US issues Counter Piracy and Maritime Security Action Plan
President Obama has released the United States Counter Piracy and Maritime Security Action Plan. The Plan, which implements the National Strategy for Maritime Security and the Policy for the Repression of Piracy and other Criminal Acts of Violence at Sea, provides guidance for counter-piracy efforts and outlines that the United States will use all appropriate instruments of national power to repress piracy and related maritime crimes.
The Counter Piracy and Maritime Security Action Plan focuses on three core areas: prevention of attacks, response to acts of maritime crime, and enhancing maritime security and governance; and provides specific frameworks for the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Guinea.
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Under the plan, the U.S. Government will work toward the following objectives:
- Reduce the vulnerability of the maritime domain to piracy and related maritime crime;
- Prevent pirate attacks and related maritime crime against U.S. vessels, persons, and interests, as well as those of our allies and partners;
- Interrupt and terminate acts of piracy and related maritime crime consistent with international law and the rights and responsibilities of coastal, flag, and other States;
- 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;
- Preserve the freedom of the seas, including all the rights, freedoms, and uses of the sea recognized in international law;
- Protect ocean commerce and transportation;
- 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;
- Build the capacity and political will of regional States to combat piracy and related maritime crime, focusing in particular on creating institutional capacity for governance and the rule of law; and
- Build the capacity and political will of regional States to combat piracy and related maritime crime, focusing in particular on creating institutional capacity for governance and the rule of law; and
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Although overarching policy priorities remain the same, the ways and means to respond to threats will vary according to geographic, political, and legal environments. The annexed frameworks will establish the tailored and specific methodology for different regions, but will focus on three primary areas: Prevention of Attacks, Response to Acts of Maritime Crime, and Enhancing Maritime Security and Governance.
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The Maritime Security Interagency Policy Committee, or its successor, will lead the interagency process to accomplish the following tasks:
- Oversee the development and implementation of maritime frameworks for the preventive actions and response by the United States Government to piracy and related maritime crime that threaten the safety of the global maritime transportation system, framed on the following principles:
- Prevention of Attacks The first and best defense against piracy and related maritime crime, as shown through best management practices, is to reduce the vessels risk and susceptibility to attack and to be prepared for a potential assault. Industry, ship owners, 4 and mariners that operate in high-risk regions are best situated to prepare vessels before an attack occurs
- Response to Acts of Maritime Crime Piracy and related maritime crime must not be ignored. A rapid and effective response will deter future criminal acts. These measures are designed to be implemented by affected mariners, security services, regional or affected nations, and/or international coalitions
- Enhance Maritime Security and Governance A lack of shore-side governance and the failure of governments to deploy adequate maritime security measures is a primary factor that allows piracy and related maritime crime to flourish. These objectives are intended primarily for the United States and international partners to facilitate the development of regional governance by States and the adoption of rule of law by their citizens
- Review existing U.S. laws against or relating to piracy and related maritime crime and, if necessary, prepare for consideration appropriate amendments to those U.S. laws to enhance our ability to prosecute individuals in U.S. courts who commit acts of piracy and related maritime crime, as well as those who aid and abet or otherwise facilitate such acts; and
- Build international cooperation, consistent with the International Outreach and Coordination Strategy of the National Strategy for Maritime Security, 6 to enhance the ability of other States to combat piracy and related maritime crime and to support U.S. counterpiracy actions.
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For more information please read theUnited States Counter Piracy and Maritime Security Action Plan by clicking below:
