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Coast Guard or the Depart- ment of Homeland Security or repre- VHQW RI¿ FLDO SROLF\ Editorial Contact HQS-DG-NMCProceedings@ uscg.mil Editor, Proceedings Magazine U.S. Coast Guard 2100 2nd Street SW Stop 7681 Washington, D.C. 20593-7681 www.uscg.mil/proceedings 202-372-2316 Subscription Requests/ Changes Proceedings is free. Please include mailing label infor- mation when changing address. Subscriptions Proceedings Magazine U.S. Coast Guard Attn: Proceedings Magazine 2100 2nd Street SW Stop 7681 Washington, D.C. 20593-7681 www.uscg.mil/proceedings Spring 2012 Proceedings 5