Lok Sabha Question No. 2273 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Incidents of Piracy
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, SUDHEER GUPTA, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., ANWHAR RAAJHAA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTA.RRED QUESTION NO.2273 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8th MARCH, 2018 INCIDENTS OF PIRACY

2273. KUNWAR HARIBANSFI  SINGH:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA.

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI S.R, VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI A, ANWHAR RAAJHAA:

SHRI 1.. RADHAKRISHNAN:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased  to state

- (a) the number of piracy attempts made on lndian merchant  vessels and sailors held hostage during each of the last three years and the current year;

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- (b) the losses incurred as a result ihereof during the said period;
- (d) whether the Government  has laid down specific guidelines, mechanisms and procedures to prevent piracy  attempts at sea; and
- i.j whether a few lndian sailors have still been held hostage by pirates and if so, the details thereof along  with the steps  taken/being taken by ihe Government to get them released;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons  therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

- (a): No lndian Merchant vessel has been hijacked  during the last three years  ancl the current  year. An lndian  Mechanized Sailing  vessel  ' Al Kausar' was hijacked  off the caast of Somalia  on 31.03.2017  and was having  '10  Indian crew.  The vessel was subsequently released  on 12.04.2017  .
- (b): No loss of life was reported  during the hijack of mechanized  sailing vessel  'Al Kausar'  and all the crew members were released unharmed'
- (c): No lndian sailor is currently held hostage by pirates'
- (d)&(e):Anlnter.MinisterialGroup(lMGo)wasSetupbytheGovernmentunderihe Ministry of Shipping to deal with the hostage situation  arising out of the hijacking  at sea of merchant  vessels with lndian crew. Government had also approved  the Contingetrcy

Plan for dealing  with piracy  and hijacking  of merchant  ships and constituted a Committee of Secretaries  on Anti-Piracy  and Hijacking at sea (COSAPH) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet  Secretary.  ln addition to this, the following  anti  -piracy  measures have been put in place for lndian flag merchant vessels and sailing  vessels:

- (i) Guidelines  for anti-piracy  measures to be implemented  on lndian Ships through issue of Merchant Shipping Notice No  '1  of 2011 dated 14.1 .2011. The guidelines provide for elaborate anti-piracy  measures  (Best Management Practices), including safe house/citadel for vessels.
- (ii) Banning  of sailing vessels to ply in waters south or west of the line  joining  Salalah and Male through Merchant Shipping Notice No. 3/2010  dated 31 .3.2010.
- (iii) Advisory  issued by Directorate  General  of Shipping  vide Notice No. 35-NT(2)/2317 dated 6th April, 2017 for not transiting through Gulf of Aden.
- (iv) Naval escort provided by lndian naval ships in the Guli of Aden since 2008.
- (v) Enhanced vigil by the lndian Navy in the lndian  Exclusive  Economic Zone (EEZ) and westward upto 65 degree east longitude.
- (vi) Active participation  by lndia in the security meetings of the  lnternational Maritime  Organization, Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia(CGF:S) and other international fora.