Pirates Target Chemical Tanker

Pirates Target Chemical Tanker

Introduction

Gunfire recently erupted off the coast of Somalia when a chemical tanker came under pirate attack in international waters. This incident serves as a stark reminder to shipowners and port stakeholders that piracy remains a persistent threat in key maritime corridors.

Industry context

While global piracy trends have declined overall, recent Somali incidents reflect a resurgence of opportunistic attacks, especially on high-value or hazardous cargo. For maritime operators, this necessitates renewed compliance with ISPS standards, enhanced routing risk assessments, and elevated threat monitoring. The attack underscores the compound risk: beyond crew safety, the environmental and commercial ramifications of tampered chemical cargo are immense.

Practical measures

• Deploy professionally trained, armed security personnel when transiting high-risk waters.
• Implement 24/7 watchkeeping protocols and enhanced lookouts during sensitive transits.
• Conduct anti-piracy drills to reinforce crew response capabilities under threat conditions.
• Utilise real-time maritime intelligence for threat-led route planning and diversion strategies.
• Review and update shipboard ISPS-compliant procedures regularly to reflect evolving threats.

Further resources

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Source

Original article: Splash247

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Prepared by MS Security Group — experts in vessel protection, anti-piracy, and counter-narcotics operations.