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Piracy has taken place in a maritime area bounded by Suez and the Strait of Hormuz, in the region around the Horn of Africa, and waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula; in the region of the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea through the Arabian Sea to the Gulf of Oman.

Modern-day sea piracy occurs in the region, and has caused international security areas to be declared in the region in the 21st-century. Approximately 35 percent of all crude oil shipped by sea and one-third of all liquefied natural gas pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Such shipments are one of the targets of piracy.

High Risk Areas (HRA)

High Risk Areas for piracy (HRA) have been declared in different parts of the world to reflect precautions to be taken when ships transit them. These include the following:

Contact Group of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS)

As per the Contact group of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), the HRA (updated on 8 October 2015) is an area bounded by the following: In the Red Sea: northern limit: Latitude 15°N, In the Gulf of Oman: northern limit: Latitude 22°N Eastern limit: Longitude 065°E Southern limit: Latitude 5°S

Joint War Committee (JWC)

As per the JWC, as of 12 June 2013, in the Indian Ocean, the waters enclosed by: on the North West by the Red Sea, south of Latitude 15° N; on the west of the Gulf of Oman by Longitude 58° E; on the east, Longitude 78° E; and on the south, Latitude 12° S excepting coastal waters of adjoining territories up to 12 nautical miles offshore unless otherwise provided constitute Hull War, Piracy, Terrorism and Related Perils Listed Area.

International Bargaining Forum (IBF)

The IBF is a forum based in London consisting of two parties - IMEC and ITF Seafarers trust. IMEC, a London-based maritime employers committee consisting primarily of ship managers and manning agents as members, and the London-based ITF (as a representative of worldwide seafarer employee unions) together decide the limits of areas to be designated as war like or extended risk. This has two commercial repercussions. For ship owners, it results in added insurance (H&M and P&I) charged from ships for their transit. For seafarers, it results in additional wages drawn for the duration of their transit in exchange for the higher risk to their lives.

The IBF has designated regions off Africa and Asia under 3 categories, each of which has different commercial implications:

• IBF 'Warlike Operations Area' (off Yemen, in Red Sea), IBF HRA and IBF 'Extended Risk Zones'.
• IBF HRA (High risk area) - In West Africa (Gulf of Guinea)
• IBF Extended Risk Zone - off Gulf of Aden and Somalia, up to the center of the Indian Ocean

The above have resulted in the proliferation of floating armouries - ships owned by private military contractors that allows their armed security guards (usually ex defence personnel from UK, France, EU and United States) to be hired by ship owners for a daily hire rate. The austerity moves in western nations since 1990 led to an increase in such private outfits as defence personnel were laid off. The presence of floating armouries in the Indian Ocean has resulted in widespread criticism from neighbouring countries, especially India and Pakistan due to the obvious security concerns and incidents like the Enrica Lexie case. In 2014, the government of Egypt also protested at the IMO that the classifying of their waters as WOA has resulted in hurting their maritime ports.

Changes from March 2018

Note: Due to continuous changes, this section may not be up to date

From 1 March 2018, the IBF list of designated risk areas was revised as follows:

• The Warlike Operations Area (WOA) off the north coast of Somalia (former definition 1) was downgraded to a High Risk Area (HRA) and absorbed into definition 2.
• The Yemeni territorial waters (12 NM from mainland) have been upgraded from Extended Risk Zone (ERZ) in the Red Sea and HRA in the Gulf of Aden to WOA. This is the new designation 1 and excludes the Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC).
• The previous upper limit of the ERZ in the Red Sea has been brought south to the Yemen/Saudi Arabia border from the previous coordinates of 20 N.

Summary

A table summarising the risk areas related to piracy is tabulated below.

Controversy

With the decline of the number of successful and attempted piracy incidents since 2012, the extent and scope of the HRA has increasingly become controversial. This notably concerns whether the territorial waters and EEZ’ of the Western Indian Ocean littorals should be considered part of the HRA.

Position of coastal states

Littoral states want the scope of the HRA reviewed on account of economic considerations and of the proliferation of arms and ammunition in the HRA.

Position of shipping industry

The shipping industry assessment in 2015 was that it was too early to revise that scope of the HRA, as revising the HRA could lead to 'loss of awareness' in the industry and possible 'disengagement' of naval actors.

Developments

2012

November

At the 12th CGPCS held on 25 July 2012, CGPCS 'noted' the continued reduction in the reach and extent of piracy in the East Arabian Sea, especially east of 70 degrees East, and asked Working Group (WG) 3 to consider a review of the HRA through discussions with industry, the drafters of BMP.

December

At the 13th CGPCS held on 11 December 2012, CGPCS 'noted' the proposed meeting of a sub-group of WG 3 on 15 January 2013 in London which will include interested Member States and representatives of the insurance and maritime industry to further discuss the issue of the review of existing boundaries of the HRA on an objective and transparent basis taking into account actual incidents of piracy.

2013

January

At the WG3 ad hoc meeting on HRA on 15 January 2013 at London, Egypt, India, and Oman submitted papers replying to inquiries of the industry and requesting review of the scope of the HRA.

May

At the 14th CGPCS held on 1 May 2013, it was decided that WG3 will hold another ad hoc meeting on the HRA in the second half 2013 to review the threat assessment by naval forces, any changes in the position of stakeholders, and the possibility of reducing the scope of the HRA.

November

At the 15th CGPCS Plenary session, the Chair of Working Group 3 (WG3) noted the enduring concern of countries over the scope of the HRA and submitted that the industry desired more time for internal deliberation after the first meeting of a SHADE working group to conduct a threat analysis in December 2013. Several delegations expressed the importance of implementing the convening of an ad hoc meeting to review the scope of HRA before the end of 2013 and expressed regret that the meeting has not been convened. Those delegations expressed their view that the 'extended HRA as outlined in BMPs 3 and 4 does not reflect the reality regarding piracy activity in the Red Sea and some parts of the Indian Ocean'.

2014

May

At the 16th CGPCS plenary, on 14 May 2014, it was noted that 'the enduring concern of some countries on the scope of the HRA' and 'the fact that the ad hoc meeting to discuss this issue, as agreed to in previous Plenaries, is yet to be held' and it was agreed to convene an ad hoc meeting on the HRA issue just before the 17th Plenary.

October

A special, ad hoc meeting on the scope of the HRA was convened on 26 October 2014, by the (CGPCS), prior to the 17th Plenary. The meeting agreed that a future meeting on the same subject should be convened by the Chair of the CGPCS by end of Mar 15 to facilitate a recommendation on the review of the scope of the HRA.

2015

March

On 13 March 2015 an extraordinary meeting of the CGPCS was held to address the issue of the revision of the HRA. several countries called on the industry to review and redraw the High Risk Area from 78° East to 65° East and exclude the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Pakistan from the HRA. It was agreed to initiate a process to review the HRA based on a threat assessment by the military followed by a risk assessment by the shipping industry.

On 17 March 2015, at a session of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense of the European Parliament, Dr Marcus Houben, stated that the CGPCS was 'confident that a solution to this issue will be found within the context of the CGPCS in the near future'.

October

On 8 October 2015, the European Union Chair of the Contact Group of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) announced a revision of the limits of High Risk Area (HRA). The new limit was placed at 65°E Longitude.

List of countries seeking review of HRA

1. Bangladesh
2. Djibouti
3. Egypt
4. India
5. Indonesia
6. Mauritius
7. Oman
8. Pakistan
9. Qatar
10. Russian Federation
11. Saudi Arabia
12. Seychelles
13. South Africa
14. United Arab Emirates

See also

• CGPCS
• Piracy in Somalia
• Anti-piracy measures in Somalia
• Piracy in the Strait of Malacca
• Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea

References

1. Wiese Bockmann, Michelle (27 February 2012). "Pirates Threaten Ship in Closest Ever Incident to Hormuz". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
2. "ITF war like and high risk areas". Itfseafarers.org. ITF seafarers. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
3. "Somali Pirate Activity The High Risk Area" (PDF). Ics-shipping.org. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
4. "Bulletins/Circulars". Lloyd's Market Association. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
5. "About the IBF". www.imec.org.uk. IMEC. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
6. "Maritime piracy and security - list of articles". www.ukpandi.com. UK P&I. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
7. "IBF war like operations". Imec.org.uk. IMEC. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
8. Cook, Peter. "Comprehensive report - survey of floating armouries" (PDF). www.piracylegalforum.org/. PLF. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
9. "Chapter 8 - Stockpiles at sea. Floating armouries in Indian Ocean" (PDF). Small Arms Survey Yearbook. 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
10. "Floating armouries in Indian ocean" (PDF). PSM University. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
11. Floating armouries - implications and risks (PDF). Omega Foundation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
12. "Submission to the IMO from India - 19 August 2014 - Risks due to floating armouries in the Indian ocean" (PDF). IMO official website. IMO and the Government of India. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
13. "Proceedings of MEPC committee - Response from Egypt to INF circular on floating armouries". IMO official website. International Maritime Organisation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
14. Shah, Riddhi. "Piracy and Floating Armouries in the Indian" (PDF). IPCS National Maritime Foundation. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
15. "IBF LIST of designated risk areas, with applicable benefits (as of 1 March 2018)" (PDF). Itfseafarers.org. ITF. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
16. "IBF High Risk and Extended Risk Areas in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean". Londonpandi.com. London P&I Club. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
17. "Annex 1 to ITF Circular No 068/S.17/D.20/SS.7/2012" (PDF). Ltfja.lv. ITF. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
18. ^ "Revision of Piracy High Risk Area (HRA)". Ministry of Defence. Press Information Bureau Government of India. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
19. Joint War Committee, Lloyd's Market Association - as of 2 April 2015. Current.
20. ^ "IBF LIST : of designated risk areas, with applicable benefits (as of 1 March 2018)" (PDF). Itfseafarers.org. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
21. ^ "Progress in HRA controversy: CGPCS participants agree on process". Lessons from Piracy. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
22. "Twelfth Plenary Session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia". US Department of State. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
23. "Thirteenth Plenary Session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia". US Department of State. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
24. ^ "14th CGPCS Plenary Communique" (PDF). Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS. 1 May 2013.
25. ^ "CGPCS Communiques [public]". Lessons from Piracy. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
26. "Communique of the 17th plenary session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia". Lessons from Piracy. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
27. "Summary of Meeting". Lessons from Piracy. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
28. "CGPCS discussed in the European Parliament". Lessons from Piracy. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
29. "Chair Publishes Summary of HRA Meeting". Lessons from Piracy. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2015.

v t e Piracy
Periods	Ancient Mediterranean Golden Age 21st century 2022 2023 2024
Types of pirate	Albanian piracy Anglo-Turkish piracy Baltic Slavic pirates Barbary pirates (corsairs) Algiers Brethren of the Coast Buccaneers Cilician pirates Child pirate Cossack pirates Filibusters French corsairs Jewish pirates Moro pirates Narentines Privateers Confederate River pirate Sea Beggars Sea Dogs Sindhi corsairs Timber pirate Ushkuyniks Uskoks Vikings Victual Brothers Wokou Women in piracy
Areas	Atlantic World Caribbean British Virgin Islands Spanish Main Lake Nicaragua Venezuela Gulf of Guinea Indian Ocean Horn of Africa Somali Coast Indonesia Persian Gulf Strait of Malacca Nosy Boraha Other waters Baltic Slavic piracy Barbary Coast Falcon Lake South China Coast Sulu Sea Pirate havens and bases Barataria Bay Île Sainte-Marie Libertatia Lundy Mamora Port Royal Republic of Pirates Republic of Salé Saint Augustin Saint-Malo Tortuga
Major figures	Pirates Abduwali Muse Abshir Boyah Adam Baldridge Abraham Samuel Alfhild Albert W. Hicks Anne Bonny Anne Dieu-le-Veut António de Faria Alexandre Exquemelin Artemisia I of Caria Awilda Bartolomeu Português Bartholomew Roberts Benito de Soto Benjamin Hornigold Black Caesar Blackbeard Bully Hayes Cai Qian Calico Jack Charles Gibbs Charlotte de Berry Cheung Po Tsai Christina Anna Skytte Chui A-poo Dan Seavey Diabolito Dido Dirk Chivers Dominique You Edward England Edward Low Eli Boggs Elise Eskilsdotter Eustace the Monk Flora Burn Flying Gang Fūma Kotarō Francis Drake François Le Clerc François l'Olonnais Gan Ning Grace O'Malley Hayreddin Barbarossa Hendrick Lucifer Henri Caesar Henry Every Henry Morgan Henry Strangways Hippolyte Bouchard Huang Bamei Israel Hands Jacquotte Delahaye Jan Janszoon Jean Lafitte Jeanne de Clisson Johanna Hård John Hawkins John Hoar John Newland Maffitt John Pro Jørgen Jørgensen José Joaquim Almeida Joseph Baker Joseph Barss Klaus Störtebeker Lai Choi San Laurens de Graaf Lawrence Prince Liang Daoming Limahong Lo Hon-cho Louis-Michel Aury Mansel Alcantra Manuel Ribeiro Pardal Martin Frobisher Mary Lindsey Mary Read Mary Wolverston Michel de Grammont Moses Cohen Henriques Nathaniel Gordon Nicholas van Hoorn Ng Akew Olivier Levasseur Pedro Gilbert Peter Easton Pierre Lafitte Piet Pieterszoon Hein Princess Sela Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalhami Rachel Wall Redbeard Richard Glover Robert Culliford Robert Surcouf Roberto Cofresí Roche Braziliano Rusla Sadie Farrell Samuel Bellamy Samuel Hall Lord Samuel Mason Samuel Pallache Sayyida al Hurra Sister Ping Shap-ng-tsai Shirahama Kenki Simon Mascarino Stede Bonnet Teuta Thomas Cavendish Thomas Tew Veborg Victual Brothers Vincenzo Gambi Wang Zhi William Dampier William Kidd Zheng Jing Zheng Qi Zheng Yi Zheng Zhilong Zheng Yi Sao Pirate hunters Angelo Emo Chaloner Ogle David Porter Duarte Pacheco Pereira James Brooke Julius Caesar Jose Campuzano-Polanco Luis Fajardo Miguel Enríquez Pedro Menéndez de Avilés Pompey Richard Avery Hornsby Robert Maynard Thomas Warren Woodes Rogers
Pirate ships	Adventure Galley Ambrose Light Fancy Flying Dutchman Ganj-i-Sawai Queen Anne's Revenge Quedagh Merchant Marquis of Havana My Revenge Royal Fortune Saladin Whydah Gally York
Pirate battles and incidents	1582 Cagayan battles 1985 Lahad Datu ambush Action of 9 November 1822 Action of 28 October 2007 Action of 11 November 2008 Action of 9 April 2009 Action of 23 March 2010 Action of 1 April 2010 Action of 5 April 2010 Anti-piracy in the Aegean Antelope incident Anti-piracy in the West Indies Attack on Veracruz Balanguingui Expedition Battle of Boca Teacapan Battle of Cape Fear River Battle of Cape Lopez Battle of Doro Passage Battle of Mandab Strait Battle of Manila Battle off Minicoy Island Battle off Mukah Battle of Nam Quan Battle of New Orleans Battle of Ocracoke Inlet Battle of Pianosa Battle of the Leotung Battle of the Tiger's Mouth Battle of Tonkin River Battle of Ty-ho Bay Battle of Tysami Beluga Nomination incident Blockade of Charleston (Vane) Chepo Expedition Capture of the Ambrose Light Capture of John "Calico Jack" Rackham Capture of the schooner Bravo Capture of the schooner Fancy Capture of the sloop Anne Carré d'As IV incident Dai Hong Dan incident Falklands Expedition Great Lakes Patrol Irene incident Jiajing wokou raids Maersk Alabama hijacking MT Zafirah hijacking MT Orkim Harmony hijacking MV Moscow University hijacking North Star affair Operation Enduring Freedom – HOA Operation Atalanta Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden Operation Dawn 8: Gulf of Aden Operation Ocean Shield Persian Gulf Campaign Pirate attacks in Borneo Quest incident Raid on Cartagena Sack of Baltimore Sack of Campeche Salvador Pirates Slave raid of Suðuroy Turkish Abductions
Piracy law	Acts of grace (1717–1718 Acts of Grace) International piracy law Letter of marque Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law Piracy Act (1536, 1698, 1717, 1721, 1837, 1850) Piracy Law of 1820
Slave trade	African slave trade African Slave Trade Patrol Amistad Incident Atlantic slave trade Barbary slave trade Blockade of Africa Capture of the Veloz Passagera Capture of the brig Brillante Indian Ocean slave trade Trans-Saharan slave trade
Pirates in popular culture	Fictional pirates Askeladd Tom Ayrton Barbe Rouge Captain Birdseye Captain Blood Captain Crook Captain Flint Captain Hook Captain Nemo Captain Pugwash Captain Sabertooth Captain Stingaree Charlotte de Berry Davy Jones Edward Kenway Elaine Marley Elizabeth Swann Franky Guybrush Threepwood Hector Barbossa Jack Sparrow Jacquotte Delahaye José Gaspar Joshamee Gibbs Long John Silver Monkey D. Luffy Vaas Montenegro Mr. Smee Nami Nico Robin Roronoa Zoro Sandokan Sanji Tony Tony Chopper Usopp Will Turner Zanzibar Novels The Pirate The Pilot: A Tale of the Sea Treasure Island Facing the Flag On Stranger Tides Jim Hawkins and the Curse of Treasure Island Castaways of the Flying Dutchman The Angel's Command Voyage of Slaves Long John Silver Pirate Latitudes Mistress of the Seas Silver: Return to Treasure Island Tropes Buried treasure Davy Jones's locker Eyepatch Jolly Roger skull and crossbones Keelhauling Marooning No purchase, no pay Pegleg Pet parrot Pirate code Pirate utopia Treasure map Walking the plank Miscellaneous Air pirate Space pirate International Talk Like a Pirate Day Pirates versus Ninjas
Miscellaneous	A General History of the Pyrates Captain Charles Johnson Truce of Ratisbon Pirate Round Mutiny Matelotage Piracy kidnappings
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