Jones Act Maritime Lawyer : Houston Jones Act & Maritime Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Arnold & Itkin Law Firm : Offshore Injury, Maritime Law : Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida

On the night of December 28, pirates attacked the Bahamas-registered product Tanker Gulf Coral as it steamed through Phillip Channel, Straights of Malacca and Singapore.

According to the incident report, Gulf Coral was approached under cover of darkness by approximately a half dozen small (less than 30’) unlit vessels. One after another, the vessels approached Gulf Coral‘s bow and tried to board. Gulf Coral sounded her security alarm and general alarm, and the crew mustered on the bridge and commenced anti-piracy measures. The master initiated evasive maneuvers while the crew lit the forward-facing deck lights, searchlights and an Aldis lamp. The crew had already taken the precaution of rigging fire hoses, the blast from which was directed at the pirates.

After 30 minutes of failing to board the tanked, the pirates aborted the attack and Gulf Coral continued their journey proceeding with extreme caution.

In 2009, there were a total of six pirate-related incidents occurring in the Phillip Channel. Of these, four were considered to be Category 2 (moderately significant) incidents. The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) advises ship masters to be alert and take precautionary measures when transiting the Philip Channel, especially during hours of darkness. The ReCAAP Information Sharing Center encourages ship masters, ship owners and ship operators to remain vigilant and to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery immediately after an actual or attempted attack to the nearest RCC, coastal or port State authorities, as appropriate.

Maritime Safety

The maritime industry has always been considered a high-risk occupation. The recent increase in piracy has only added to the problem. Maritime lawyers have led the fight in bringing this matter to the public’s attention and have been instrumental in forcing employers to take additional measures to protect maritime workers and seamen from the dangers of piracy.

As maritime lawyers, we applaud the vigilance of the Gulf Coral and the precautionary measures it took to ensure the safety of its crew.

If you have any questions regarding a maritime incident or have suffered a maritime injury, contact a maritime attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.

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Gangs of Somali pirates have turned their attention to American vessels with two attacks on our ships in April alone, but maritime companies have ruled out the option of arming their workers to deal with this deadly threat.

Representatives of shipping companies at a maritime conference in Singapore indicated that they are not keen on arming their workers with weapons to deter armed Somali pirates. These dangerous gangs are comprised of highly sophisticated criminals armed with modern automatic weapons, and their attacks have shown a strong bent of mind and careful planning. Currently, sailors navigating the waters in the Gulf of Aden are forced to prop mannequins dressed in military fatigues and holding fake weapons to fool pirates. Obviously, dummy military personnel have done little to ward off attacks by the gangs. Somali pirates have been attacking international vessels more frequently than ever before.

At the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, President Admiral Rick Guenon is calling for increased action to protect ships and crew from pirate attacks. These actions include arming the crew members of vessels and increasing the number of warships in pirate infested waters. However, arming maritime workers is a sticky issue the Coast Guard is not in favor of. According to Coast Guard representatives, maritime workers are not trained to handle weapons. They also worry about the risk of liability when workers are allowed to carry sophisticated weapons.

It is clear that propping mannequins on the sides of ships, using water hoses to remove ladders pirates use to board ships, and other antiquated measures are doing little, if anything, to deter these gangs. We are looking at an international maritime security problem and so far, there are very few answers that can help keep our sailors, deckhands, cruise ship crew, house keepers, stewards, and other maritime workers safe.

Maritime lawyers must get more involved in demanding a safer and more secure working environment for workers who are at risk of life and limb in these pirate infested waters.

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The FBI has limited experience in maritime security, but after the recent increase in threats posed to maritime workers and crew from pirates, the agency is building relationships with maritime companies in an effort to enhance its security programs.

The agency, from its Maritime Liaison office in Florida, is focusing on the commercial cruising industry, yacht and boating industry, cargo lines, and other maritime related industries. The intention is to increase the FBI's ability to gather intelligence. Cargo vessels and cruise ships, for instance, are much more likely to observe suspicious behavior and can report to the FBI, enabling the agency to take important steps in protecting maritime workers and our ports. The agency plans to develop a comprehensive maritime network that can receive information from vessel lines and other sources, and then use the information to ward off any threats. The agency has established maritime liaison officers at all its field offices that have connections to the maritime industry.

Specific activities that the Florida FBI Maritime Liaison Center has investigated include major security threats like:

• Hijacking
• Bomb threats to vessels
• Smuggling of weapons, explosives, and drugs

Also, the agency is monitoring suspicious activities, like photography and dubious purchases, like night vision equipment and underwater delivery systems. The agency is looking especially at such activities by people belonging to countries that have a history of threatening the U.S. In addition to these, the FBI is also investigating murders, assaults, suicide, and other matters that fall under maritime jurisdiction.

FBI Can Assist with Maritime Security Issues

With its reputation for efficiency and diligence, the FBI has a huge role to play in ensuring the security of maritime workers. Workers on cruise ships, cargo vessels, and crew members of yachts and luxury boats are at greater risk of danger on the seas than in previous decades. Years after 9/11, terrorism continues to be a threat to our country and maritime workers at sea are at an increased risk of dangers from such activities. The recent pirate attacks on American vessels have also increased the need for top level federal assistance for providing security to workers. 

As maritime lawyers, we believe such involvement of the country's top investigating agency is extremely important for the security of maritime workers.

If you have any questions regarding a maritime incident, contact a maritime attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.

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A cargo vessel that sailed from the Port of Houston and was attacked by Somali pirates, arrived at a Kenyan port with a U.S. Navy escort. Its 20-member maritime crew arrived safely and unharmed.

The ship, Liberty Sun, reached Mombassa last week. Last Wednesday, a gang of Somali pirates attacked the ship using rocket propelled grenades. The USS Bainbridge, which was carrying Captain Richard Phillips, the captain of the earlier hijacked Maersk Alabama, was called to help the crew of the Liberty Sun. However, by the time the Navy destroyer reached the area, the pilots had abandoned their plans. None of the crew members aboard the Liberty Sun were injured in the attacks, the vessel, however, sustained significant damage. 

The bold attack that came so soon after the dramatic assault on the Maersk Alabama is proof that piracy in the waters off the Somali Coast is not just alive and kicking, but more aggressive than ever. Three of the pilots who attacked the Alabama were killed and the fourth was arrested. Enraged pirates have threatened to show no mercy to maritime crews in any vessel they attack from now on. Those words must be taken seriously. After all, since the three Somali pirates were killed, another armed gunmen managed to attack four other ships. To maritime attorneys, who work closely with injured workers, it is clear that this is not a minor law and order problem, but a grave maritime security issue.

President Barack Obama announced his intention to wipe out piracy, and maritime authorities issued warnings to ships to be alert to the dangers off the Somali coast. Maritime workers are not generally trained to deal with pirate attacks. It is obvious that security procedures on these vessels need to be enhanced, so workers and crew members are able to protect themselves if the vessel is intercepted by pirates. So far, there are very few answers to the piracy problem.

Maritime Safety

Maritime companies, meanwhile, are trying to find a balance that can keep their vessels and maritime workers safe, but their options are expensive. Some companies, including AP Roller Maersk, have begun to reroute part of their fleet to avoid these pirate infested waters. Other companies have not been so quick to follow suit. The detour is expensive and with a global economic crisis hitting the maritime transport industry, companies are not willing to rack up costs by rerouting vessels.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a maritime accident an experienced maritime attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact a maritime injury attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP to answer questions about your case.

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As the captain of the cargo ship that was attacked by Somalian pirates was rescued, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) issued a special advisory warning to mariners and workers, explaining that they should be extremely vigilant while navigating the waters off the coast of Somali.

Last week's riveting hostage drama ended with Captain Richard Phillips' rescue; although, the pirates have now warned of revenge against American ships. The Maersk Alabama, a 17,000 ton cargo vessel, was hijacked by a group of pirates last Wednesday. The ship was loaded with relief supplies for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to help feed malnourished people in Somalia. The pirates were armed with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades, but the 20-member maritime crew managed to negotiate their release. The crew included Colin Wright, a Galveston resident. The captain, Richard Philips, gave himself up as a hostage to the pirates in return for the safe release of his crew members. The ship safely returned to port and after a five day standoff, Phillips too was rescued when snipers killed three of the pirates and took one into custody.

Meanwhile, CMF issued a special maritime advisory, pointing out the pirate attacks that have occurred off the Somali coast, and asking ships and their maritime crew workers to be vigilant and prepared to handle attacks. The advisory also says that despite the presence of ships and aircraft in the region, they are not likely to be able to provide support to a vessel in the event of a pirate attack. The advisory strongly underscores the kind of dangers maritime workers and crew face in this time of increased piracy.

Maritime Pirate Attacks

It has become clear that current maritime training is not sufficient for workers to handle the kind of aggressive pirate attacks taking place. For instance, maritime workers are not equipped to deal with hostage situations. Training programs and maritime safety procedures need to be revised and enhanced to ensure the safety of workers in case of a pirate attack. Maritime companies should also look at how they can increase the security of their own vessels in order to resist attacks and ensure the safety of their workers.

If you've been injured in a maritime accident, a maritime lawyer can help you recover compensation for your injuries. Contact a maritime lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP to discuss your case.

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