Conference topics
Pirate attacks show no signs of stopping and pirate ransom demands are growing.
What should you be doing to protect your crew, cargo and ship? How should you prepare your vessel and train your crew before entering pirate- infested waters? Where else are pirates operating besides the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia?
A recent U.S. Coast Guard's Maritime Security Directive directs U.S.-flag ship operators to use armed and unarmed security teams to protect their merchant ships when operating in pirate "hot spots." Some U.S. legislators have even gone so far as to introduce legislation that would give immunity to seafarers who might wound or kill a pirate in an attack.
While the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee urges flag states to strongly discourage seafarers from carrying weapons, it advises individual fl ag states and governments to decide whether armed security should be allowed onboard.
These are some of the issues that will be discussed, and debated during an intensive one-day conference called Countering Pirates on Sept. 16 at the Washington Marriott in Washington, D.C., produced by Marine Log.
During the event, you'll have the opportunity to exchange ideas, gather intelligence, discussion solutions and hear practical measures to counter piracy.
