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FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO MARITIME SECURITY COLLECTIVE
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//SCCG// 0717
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ5-E//
RHMFISS/HQ US PACOM HONOLULU HI//J45/J56CG//
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RHMFISS/COGARD AMR NEW YORK NY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 050709 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT KHLS ASEC KOMC MARR PARM PREL PHSA
SUBJECT: USG HOSTED PIRACY MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY 
 
REF: STATE 45331 
 
¶1. This is an information cable. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶2. The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) hosted a meeting of the 
maritime community, key international partners and the U.S. 
government on April 23.  This meeting was a follow-up to previous 
reach-out sessions to engage the shipping community and interested 
local embassy staff to discuss piracy off the east coast of Africa. 
Representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOT) - 
including Secretary LaHood and MarAd, Navy, State, the Senate 
Committee on Commerce staff, and Coast Guard, in addition to industry 
and labor, were present. Also in attendance were representatives from 
the embassies of the Philippines, Portugal, Japan, Germany, and 
Denmark. 
 
¶3. Acting Deputy Maritime Administrator, James Caponiti, led the 
discussion, with welcoming remarks from Secretary of Transportation 
Ray LaHood. The USG solicited industry's views over the current 
security situation in the region and best management practices (BMP), 
and called for increased cooperation and information sharing between 
industry and communication posts in the region. It was acknowledged 
that embarked security teams may be placed on US-flag vessels 
carrying USG cargo, but companies were encouraged to take their own 
preventative security measures. At the time of the meeting, no 
official USG position had been formulated on the use of on-board 
armed security forces. 
 
¶4. NB:  Since then, the USG has decided to endorse the following 
statement for discussions on the issue: 
 
We recognize that in appropriate circumstances, on certain vessels 
determined to be at high risk, properly screened and certified 
third-party security providers with firearms, operating in compliance 
with applicable coastal, port and flag state laws, can be an 
effective deterrent to pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa. 
 
The USG is examining the options of recommending, or possibly 
directing, U.S.-flagged vessels to use armed security teams while 
transiting near Somalia.  Some U.S.-flagged owners and operators have 
used armed security teams while transiting near Somalia and have 
found it to be an effective anti-piracy tool.  END SUMMARY 
 
------------------------------- 
Best Management Practices (BMP) 
------------------------------- 
 
¶5. Mr. Caponiti expressed concern with a report from industry groups 
indicating that up to 30% of ship operators were either not receiving 
information about or implementing defensive measures in the region. 
Owners and operators were encouraged to take steps they see as 
necessary to protect their vessels and crews. The USG will play an 
active leadership role in the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast 
of Somalia, with the next meeting of Working Group 1 (Military) held 
on May 7 and 8 in London. It was expressed that Working Group 3 
(Industry Self-Awareness/Outreach, led by US) should consider further 
interface with WG 1 on matters of communication and coordination, and 
consider possible re-evaluation or updating industry's best 
management practices (BMPs). Companies and unions could both 
contribute lessons learned to develop recommendations on how best to 
react during the event of an attack. In the meantime, companies were 
again encouraged to review their security practices and capabilities 
in accordance with international and US Coast Guard requirements 
before entering the area. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
Embarked Security Teams, Armed Protection 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. The U.S. Transportation Command met with carriers and labor on 
 
STATE 00050709  002 OF 003 
 
 
April 22 to discuss the use of embarked security teams (EST). Mr. 
Caponiti said the USG is "inclined to" place EST on any U.S. flagged 
ship in the region carrying USG cargo and that it may be necessary 
for companies to take measures to provide for their own protection, 
but reiterated later that this was still an ongoing discussion. There 
was no official USG recommendation on the use of EST or other armed 
on-board security at the meeting. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Security Situation Overview and Recommendations 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶7. David Pearl and Charlie Dragonette from the National Maritime 
Intelligence Center provided a briefing on the latest security 
developments off the Horn of Africa. Pirate attacks are occurring 
progressively farther from the coast, with the furthest confirmed 
report taking place 675 nautical miles off shore. Attacks are also 
taking place further south, with the furthest being about 500 
nautical miles south of the Somalia-Kenya maritime border. The 
situation is being exacerbated by favorable (for the pirates) ocean 
currents and weather conditions this time of year. Pirates can ride 
currents for substantial distances out into shipping lanes. 
 
¶8. There is no evidence that pirates are using Automated 
Identification Systems (AIS) to target specific vessels. Most vessels 
attacked will have at least commercial radar, and most will have AIS. 
It is conceivable that pirates might be able to use these tools to 
their advantage to target other ships, although to date they have 
demonstrated very rudimentary navigational knowledge and skills. 
 
¶9. In protecting vessels in the region, USG is concerned primarily 
with their vulnerabilities. The most vulnerable vessels are "low and 
slow," which are easier for pirates to board. Before the Alabama 
attack "slow" was considered below 15 knots, however, Captain 
Phillips testified later that the ship was traveling at 18 knots at 
the time. Under such operating conditions, pirates would have to have 
developed increasing navigational skills. While much has been 
discussed in the press about the value of evasive maneuvers, the 
National Maritime Intelligence Center recommends only that vessels 
being pursued turn into oncoming weather. After that additional 
maneuvers decrease a vessel's speed and may make them more 
vulnerable. 
 
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Anti-Piracy Assistance Teams 
---------------------------- 
 
¶10. MarAd, Navy's Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the 
Transcom provide security assessments and recommendations during 
on-site visits to U.S.-flag vessels, at the request of a company. The 
assistance teams look for vulnerabilities, then debrief the ship's 
master and write a report for the company. When possible, the 
company's security and operations officers should be present, as 
well. Assistance teams also provide the most current BMPs and a 
checklist that allows companies to perform self-assessments. To date 
seven ship visits have been conducted, with positive response from 
industry. A maritime labor representative at the meeting suggested 
that this outreach be extended to union schools. 
 
------------------------ 
Enhanced Vessel Tracking 
------------------------ 
 
¶11. Lennis Fludd of MARAD and the Office of Global Maritime 
Situational Awareness (GMSA) said industry could help USG improve its 
capacity to develop further lead times for vessel tracking as another 
measure to prevent attacks. He asked industry to consider sharing 
with USG certain details including advance information on a vessel's 
schedule and position, cargo type, the presence of an on-board 
security team, in addition to basic data. Acknowledging the 
potentially sensitive nature of this information, he assured 
companies that it would not be shared with their competitors. While 
all of this information is already shared with the EU's Maritime 
Security Centre (Horn of Africa) [MSCHOA], USG needs this information 
from US-flagged vessels. He suggested it would likely be helpful for 
other governments to request the same information from their 
respective fleets.  Since the meeting MARAD and the US Coast Guard 
have obtained additional information on this activity. 
 
STATE 00050709  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶12. Industry compliance on new Long Range Identification and Tracking 
(LRIT) requirements will help to improve tracking efficiency, as 
well. Companies have until the end of the year to comply with new 
requirements, but he urged them to become compliant as soon as 
possible. LRIT systems continue to broadcast a signal even when AIS 
is turned off, as is often the case during a pirate attack. Greater 
coordination between the US and EU on LRIT was called for by industry 
representatives.  Since the meeting it has been recognized that the 
most significant challenge remaining with LRIT is the establishment 
of national and regional data centers for flag states.  Note that the 
US data center is in operation and that the US has agreed to 
temporarily host the international data exchange. 
 
 
-------------------------- 
On-Board Security Measures 
-------------------------- 
 
¶13. Mr. Caponiti said that USG will not change its policy of refusing 
to negotiate ransoms with pirates. He repeated to industry 
representatives that the role of armed security forces on board 
vessels is still being deliberated internally and that a USG position 
on the issue for the Contact Group ws being discussed. 
 
¶14. Eric Ebeling of American Roll-On Roll-Off Carriers discussed 
security measures his company has taken, saying that training for 
officers and crew was essential. He recommended that vessels keep 
their fire hoses charged and have potential defensive tools such as 
scrap metal, barbed wire aprons, flares and long range acoustic 
devices (LRADs) ready for use when transiting the region. LRADs, he 
said, are particularly useful since they can be used to call for help 
as well as to temporarily disable attackers. His company's vessels 
now carry two LRADs on board its vessels operating in the region. 
 
¶15. Questions or comments about issues raised during the meeting may 
be addressed to Greg Hall of the Maritime Administration 
(Greg.Hall@dot.gov).  State Department contacts are Greg O'Brien 
(O'BrienGJ@state.gov) and Doris R. Haywood (haywooddr@state.gov). 
CLINTON