Anti-Pirate Training for Filipino Seamen

Up to 40 percent of all container vessel and oil tanker crews are Filipinos. That means around 400,000 Filipino sailors need to be trained. Sailors' unions, shipping companies and the Filipino government have agreed on the anti-pirate training scheme which has become mandatory for anyone hired onto a ship. And the sailors welcome it. Renato Elano, a sailor looking for employment on a ship, says dealing with pirates has become an every-day challenge.

"Say you are a chief officer on duty, you must be on full alert. You must know all the surrounding vessels. You know a pirate boat when you see one; they are fast running vessels. Once you see one, you must send a message to alarm all the vessels in the area and of course the nearest port authority."

International Maritime Organization training

Training is based on recommendations by the London-based International Maritime Organization. Butch Lamug, from the Philippine Shipping Association says it is especially important to learn how to prevent pirates from getting on board:

"All ships transiting the Gulf of Aden, are advised to follow a set of best practices issued by the International Maritime Organisation. These measures include pro-active look-outs. So it is very important that there is 24-hour look-out; the use of deck lighting; it is recommended also that there be some netting around the vessel. Some recommendations include electrical fencing or razor wiring of areas where the vessel can be boarded; evasive manoeuvring; and of course it means you have to increase your speed to at least 50 knots because it has been proven that no vessel travelling at the speed of 50 knots has been boarded. When you go so slow, that is the time when you get boarded."

Pirate attacks are part of the job

Most sailors from the Philippines are not afraid of pirates. They say it is part of a sailor's job description.

For the sailors, the pay is good enough to compensate for the dangers of pirate attacks. A lead officer at a sailor’s employment agency explains there is usually a bonus for more dangerous runs, for example through the Gulf of Aden. High-ranking crew members earn from 7,000 to 8,000 US dollars for 6-month contracts and for lower ranking sailors, the minimum is around 800 US dollars for 9-month contracts.

Protecting the crew with arms is not an option. They have to depend on the patrol ships in dangerous waters. The sailors agree with not having weapons on board. One seaman says you cannot bring guns on ships because it could cause complications in the many ports. He says it is like flying in aeroplanes: it wouldn't be safe to travel with guns.

If it is impossible to eradicate the pirates, teaching deck crews pirate safety is the safest bet.

Author: Bernd Musch-Borowska / Sarah Berning
Editor: Grahame Lucas