Bangladeshi Ships Mandated Armed Security Amidst Pirate Threats

The maritime route along the East African coast in the Indian Ocean has historically posed significant risks, leading ships to navigate at a considerable distance from the shore for safety. Unfortunately, the Bangladeshi-flagged vessel 'MV Abdullah' fell victim to Somali pirates despite maintaining a distance of approximately 450 nautical miles from the coast during its journey from Mozambique to Abu Dhabi.

In response to this incident, the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) has introduced new guidelines for the management of ships operating on international sea routes. These directives mandate that 97 Bangladeshi-owned ships traversing perilous waters must now be equipped with armed security personnel, in compliance with international regulations.

Furthermore, the Department of Shipping has instructed that, in accordance with international law, armed security guards should be present while crossing both the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Captain Sabbir Mahmud, the principal officer of MMD, emphasized that adherence to international shipping regulations and bolstered security measures could have prevented such an occurrence. Consequently, the owners of the aforementioned 97 Bangladeshi-owned ships navigating hazardous sea routes have been instructed to engage armed security personnel henceforth.