ENERGY & MARITIME SECURITYSThe Changing Face of PiracySecurityRich Energy Targets helps to keep Piracy in the Public SpotlightJohn Barnwell, Global Head of Marine, Americashe release of the Captain Phillips movie starring Southeast Asia. Piracy attacks have dropped signi? cantly off the Tom Hanks in October 2013 and the hijacking of coast of Somalia due to various factors, including active military two Americans off the coast of Nigeria have brought action, land-based anti-piracy interventions and the increasing T more public attention to the oldest of all maritime use of armed guards on board of ships. However, Allianz Global risks: piracy. While piracy has been a concern in the mari- Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), a leading marine insurer, main-time industry for centuries, a new hotspot has emerged off the tains that this region is still far from safe from pirate attacks. coast of West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. Speci? cally the The industry sometimes likens the issue of piracy to a game of industry is concerned about attacks occurring in the territorial ‘whack-a-mole’. waters of Benin, Nigeria, Togo and the Ivory Coast. Over the Once one area quiets down a little, there is another hotspot past years, there have been more widespread and violent ac- emerging. So overall, it continues to be of great concern to our cidents in this region of the world. In fact, over the summer of clients and with that to us.2013, 22 West African states signed a code of conduct regard-ing piracy prevention and armed robbery against ships. United Changing business models of piratesStates Navy ships accompanying the EU Naval Force off So- Types of piracy in different regions of the world vary. This is malia have created an effective ‘international recommended important since the management best practices issued by the transit corridor.’ Several West African leaders are calling for a International Maritime Organization are still focused on the similar ? oating police force in the Gulf of Guinea, one of the type of piracy that prevailed off the coast of Somalia. Differ-most active oil transport and energy hubs in the world today. ent types of piracy include:At the same time, shipping companies are continuing to report • Opportunistic armed robbery occurs when a vessel is piracy incidents in the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malacca in approaching or anchored off ports or when ship-to-ship 24 Maritime Professional 1Q 2014| | MP Q1 2014 18-33.indd 24 MP Q1 2014 18-33.indd 24 2/26/2014 1:59:57 PM2/26/2014 1:59:57 PM