The "Politics and DV Technology" working group analyses and comments on current political developments in the defence sector from a technological perspective.
The working group has compiled questions and comments on the government's paper "Protecting merchant ships against piracy". These comments were presented to, among others, the members of the Permanent Committee on Defence of the House of Representatives to support the discussion of this topic.
The working group believes that more attention could be paid to technical protection measures to deter or stop pirates before armed teams are deployed. The KIVI seminar on 31 August 2015 showed numerous measures that are not reflected in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) circular. As a major maritime country, the Netherlands should focus on the development of advanced means of protection and an integrated approach in which the different means reinforce each other. In doing so, shipowners' need for armed teams could be curbed by requiring a minimum level of technical measures.
Download the paper's full commentary (and appendix) at this link here.
Questionon the note "Protecting merchant ships against piracy"
The "Politics and Defence & Security Engineering" working group of the Royal Institute of Engineers (KIVI) analyses current political developments in the defence sector. it provides facts and interpretation from the technological knowledge and experience of engineers. the questions and comments below refer to the pages of the paper "Protecting merchant ships against piracy" dated 4 December 2015
Page 1. Core/need
This section assumes that either a VPD or a private protection team should secure ships. Has the extent to which the need for teams can be reduced by deploying technical protection equipment been investigated?
Page 3. Role of the government.
On this page and also on page 5, it is stated that the government has a duty of care to contribute to the protection of Dutch merchant vessels.
Is it possible to meet shipowners materially and financially when they purchase non-violent means or by contributing to research and development?
Page 7. Policy principles.
As a criterion for the "VPD unless" principle, it mainly refers to "other preventive government assistance" and the expectation that shipowners comply with Best Management Practices circular no. 1339 (BMP) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Is it possible to require a minimum level of technical protective equipment, which shipowners must meet before being eligible for VPD or being authorised to deploy private security guards? This is also important for the safety of the teams themselves.
This aspect could be considered by the Coast Guard Centre (page 9) in its assessment based on the facilities provided and the region in which sailing takes place.
Page 9. Application of Best Management Practices (BMP)
The BMP circular is from 2011 and valid for conditions off the Somali coast. Although the list of protection measures on pages 23 -40 of the BMP is quite extensive, developments in this area are not standing still.
At a KIVI seminar on 31 August 2015, an integrated approach to non-armed protection was presented that merited attention. This included a number of new technical protection measures that have not yet been incorporated into the BMP. See annex.
As an important maritime nation with an advanced technology sector, shouldn't the Netherlands commit to a more integrated approach than in the BMP and expand the list of additional non-violent technical means?
Is it possible to encourage technical developments by initiating a TNO research programme (so-called target funding) in cooperation with shipowners and the MSA towards an optimal and integrated approach to non-violent protection. The aim of this research should be to reduce the need for protection teams, both military and non-military.
