U.S. Counter Piracy and Maritime Security Action Plan

Naval Response

Ongoing activity

The United States strategy includes continued and persistent interdiction-capable presence at sea off the Horn of Africa. This includes U.S. Navy and/or Coast Guard forces operating in the region with efforts coordinated among all multilateral coalitions such as Combined Maritime Forces, NATO's Operation Ocean Shield, EUNAVFOR's Operation Atalanta and forces independently deployed. The forces will continue to operate with the objective of disrupting attacks and "in appropriate circumstances, terminate the act of piracy and any resultant hostage situation with intent to deliver any surviving pirates ashore for prosecution".

Industry Response

Ongoing activity

The U.S. will continue to encourage international shipping firms to increase compliance rate for Best Management Practices (BMP) and hardening of vessels, including the use of properly trained and equipped armed security as well as pursue the implementation of international standards for privately conctracted armed security personnelle (PCASP).

Plight of Seafarers

No activity implemented or planned

No activity planned or implemented.

Messaging and Advocacy

No activity implemented or planned

No activity planned or implemented.

Regional Capacity

Ongoing activity

Part of the strategy includes building capacity and political will of regional States to combat piracy and related maritime crime. This will focus mainly on creating institutional capacity for governance and the rule of law through strengthening national law to better enable successful piracy related criminal enterprise prosecution.

Somali Capacity

No activity implemented or planned

No activity planned or implemented.

Rule of Law

Ongoing activity

"The U.S. policy aims to ensure that those who commit acts of piracy and related maritime crime are held accountable for their actions by facilitating the prosecution of suspected pirates and ensure that persons committing maritime crime are similarly held accountable by regional, flag, victim, or littoral States or, in appropriate cases, the United States."

 

 

Coordination

No activity implemented or planned

The United States vows to "continue to lead and support international efforts to combat piracy and related maritime crime and urge other States to take decisive action both individually and through international efforts". As such, the United States will continue to lead and participate substantively in the ongoing work of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS).