Page 45: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q3 2014)

Manufacturing and pre-assembly takes place in the MAS factory based in the Canary Islands; a location purposely cho- sen due to its vicinity to the Puerto de la Luz base where ships make technical stopovers on their way through the Atlantic. Installation timings vary, dependent on the size of the vessel or rig, level of protection and the scope of work; as an ex- ample, it takes approximately one week to protect the bridge only. Installation can take place anywhere worldwide and does not interfere with the ship?s normal activities. MAS also offer  tting during the construction of new builds, with a cur- rent project ongoing for the creation of citadels on four supply vessels in Malaysia. Considering what many companies operating in the com- mercial shipping and oil industries spend on protection with private security companies, MAS might be considered a cost- effective, long-term solution. As opposed to other protection methods, MAS requires little maintenance and works with- out crew involvement. Only one man is required to secure the whole vessel or platform. The installation of MAS prevents pirates from being able to take control of the bridge onboard a vessel and is also suitable for the creation of citadels to protect crew. In case of pirate boarding, MAS allows private security of cers to focus on saving lives and not in securing access/windows. Designed to suit the ship?s interior, when in use MAS does not reduce visibility and is easy to maintain. When not in use the system requires no storage and remains hidden. MAS is currently being used on several ships and oil rigs operating in East and West Africa, with ongoing projects in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Anti-piracy solutions today aren?t necessarily ?one size  ts all,? but the MAS system provides a viable alternative to those  rms whose business models and routing prevent the use of armed guards. JEPPESEN FIGHTS PIRACY ? INTELLIGENTLY While global piracy is constantly changing, modern tech- nology adapts to exploit the weaknesses in the pirates? mode of operation. Intelligence gained from such technologies en-ables voyage planners and navigators to steer clear of harm ? but what kind of information is required? While the image of the Somalian pirate is still high in the public?s mind as the number one piracy threat, the reality is not as straightforward. Pirates have had to change their tactics in the last few years, with a geographical expansion to the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, including the waters off Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Cameroon and Lagos. However, pirates are not shy of extending their roaming to Angola and Congo and seizing op- portunities arising from political instability in Syria, Egypt and Libya. Beyond these areas, from India and Indonesia to Peru and the Philippines, piracy is still a threat. Many plat- forms and small vessels used for crew transfer remain unpro- tected and can be easy prey. While piracy has evolved, so too have its countermeasures. In addition to armed guards and navy protection, which are still an effective deterrent, e-Navigation solutions can provide valuable information to help seafarers avoid an encounter. Jeppesen?s PiracyUpdate is an electronic chart overlay for ECS and ECDIS that helps identify, understand and manage the risks associated with crime at sea. Based on intelligence from recognized sources on global sea piracy, it is used by mariners, shipowners, insurers and several national navies to reduce the likelihood of attacks. As pirates rely on certain sea states to operate, weather information is an essential element of anti-piracy data. Jeppesen OceanView is a marine planning software combining navigational charts, weather information and automatic route planning to create a more comprehensive picture for decision support in high risk areas. MARITIME SECURITYJeppesenwww.maritimeprofessional.com | Maritime Professional | 4534-49 Q3 MP2014.indd 4534-49 Q3 MP2014.indd 458/13/2014 3:17:32 PM8/13/2014 3:17:32 PM