1. Initiatives in support
EUROPEAN UNION NAVAL COORDINATION CELL (NAVCO)
European Union
Initiatives in support
of implementation
of UNSCR 1816
Piracy off the coasts of Somalia is today a threat growing and likely to badly disturbe security of sea lanes.
Brussels, 15th Oct 2008

2. What is the rule of EU NAVCO ? NAVCO activities – In touch with…
REQUIREMENTS
SECURITY PROVIDERS
ECSA
EU FISHERS
SNMG
TF 150
WFP
NAVCO
EU MS …
In this slide you can observe the most important players who are currently in touch with NAVCO. On the left side, the users, agencies and organizations demanding a higher degree of security in those dangerous navigation areas. The Ship-owners Association, keeping with us a fluent communication channel, the Fisheries´ Associations. The WFP, contacted by NAVCO even before the activation of the cell and the AMISOM, both in permanent linkage with the cell that has been canalizing their demands.
On the right side box, the security providers, including the EU MS, Third States navies and other forces such as the TF 150 and SNMGs, although not directly engaged in this battle against the piracy, but obviously, with their activities, they always inspire deterrence to pirates. Regarding the Third States navies, we are optimistic with the deployment of specific assets. On receiving the information of their activities, NAVCO will be able to provide an improved support to the civilian community.
At the bottom, the coordinating structures, in touch with the cell to avoid duplication of efforts in the common support and advice to be provided to the merchant and fishing vessels. I will highlight only the IMB, which has a specific division created to assist the Sailing Vessels in the fight against piracy, by providing advice in a 24/7 duty.
The aspiration of NAVCO is to be positioned like this, to complete the scheme of this complicated structure and try fill the gap.
AMISOM
Third States
COORDINATING PLAYERS
FR ALINDIEN
NATO Shipping Center
IMB
UK MTO
MARLO
IMO

3. Piracy today – A serious threat
OCTOBER 2008
300 PEOPLE HOSTAGES
13 SHIPS HIJACKED
2 ATTACKS PER DAY
Only this summer, 3lmost 3 times more hijacked vessels were reported in the Gulf of Aden than during the whole year Currently, these were the figures of this dramatic situation, which has transformed the most important sea road that connected Europe with the economical zone of (India-Japan-China and mach more) in to the most unsafe and dangerous sea road of the world.
MV FAINA

4. Piracy today – A serious threat
61 ATTACKS IN 2008
31 ATTEMPTED
30 EFFECTIVE ATTACKS
19 HIJACKS
16 ARMED THEFT
TOTAL 71 ATTACKS IN 2008
This map reports all the pirate attacks or suspicious approaches in 2008 in the West of Indian Ocean. Two things have to be underlined.
First the number of attacks regularly increased since 2006 but exploded in 2008
Secondly the pirates have progressively operated more and more far from the East Somali coasts.
That is for that reason because in 2006 IMB recommended shipping to move 200 NM far from the Somali coasts. This recommendation was adopted by MV but had two consequences :
First, pirates are using mother ships to launch their attacks more than 250 miles from the coast. They recently proved that they are able to conduct attacks until more than 400 NM from the Somalia coasts.
Secondly, many pirates are focusing their attacks in the gulf of Aden, where MV are forced to sail close to the Somalia coasts, in spite of the fact that most of the Western warships and aircraft present in Indian Ocean transit or patrol this area (TF 150 from Coalition Enduring Freedom for instance).
If this situation continues, the Ship-owners´ major concern is the possible collapse of some industries, and we should not forget that very important products come to Europe through these waters, crossed by almost vessels every year, providing near 70% of our goods transportation and this is the reason because they expect much more from Europe.
LL: 50% of the attacks are effective
The general behaviour in the South is to Hijack vessels. In the North (different clans) One half of the assaults are just Armed Robberies
10 ATTACKS IN 2008
5 ATTEMPTED
5 EFFECTIVE ATTACKS
5 HIJACKS
2 ARMED THEFT

5. What is the rule of EU NAVCO ?
EU initiatives
EU NAVCO
ESDP operation
To answer Ship-owners’ expectations, EU initiatives are based on UNSCR Our goal of any action against piracy is to provide deterrence.
You know that ESDP operation may take place in the next few weeks. But EU NAVCO is already acting to improve security in the sea lanes off the coasts of Somalia.
The main idea of NAVCO is to take advantage of the presence of warships in the West of Indian Ocean to provide security to civilian vessels.
NAVCO is NOT involved in an operation. We have no control of any military asset. Our job only consists on connecting military assets with civilian maritime community, in order to protect the last ones. In concrete terms, we coordinate the navies activities with the MV protected transits. With this aim in view, the cell has to act as the focal point between all the players on this issue.
Rule of EU NAVCO is to be the focal point between the players of maritime community

6. What is the rule of EU NAVCO ?
Protect MV
But keep in mind that EU NAVCO has a concrete aim. We want to have a real impact to improve security in the area. That is why EU NAVCO has identified three main tasks to facilitate :
To protect WFP shipping essentially between Mombasa and Mogadishu, but also between Djibouti and Bossaso on the North coasts of Somalia.
To protect interest of EU shipowners in the gulf of Aden,
To protect EU fishers whose working area is around Seychelles Islands and that are threatened by Somalian pirates,
Protect WFP Shipping
Protect fishers 6

7. How to protect civilian vessels ?
Maritime Security Patrol Area…
N13 Ref: 1310N-05000E
Corridor Coordinates
A1: 1230N 04500E
A2: 1340N 04900E
A3: 1415N 05000E
A4: 1440N 05300E
B1: 1220N 04500E
B2: 1335N 04900E
B3: 1410N 05000E
B4: 1430N 05300E A1 B1 B2 B3 B4 A2 A3 A4
Of course, some initiatives have already been taken. For instance, in the Gulf of Aden, TF 150 tries to secure a corridor called MSPA.
This area is supposed to be surveyed by warships and military maritime patrol aircraft. So MV transiting inside the corridor are supposed to be more in security. But the dangerous zone is very large. To survey efficiently the whole area, a lot of military assets have to be provided and they are not.
So the EU NAVCO assessment is that Patrol and surveillance are essential to deter and interfere with pirate activities but real protection needs a permanent proximity between military asset and civilian vessel. In conclusion, MSPA is important but it is not enough to protect MV in the Gulf of Aden.

8. How to protect civilian vessels ?
To be considered :
Capacity of the navies
Vulnerability of civilian vessels
So how to improve security of civilian vessels ?
Two factors have to be considered :
At first, density of the traffic, particularly in the Gulf of Aden. If we want to efficiently protect all MV passing trough this area, all the Navies of the world wouldn't be enough
Secondly, we had to discuss all ways of cooperation with the EU Ship-owners. Of course, although they generally support our proposals to protect their vessels with the available assets, they are expecting more. But actually all merchant vessels are not equal against pirates. Some MV are particularly threatened : vulnerability depends on speed, height of free-board, maneuverability and so on…
So we assess that the solution should be that the Navies propose slots of close support for most vulnerable ships.
We know that the ship-owners are concerned due to the fact that pirates can attack even large and fast merchant vessels. But ship-owners are also reluctant because the solutions we can propose are not always easy to match with the expected tracks of their ships, and adjusting their tracks to the proposed programmes could come to a significant cost to them, depending on how many transit opportunities we can provide over time. So They have to balance risks and costs and decide the best option.
The slots proposed by the Navies may be provided by dedicated warships, but also by ships transiting for example from Mediterranean Sea to Indian Ocean. EU NAVCO is likely to deal with all the navies proposal, including third States proposals.
Proposed slots

9. How to protect civilian vessels ?
As you can see on this slide, close support provided by warships suppose close proximity between the two ships. To better secure merchant vessels, MV are also recommended to embark a 5 to 10 soldiers protection team.
But the simple presence of a warship is often enough to provide deterrence to pirates and consequently to improve security of merchant vessel. So, even if a warship cannot provide close support any more, MV are recommended to transit close to the warships to take advantage of their presence.

10. What does a coordination cell can provide ?
In concrete terms, EU NAVCO :
relay the close support slots for transits to MV
request the States (navies) to provide protection to the threatened or sensitive-cargo MV
In conclusion, EU NAVCO acts today :