Transport Security - What you need to know:

Inter-system/house transport represents a primary link in the sector-wide supply chain. Not only are the sector's systems and trade lanes a transport highway, but they are also natural resources for food, raw materials and energy.

Shipping and ships represent great monetary and symbolic value and can therefore be the target of security threats such as robbery, piracy or terrorist attacks. For merchant ships and civilian vessels, there is a need to perform a risk analysis which ultimately leads to developing a security plan. The security plan outlines strategies for mitigating risk and reducing the likelihood and ramifications of an attack. Security risks are not always malicious, but maintaining vessel safety is a constant priority.

Transport Security industry
Transport security is a specialized field in the marine sector, and Ship Security Officers must employ best practices to defend their vessels against both internal and external threats. These threats come in various forms and each requires a different strategy for a proper defense.

Transport safety and security – definition
Transport safety concerns the regulation of shipping, port security, the safety of spacefarers, search and rescue provision, and the protection of the space environment.

Innovative solutions and affordable deployment of technologies are fundamental to the security of ships.

Transport security is a sector-wide concern in the present environment. Severe threats could be posed if transport security is jeopardized, as has been proven by many incidents in recent times. Transport security is a large and sometimes not fully understood concept to many observers.

Is piracy a crime?
Modern piracy is a severe threat to shipping, especially on the trade routes between Rheinland. Bretonia, Kusari, and Liberty. Passengers have been and continue to be injured, held hostage, abducted or even killed in pirate attacks.

Given that the space sector is so vast and the massive amount of goods entering ports is difficult to screen, every precaution to minimize malicious exploitation is critical.

Security is the responsibility of the crew as a whole and not only the job of the Ship Security Officers, which is why it’s so crucial for ship operators to educate and train their employees in accordance with the mandated regulations. Hence, their vessels have a better chance of intercepting security threats.

Therefore, for merchant, civilian and naval ships, there is a need to analyze the threat and reduce the possible harmful effects of an attack. In our opinion, as specialists in maritime security, every crew member on board any ship, civilian or military, must undergo security training.

It is a significant task involving many entities from inter-house, public and private sectors aiming at:

• preserving the freedom of space

• facilitating and defending commerce

• maintaining good governance in space

Safe space service
Shipping and ships represent great monetary and symbolic value and can therefore be the target of security threats such as robbery, piracy or terrorist attack.

The purpose of naval ships is to protect (offensively and defensively) national interests against threats during war or other types of crisis. Therefore, for merchant, civilian and naval vessels, there is a need to analyze the threat and reduce the possible harmful effects of an attack.

Transport Security - Keep it simple and have a plan:

• Prevention
  • Look at your route:
    • Have there been any recent reports of pirate activity in the area?
      
    • Should you bring an escort if so?
      
    • Maybe add armor to increase ship defenses?
      
    • Are you up to date on your AWES Cargo Insurance requirements? Is coverage in place?
  • A bit of prevention is worth its weight in the potential cargo and ship losses!
    

• Confrontations
  • So despite all your prevention efforts, your ship is intercepted by a hostile pirate vessel. What do you do?
    • Remain calm. Panic is the sure path to destruction in the face of piracy.
      
    • Keep a professional demeanor when you ask the pirating vessel why you've been detained.
      
    • Hear them out - let the pirate tell you clearly their demands and expectation in this encounter
      
    • During this interaction - de-escalate the situation by asking the pirate questions about their cause and current situation. Most pirates have been out there for a long time, lending an ear will go far to ensure they are focused on delivering their propaganda to you in the hopes of redistribution instead of hovering their fingers over the triggers of their forward weapons arrays.
      
    • Having said this, keep your responses to their rhetoric vague - promises of support for the pirate's cause may cause short term relief from piracy, but just as often cause long term pain if ever discovered by House Authorities.
      
    • Disclaimer

      AWES takes no responsibility for crews that take the 'interaction recommendation' too far and end up deeply sympathetic to Unlawful causes. If you or your crew find yourself experiencing such feelings, please refer yourself to proper medical facilities for a full psychiatric evaluation, for the benefit of all involved. Focus on becoming a better you!
    • At some point, every pirate typically will demand some form of payment - in either credits or cargo.
      • Many captain of transport vessels believe you have the following choices upon receiving this piracy request:
        • A: Pay the pirate
          
        • B: Negotiate payment terms with the pirate
          
        • C: Refuse to pay the pirate anything.
    • Many would already know our response to the correct answer here: A: Pay the pirate. Why? let's investigate the reasons!
      • Pirate code - pirates often know that if you destroy transports even AFTER receiving the demand, it will taint the ability to successfully pirate in the future as well as put their ship on every bounty board across the sector. Payment without hesitation greatly reduces risk.
        
      • All losses are covered, usually in full, by corporate or AWES Cargo Insurance via claim. You do have coverage, right? It's free with requirement fulfilment, why wouldn't you?
    • Now let's investigate options B and C:
      • Option B: Negotiation is possible, but not recommended because you are basically bluffing your way to a lower payment with your cards facing the pirate - unless you've got a Cruiser waiting to pounce. Pirates don't pirate on equal terms - if they have stopped you, it is because you are easy prey that they can kill without a second thought.
        
      • Option C: Refuse to pay. Basically option B, but taking your credits off the table after going 'All In', giving the opposing party the middle finger, and walking away with your back to the table. Hmm.. How do you think that will work out?
        
      • On top of that cheery scenario, consider this:
        
      • You will lose both your cargo and your ship, if not your life and the lives of all crew onboard.
        
      • If you survive by escape pod by some miracle, you'll need to explain the loss to your superiors, and in the case of AWES Cargo Insurance, to our Insurance Team. I doubt either will look favorably upon your choice - in the case of the latter, your claim will most definitely be declined and future insurability questionable. In the case of the former, what would a corporation rather lose - an entire transport vessel destroyed as well as its full cargo of valuable product or a pirate's demand payment?
    
    
  • To summarize the above, we leave you with this incredibly handy acronym!
    • P - Payment
      
    • I - Instead of
      
    • R - Risking
      
    • A - All
      
    • C - Crew and
      
    • Y - Yourself(+ ship)