(a) the details of piracy attempts made at Indian merchant vessels along with the number of sailors hijacked during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;
(b) whether the Government has also laid down specific guidelines, mechanisms and procedures in order to prevent piracy attempts at sea;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the steps taken/proposed by the Government to thwart sea-piracy attempts?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a): There have been 3 piracy attempts/attacks made at Indian flag merchant vessels during the last 3 years and the current year as per details at Annexure-I. However, no Indian flag merchant vessel has been hijacked by pirates.
Details of Indian Crew hijacked earlier by Somali pirates and released during the last 3 years and the current year are at Annexure-II.
(b)to(d):An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMGO) was set up by the Government under the Ministry of Shipping to deal with the hostage situation arising out of the hijacking at sea of merchant vessels with Indian crew. Government has also approved the Contingency Plan for dealing with piracy and hijacking of merchant ships and constituted a Committee of Secretaries on Anti-Piracy and Hijacking at sea (COSAPH) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary for crisis management and to advise the Government on major policy and strategy decisions. In addition to this, the following steps have been initiated by Government as part of various preventive/mitigating security measures to deal with sea-piracy:
(i) Guidelines for anti-piracy measures to be implemented on Indian Ships through issue of Merchant Shipping Notice No.1 of 2011 dated 14.1.2011. The guidelines provide for elaborate anti-piracy measures (Best Management Practices), including safe house/citadel for vessels.
(ii) Banning of sailing vessels to ply in waters south or west of the line joining Salalah and Male through Merchant Shipping Notice No. 3/2010 dated 31.3.2010.
(iii) Naval escort provided by Indian naval ships in the Gulf of Aden since 2008.
(iv) Enhanced vigil by the Indian Navy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and westward upto 65 degree east longitude.
(v) Active participation of India in the security meetings of the International Maritime Organization, Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) and other international fora.
Annexures referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2667 for 12.3.2015.
Annexure-I
Details of 3 piracy attempts/attacks made at Indian flag merchant vessels during the last 3 years and the current year :-
Name of merchant Date of Piracy Attempt Location vessel
Desh Mahima 02.11.2013 Off Bab El Mandeb Ratna Shruti 28.06.2014 Gulf of Aden Bon Atlantico 12.08.2014 Off Fujairah
Annexure-II
Details of Indian Crew hijacked earlier by Somali pirates and released during the last 3 years and the current year :-
Sl.No. Name of the vessel/ Date of hijack Date of release No. of Indian Indian crew flag of vessel of vessel/crew crew held hostage released
1 Iceberg 1/ Panama 29.03.2010 23.12.2012 6 5# 2 Asphalt Venture/ Panama 29.09.2010 15.04.2011 30.10.2014 15 8 7 3 Albedo/Malaysia 26.11.2010 05.06.2014 2 1$ 4 Fairchem Bogey/Marshal Is. 20.08.2011 13.01.2012 21 21 5 Enrico Ievoli/ Italy 27.12.2011 23.04.2012 7 7 6 Leila/ Panama 17.02.2012 12.04.2012 11 11 7 Royal Grace/ Panama 02.03.2012 08.03.2013 17 17 8 Eglantine/ Bolivian 26.03.12 02.04.2012 1 1 9 Smyrin/ Liberia 10.05.12 09.03.2013 11 11 Total 91 89