Last updated: 13 Nov 12 @ 03:22  |  

Nato forces detain suspected pirates

Commander Stein Hagalid, Head of the Nato Shipping Centre, explains how the threat of Somali piracy has been reduced by a combination of military force and best management practices onboard ships

RP: The Nato Shipping Centre (NSC) has played a key role in helping to reduce the threat of Somali piracy around the Horn of Africa. Could you outline the Centre’s main role and responsibilities?

SH: Nato has different ways to fight the threat of piracy to merchant shipping; so-called “lines of operation”. One of these is to deploy naval forces in the area to deter and disrupt piracy and to protect shipping, but just as important is our role to make the shipping community aware of the threat and give them guidance and advice how to avoid it and how to protect themselves. The NSC provides guidance and advice to the whole international shipping community; we are doing our utmost to make them aware of where the higher risks are at any one time, and therefore allow them to react and avoid the threat. In my opinion, this “soft” line of the operation is equally important as having our naval forces in the Gulf of Aden. One can never replace naval forces, but we can complement them and thereby conduct our operations more efficiently out at,/p>...