Anti-Piracy & Escort Services

According to a January 2011 article in the Washington Post newspaper, pirates captured a record 1,181 hostages in 2010 – almost all of them off the Somali coast – during a year in which hijackings and attacks became more violent. Attackers seized 53 vessels worldwide in 2010, according to the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur. All but four were taken by Somali pirates. Further, according to the IMB, in just the first 2 months of 2011 there have already been 87 attacks resulting in 13 successful hijackings, resulting more than 240 hostages. Pirates now hold at least 33 vessels and more than 700 hostages for ransom.

More importantly, the Somali pirates – responsible for the vast majority of attacks – have changed their traditional ‘Rules of Engagement’. Beginning in 2011, they announced their intention to kill any hostages in their possession at the first sign of a rescue attempt. They have already followed through on that threat in more than one instance, resulting in seven deaths thus far. Maritime vessel operators can no longer afford to gamble the lives of their crews on the use of evasive maneuvers and non-lethal force to discourage a pirate attack. A 15-vessel military armada operating in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean since 2008, coordinated by NATO and the EU, was supposed to squelch the problem. With piracy increasing and the risks to personnel exceptional, maritime vessel operators are looking for a reliable and cost-effective solution.

Trident Capabilities

In conjunction with our strategic partner, Espada Logistics & Security Group, TridentCMG offers two anti-piracy or maritime security options to maritime vessel operators.

OPTION 1 – Armed Vessel Escort (AVE)

In this option, TridentCMG will provide the armed escort ship illustrated above – normally based in the Indian Ocean region – to any point of departure designated by the client. Our vessel will transit with the client vessel(s) to their final destination, or until released by the client. In addition to the vessel configuration shown in the left-hand column, the AVE will also carry an experienced TridentCMG Maritime Security Team (MST) capable of providing the security of 24/7 monitoring of the local area to the horizon line.

The primary objective of the AVE/MST is to identify and deter unknown vessels from interfering with the transit of the protected vessel through intimidation and other non-lethal means. However, the AVE/MST will engage an unknown vessel if certain Rules of Engagement – agreed upon with the client in advance and specified in the contract – are met. The AVE maintains several small rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) that can be rapidly deployed by davit from their ready position on the bow. These small fast boats can be used to intercept and identify incoming vessels or pickup survivors of any armed engagement for subsequent delivery to regional law enforcement officials.

OPTION 2 – Embarked Maritime Security Team (EMST)

In this option, TridentCMG will provide an experienced and fully equipped and armed EMST to transit aboard the protected vessel. As with Option 1, the objective of the EMST will be to provide 24/7 monitoring of the local area to the horizon line, and a deterrent or armed response capability as a developing situation warrants. As with Option 1, the EMST will operate under predefined and agreed to Rules of Engagement subscribed to by the vessel Captain and the vessel owner or charterer. The MST can embark or debark the protected vessel at any port of call.

In either of the above cases, TridentCMG offers a proven capacity to provide safe and cost-effective full-spectrum security monitoring and asset protection services for clients operating vessels in the most dangerous waters.