Comprehensive Approach; NATO MarSec Blog

A Comprehensive Approach For Maritime Security

Source: NATO Op Ocean Shield Blog

In a blog by the Dutch Commander of NATO's Task Force 508, the counter piracy mission off Somalia, Commodore Ben Bekkering states, the flagship of TF 508, HNLMS Rotterdam, has just left the Seychelles. She is ready for her third counter piracy patrol along the coasts of Somalia, as part of NATO’s Operation OCEAN SHIELD.

For many on board, the visit to this breathtaking collection of islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean proved to be a very welcome leg stretch in between month long patrols, both being natural parts of naval life. 

The amphibious flagship carries a vast array of very capable teams with equally capable tools, from UAV to fast landing craft. Combined and joint. Teams and tools that already achieved success, disrupting pirates at sea, containing them ashore and at the same time reassuring the local population of what NATO does to improve security. TF 508 itself is part of a much larger international effort, with task groups from the EU and the Combined Maritime Forces and ships and aircraft from independently deploying nations such as China, Japan, Korea, India and Russia. 

The visit to the Seychelles, however, proved once more that the international cooperation to counter piracy extends much further than naval cooperation. The Seychelles plays a prominent role in the international counter piracy effort. Her role as well as her strategic location has drawn many organisations to the island. This allowed meetings with diplomatic, political, legal, intelligence and law enforcement and industrial representatives, to exchange ideas and share information. Piracy is an international crime, taking place on the high seas, but requiring a multifaceted approach extending over the beach onto the shores to counter it effectively. 

Although a recent International Maritime Bureau report rightly ascribes the decline in piracy success rates to naval patrols and self protection measures on merchant vessels, including vessel protection detachments, the effect of the willingness of nations to bring suspected pirates to justice should not be underestimated. The same applies to the willingness of regional states to contribute within means and capabilities. Cooperation between the international naval coalition and coast guards of the regional states to catch pirates, between navies and their respective public prosecutors to legitimize actions, between diplomatic posts of various nations to settle on a transfer agreement, between legal and intelligence communities to make sure acquired information is used properly and available when needed.

Dutch Crown Prince HRH Prince Willem Alexander Visits - Photo: @OceanShield

All these actions are necessary, have matured over the recent years and, most importantly, are having effect. No place better to see that as in the Seychelles. Rotterdam’s team trained with the Seychellois Coast Guard to improve interoperability. Staff level meetings to discuss ways to optimize the exchange of information over fishing grounds and maritime patrols. Witnessing six suspected pirates of the Bourhan Noor case, apprehended by Rotterdam on the 13 August, being led in front of a judge in Port Victoria High Court. Supporting a NATO delegation in meeting Seychellois officials to finalise formal agreements that will allow more effective counter piracy efforts. Accompanying the Netherlands Minister of Defence in a meeting with the Seychellois Minister of the Interior to express appreciation for the respective counter piracy effort and underline the commitment of both countries.

The pirates are still here. Yet their numbers are declining. The next month will probably show whether this decline has been seasonal or is structural, whether the piracy business model is showing cracks. Cracks that we could exploit to ensure a lasting solution. To do that we should increase the pressure further, using all the tools and means, joint, combined and inter agency. No way better to achieve that than the efforts of many in and around the Seychelles during last week.

And perhaps the experiences there can also be used to develop ideas on how to ensure lasting maritime security beyond the piracy era. The Indian Ocean is important. For many, for the global economy and the global security. It could be helpful to use all the joint, combined, cooperation and inter agency of the international counter piracy effort into a model for maritime security operations. A subject for a next blog perhaps.

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