Maritime Anti-Piracy- The Captain's Guidebook

by Nancy Knudsen on 17 Apr 2013 If there is anything you ever wanted to know about piracy and protecting your vessel, whether it be a sailing boat or a super tanker, for a small donation of around $333, this up-to-date and definitive handbook will tell all.

Written by Peter King, ex Royal Marine and security consultant in high risk areas of the world, it has been produced to help Shipping Companies, CSOs and Captains of all vessels, from the smallest of sailing yachts to the largest of commercial ships, both at anchor and underway. The book provides not only a history of piracy worldwide, but also practical methods designed to protect sailors from the threat of piracy.

It gives in-depth information on all ways to protect the crew, vessel, and cargo from thieves and armed pirates around the world, not only in the Somali region, where yachts are warned off anyway, but around the world.

This global guide covers all the high-risk areas from the tranquil backwaters of South America to hostile and dangerous areas such as the Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa.

The author has spent his career in the elite and secretive Special Boat Service (SBS), specialising in maritime counter terrorism, and is an expert at boarding ships, oil rigs and shore-based facilities. He has compiled this book drawing on his own knowledge along with input from current Captains from various yachts, superyachts and commercial ships, plus the information obtained from key agencies such as the International Maritime Organisation and International Maritime Bureau.

Peter King has spent the last seven years working in the Gulf of Aden High Risk Area and West Africa providing training, hardening, citadel emplacement and armed/unarmed security. He originally focussed on the private sailing and superyacht sector, but widened his scope as hijackings of merchantships increased; successfully repelling two Somali pirate attack groups.

Now he is the director of the International Maritime Anti-Piracy Advisory Group, IMAAG, and is in demand internationally as a Maritime Security Consultant. He began writing this book due to the lack of decent handbooks giving good, clear advice to all mariners, not only commercial shipping close to Somalia. At that time there were no Best Management Practice guidelines, however now the book is designed to supplement BMP 4 (http://www.gard.no/ikbViewer/Content/19052129/Gard%20Alert%20-%20Best%20Management%20Practices%20version%204.pdf!Best_Management_Practices_Version_4), not compete with it.

After reading this book, understanding its guidelines and implementing the practical and physical anti-piracy measures, any transit through a high-risk area, will be a much safer ordeal. The Captain, crew and vessel will be fully prepared for every eventuality with an intimate knowledge of how to react quickly, calmly and professionally.

A percentage of any profit made from the book will be donated to the Special Boat Service Association and Help for Heroes, a charity for helping those who have been wounded in wars.

Judging by the price it is aimed at those who are serious about wanting to learn about piracy prevention. If that's you, http://www.imaag.co.uk/!click_here to purchase the book.