First armed private convoy system launched in 220 years

Typhon Maritime Security Service is backed by two major international shipping companies and manned by former armed Royal Navy staff. It has already opened discussions with potential clients and started negotiating long-term contracts, claimed the company. Typhon was launched in reaction to the rapid spread of piracy from its Somali roots across the Indian Ocean as far as the Gulf of Guinea, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Currently 147 hostages are being held by pirates in Somalia.hideMaritime criminals are becoming more daring, violent, skilled and equipped. The EUNAVFOR's naval presence in the Gulf of Aden will be wound down in 2014. Typhon said this week that this is likely to coincide with a 'major escalation' in piracy in the Indian Ocean. Piracy is also a rising problem off the coast of west Africa. There is no UK, EUNAVFOR or US Naval presence in the area known as the Gulf of Guinea and none is planned. A statement from Typhon said that maritime crime is 'spiraling' to such levels that the UN Security Council has recognised it as a specific threat to international security (Resolutions 2018 [2011] and 2039 [2012]). It is estimated that the state of Nigeria loses $1bn of crude oil through theft every month. The new company's launch statement said that to date the only effective commercially available counter-measure has been provided by ride-on guards otherwise known as VPDs (Vessel Protection Detachments or Details). "This protection model provides a quantity of armed personnel to live aboard the client ship for the duration of the transit. However the client vessels have to detour for their embarkation and disembarkation often at significant cost. The range of protection from pirates is narrow: 400m from the 'target' ship," stated the company. Typhon's 'Integrated Protection Model' starts by detecting any threats of piracy at long range carried out onshore in Typhon's Operations Centre in the United Arab Emirates. "This enables Typhon to conduct their transit safely through the network of pirate action groups-and advising clients of necessary course adjustments to avoid known trouble hot spots," stated the company. Naval protection systems are by no means new. But Typhon claims that it will be the first company for over two hundred years to privately offer a 'naval-grade' service to the commercial market. The service will use close protection vessels (CPVs) to shadow client vessels using its 'umbrella concept', which consists of surveillance, detection and early warning capabilities to identify and assess any likely or suspected threats. Through early detection, Typhon will be able to deter a pirate threat before it becomes a danger, said the company. The convoys will travel in a protected 'envelope', which makes it difficult for the pirates to enter the 'Protection Zone' to launch an attack. The company stressed that its policy is always to try and 'diffuse' and 'de-escalate' any violence. The detection solution uses a multi-layered service that detects piracy in three ways-by sea (using radar), by air (using satellite) and by land (through an onshore operations centre). "In conjunction with the CPV, Typhon's detection of potential threats will inform the decision to use armoured patrol boats to intercept a potential target, engage direct fire weapons or mount a key defence of the client vessel. The use of force is a last resort and is always reasonable and proportionate using the minimum amount of force necessary," explained the company. Anthony Sharp, CEO of Typhon, said: "Typhon was created in order to address the specific threat from pirates in a number of key geographies. The area we will protect is too vast for current naval resources to monitor effectively and this will be an even bigger issue when Operation Atlanta comes to an end." Mr Sharp added: "Our mantra is to combat the problem of maritime crime and piracy using methods that are both effective and proportionate to the threat. With millions paid out in ransoms to pirates and much more money lost by businesses in fuel costs avoiding pirates, it is important that businesses are granted a safer passage with their cargo through dangerous waters. The benefits to business will be substantial."

First armed private convoy system launched in 220 years

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