A shocking rise in pirate attacks over the last decade has left many in the shipping industry scrambling for protection, leading to a new market for security forces trained to fight off the swashbuckling foes. Photographer Amnon Gutman witnessed this scramble for security first-hand as he sailed one of the most dangerous waterways in the world with a crew, their cargo -- and a private security detail trained in pirate-deflecting techniques. The fear of attack, especially near Somalia, is a well-founded one. As Gutman notes, of the 439 attacks reported to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in 2011, 275 attacks took place off Somalia's east coast and in the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa. However, while Somali pirates continue to account for the majority of attacks -- approximately 54 percent – and while the overall number of Somali incidents increased from 219 in 2010 to 237 in 2011, the number of successful hijackings decreased from 49 to 28. The 802 crew members taken hostage in 2011 also marks a decrease from the four-year high of 1,181 in 2010.
This may be because of more aggressive policing -- the European Union recently authorized its most expansive mission against pirates in Africa -- but many ships aren't taking any chances. On this journey through the Indian Ocean on a shipping vessel that wishes to remain anonymous, SeaGull security walked through the methods still being developed to combat modern piracy.
Above, crew members secure barbed wires on the side of the tanker to prevent potential pirates from climbing aboard two days before going into the high-risk zone.
Amnon Gutman
Gutman notes, "Though it varies by country, generally peacetime law in the 20th and
21st centuries has not allowed merchant vessels to carry weapons. As a
response to the rise in modern piracy, however, the U.S. government now
allows U.S.-flagged vessels to employ a team of armed private security
guards. Other countries and organizations have followed suit. This has
given birth to a new breed of private security companies that provide
training and protection for crew members and cargo."
Above, SeaGull security team members participate in a drill aboard the ship.
Amnon Gutman
One of the SeaGull security team members does yoga on the deck. In 2011, there were 45 vessels hijacked, 176 vessels boarded, 113
vessels fired upon, and 105 reported attempted pirate attacks. A total of eight crew
members were killed throughout the year, the same number as 2010.
Amnon Gutman
Deck seamen take a break during a day's work.
Amnon Gutman
The tanker during the day.
Amnon Gutman
A SeaGull security-team member waves his weapon in the air as dew skiffs (small engine boats used by pirates) get within a range of
1.5-2 miles from the tanker. The gesture is meant to make the pirates understand that there is a security team onboard the tanker, hopefully discouraging attacks.
Amnon Gutman
The Bab-el-Mandeb
area, meaning "Gate of Grief" in Arabic, is a strait
located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea on the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of
Aden. It is one of the world's most pirate-infested
areas, as it is very easy to hide small boats in
the island areas.
Amnon Gutman
A dummy is used as decoy, a common strategy. If pirates are thinking about
attacking the tanker, dummies provide "extra" men on the bridge and
deck.
Amnon Gutman
On the bridge, a paper map is used to navigate the high-risk zone.
Amnon Gutman
The tanker radar shows various other tankers and smaller boats in the vicinity
of up to 12 miles from the tanker location. The small dots are often just waves,
making it very hard to spot an actual pirate skiff.
Amnon Gutman
SeaGull security members adjust barrels filled with water on the wing of the boat in order to
protect the bridge from bullets.
Amnon Gutman
Night cruising through the high-risk zone.
Amnon Gutman
An officer on a night watch sifts through papers. The curtains on the
bridge are closed so that no light can be seen coming out, possibly drawing out pirates.
Amnon Gutman
A SeaGull security team member during a night patrol.
Amnon Gutman
SeaGull security team members during a drill.
Amnon Gutman
