Page 46: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q1 2012)

The rise in pirate attacks against merchant shipping in the Somalia and Indian Ocean region was had the corresponding impact of an increase in the number of maritime security com- panies offering armed boarding teams to prospective shipping clients whose vessels Þ nd themselves in perilous waters. The ransom demand of $10 million USD for the release of just one ship has also exacerbated the problem. The situation clearly needed proper training both for merchant vessel crews and armed boarding teams alike. Simulation training heavyweight Transas responded immediately to the crisis. In response to industry demand, Transas developed an an- ti-piracy training module which is already proving to be an asset to maritime academies, shipping companies and armed boarding teams around the World. The new module is fully compatible with Transas? very successful NTPRO 5000 series of navigation simulators and comprises two distinct functions; a Suspicious Vessel Module and an Armed Team Response Module. Both modules can be run at the same time to allow the successful training of both merchant bridge teams and armed boarding teams within the same scenario. The Suspi- cious Vessel functionality includes a group of vessels com- prising a mother ship and a number of skiffs. The vessels can be located by the instructor into a cluster during a standard training scenario.The OfÞ cer of the Watch (OOW) can identify the contacts by radar but not by AIS, which is usually one of the Þ rst signs that something is suspicious. The instructor can then program for the skiffs to probe the ship in a friendly manner by hav- ing the occupants of the boat simulate Þ sherman. At any point within the scenario, the instructor can change the hostility of the Þ shermen to that of pirates holding AK47?s and RPG?s. This functionality allows merchant deck of Þ cers to conduct evasive maneuvers and also to practice their security and an- ti-piracy procedures including activating the Ships Security Alert System (SSAS), starting Þ re pumps, closing all upper deck doors, increasing speed and maneuvering with minimal wheel to prevent the vessel slowing down. The hostility of the occupants in the skiffs can be changed by the instructor during the scenario so that the reactions of the bridge team can be monitored. Taking this functionality 6LPXODWRU$QWL3LUDF\7UDLQLQJ SSimulation7HFKQRORJ\ The Transas anti-piracy simulation module is another arrow in your quiver in the Þ ght against crime on the high seas. A member of this vessels armed boarding team on the bridge wing tracking a hostile skiff as it transits the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).) 46 I Maritime Professional I1Q 2012