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Combating Piracy

Pirate attacks against commercial vessels threaten the free and unhindered conduct of international navigation and trade, particularly off the shores of Somalia, the Gulf of Guinea, and India.

A number of international organisations, most notably the UN and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) address the phenomenon of piracy and its causes.

A. REGION OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA

In response to the escalating pirate threat off the coast of Somalia, the United Nations Security Council adopted a series of resolutions (among others, 1814/2008, 1816/2008, 1838/2008, 1846/2008, 2125/2013 and 2184/2014) to deal with the issue, while several states, including the USA, China, Russia, India and others, deployed naval forces in the area.

The European Maritime Security Strategy was adopted within the framework of the European Union during the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU (June 2014), and it serves as the framework within which the competent national and European authorities will coordinate and act with the goals of a) ensuring a coherent development of their policies and a European response to threats and risks in the maritime sector, and b) protecting the EU's strategic interests. Piracy is one of the components of the aforementioned strategy.

The European Union operates in the region, and has deployed the EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, (maritime protection and deterrence).

The coordination of actions against piracy has been undertaken by the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia - CGPCS, which was established on the initiative of the USA, based on a decision of the UN Security Council (1851/2008), and convened for the first time in January 2009.

Moreover, the international shipping is continually adjusting its actions in terms of adopting self-protection measures for vessels. The relevant Best Management Practices Version 5 – BMP5 was last updated in June 2018.

Over the last decade, piracy activity off the coast of Somalia has declined, which can be attributed to: a) the effective action of the CGPCS, b) the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP) by ship crews, and c) the widespread use of embarked armed private security guards. However, since 13.03.2017 new attacks have begun to occur, which indicates that the risk continues to exist.

Greek participation

Greece was a founding member of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and held its Presidency during the first semester of 2010. Greece also commanded the EU Operation "Atalanta" (December 2008 - April 2009), in which the frigates "Hydra" and "Psara" participated. Furthermore, the Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center (MIOTC) in Souda has undertaken a significant role in preventing and combating piracy by providing training to the entities involved.

At the level of national legislation, the Greek authorities have prosecuted individuals who have seized Greek flag vessels. Law 4058/16.03.2012 governs the presence of armed private guards on commercial vessels.

B. GULF OF GUINEA REGION

The decline in piracy off the coast of Somalia coincided with an outbreak of particularly violent incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. Pirates and armed robbers are often well-armed and violent. In the past, they have not hesitated to attack even at a distance of 170 nautical miles from the coast.

In resolutions 2018 (2011) and 2039 (2012), the UN Security Council urges the international community to actively support the states of the region in their efforts to take measures against piracy at national and regional levels.

Following a proposal by Greece, the International Maritime Organization - IMO adopted in December 2013 a resolution on preventing and combating piracy and armed robbery against vessels and illegal maritime activities in the Gulf of Guinea.

The European Union adopted n 2015 the Gulf of Guinea Action Plan 2015-2020, through which it wants to contribute to building regional and national capacities, developing national maritime strategies and improving naval intervention capabilities.