In the recent issue of North P&I Club’s Signals newsletter, James Wilkes, Managing Director of Grey Page, gives an insight into the problems that razor wire, fitted for anti piracy purposes, can pose for vessel operations and a possible solution using barriers made of high density polyrethane plastic material.
Piracy in its many forms is a persistent threat to ships operating in many areas of the world with each successful piracy attack demonstrating the security vulnerability in the sector.
Over the years, there have been various ideas suggested to make the safety rails harder for pirates to exploit, from creating a wall of water spray using fire hoses to installing electric fencing. The creation of Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy (BMP), have made razor wire the most commonly used material for constructing a seawardfacing barrier for the purposes of making the safety rails more difficult for pirates to get over.
Razor wire (also known as barbed tape), is designed to rip and grab onto clothing and flesh for the purpose of preventing humans passing through or over it easily.
However, the properties which make razor wire a hazard to potential aggressors also make handling and fitting it inherently dangerous for crew. And the personal protection equipment (PPE) recommended for the safe handling of razor wire – a face shield, arm-length leather gauntlets, leather aprons and leg guards – make fitting it more difficult. So, the recommended PPE is rarely used and injuries happen.
As explained, razor wire is ill-suited for use on ships for other reasons as well. Until you are alongside a ship fitted with razor wire, it is not particularly visible; it’s more air than solid material. Consequently, it is not a conspicuous deterrent at distance.
Furthermore, Mr Wilkes explains, razor wire is not a dynamic security measure; it is not designed to be rigged and de-rigged frequently. But, as most ports and terminal will not permit entry to a ship with razor wire barriers in place, that is what is happening and crews are spending days constructing and de constructing them. The corollary of this is that thousands of linear metres of used razor wire is being scrapped regularly, much of it being tossed overboard into the sea.
However, there is now an effective alternative to razor wire: anti-piracy barrier systems manufactured from high density polyurethane (HDPE) plastic.
There are three obvious benefits that plastic security barriers have over razor wire. Firstly, they are safe to handle for anyone fitting them. Secondly, in the right colours, they are highly visible and therefore provide a conspicuous deterrent to potential attackers And thirdly, they do not rust and corrode,
so they last in good condition considerably longer than razor wire.
“The introduction of plastic anti-piracy security barriers is a positive and timely contribution towards hardening the security posture of ships against the threat of piracy. And there is nothing for shipowners to lose by exploring the products that are now in the market”, notes Mr Wilkes.
