Analysis: IMB urges "citadels" on board

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) and EU NAVFOR urge shippers to establish "citadel space."

The citadel space should be located in an inside location without portholes, such as the steering space gear area, where all crew can retreat to after they have disabled the vessel, should pirates have managed to board. With the ship disabled and the crew secure behind watertight doors, Mr. Choong said this should allow enough time for naval patrols to be alerted and a helicopter sent to the rescue. The pirates would be “helpless”, unable to even start the vessel’s engines without the crew’s help...

(ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping, 6/10/09)