Since the ship hijacking began, maritime security has become a focus of maritime sector. There were more stringent procedures required of Shipmasters while traversing High Risk Areas (HRA) after the 9/11 incident.
Somalia has been identified as a High-Risk Area for Piracy by the BMP Co-Authors. Over a decade ago, the HRA was put in place to identify areas where pirate attacks are more likely to occur and where additional security measures may be required. As of May 2019, the HRA was last updated, and the Co-Authors initiated a review of the area’s size in February of 2021. In mid-2014, the HRA’s geographical scope has been expanded beyond the Maldives.
As a superpower, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other major countries regard the United States of America’s role in the Somalian HRA as extremely essential. On the basis of Iran’s nuclear energy research and development program, the United States has imposed sanctions on the country’s oil trade in the Gulf area.
The United States is the region’s security watchdog. Pirates, for some reason, are fully aware of the situation and do not target vessels carrying merchandise bound for the United States or arms bound for Africa. Pirates don’t assault the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which carries the majority of Africa’s weaponry to the continent.
Security firms in the United Kingdom offer arm guards for vessels passing the corridor, and there are several of them. Most sailors must have had some experience sailing with arm guards at least once in their lives. The fact that they have weapons means that they have no reason to shoot their chests. Aim high or away from legs to deter security threats.
As of today, several shipping firms have changed their contracts such that they no longer pay the High-Risk Allowance, but instead give their crews a choice to sign off, before they reach the high-risk area.
