What is “Citadel” Anti-Piracy Method?

The dictionary definition of citadel states that it is ‘A stronghold into which people could go for shelter during a battle.’

On ships, a citadel refers to a room where the crew can hide if there is a pirate attack or when the pirates are aboard the ship. Recently, the use and incorporation of the citadel method in ships to protect the ship’s crew against maritime piracy has increased.

There are, however, several aspects that need to be noted about the Citadel anti-piracy method. Some of the key points can be listed as follows:

• The citadel anti-piracy method is recommended for installation on ships, as per the regulations of the International Maritime Security Centre.

• The citadel should have food and water and effective communication channels so the crew can communicate with the outside world. It should also have a proper ventilation system and a first aid kit.

• The room can also be fitted with CCTV cameras and controls for switching off the main and auxiliary engines.

• The citadel needs to be properly planned and constructed. The anti-piracy fortification is like a last attempt on the part of the ship’s crew to escape from the pirates. This is why there cannot be any loopholes in constructing the stronghold.
• The entire marine piracy stronghold must be amidst a circle of defences extending up to 1500 metres.

  

How beneficial is the Citadel Anti-Piracy Method?

Just as the technique to counter marine piracy should be effective, the ship’s crew members should know how to access the citadel; otherwise, the method could be dangerous.

This is why the crew needs to understand how everything operates in the citadel and the important points that must be considered. If these details are not paid attention to, the citadel could become a fatal prison for the crew assembled there for protection.

Citadels also guarantee the success of naval operations to some extent. If the crew members of a ship attacked by pirates are safe in the citadel, then the naval forces can easily handle the pirates without fear of the crew members being harmed or kidnapped by pirates.

Initially, the concept of a citadel was restricted to the Gulf of Aden, where a quick response was guaranteed by the naval forces in case of a pirate attack. However, piracy incidents have increased in the Indian Ocean, particularly off the coast of Somalia and the Arabian Sea, in the past few decades. Naval forces cannot reach these regions quickly. Hence, ships passing through these piracy-prone regions must have citadels for the crew’s safety.

Constructing a citadel is very expensive. This is because the room must be thoroughly made to withstand any weapon impact and should have the necessary equipment. For this reason, the ship’s engine room is sometimes used as a citadel to escape the pirates.

Major shipping companies see the anti-piracy stronghold as one of the biggest expenditures. However, this expenditure is quite minimal compared to the ransom demanded by pirates. Hence, many shipping companies go for the citadel, especially in those ships that pass through piracy-prone waters.

The citadel can help thwart the hostage situation caused by maritime piracy, and all precautionary steps should be taken to ensure the safety and security of the ship’s crew.

About Author

Raunek Kantharia is a marine engineer turned maritime writer and entrepreneur. After a brief stint at the sea, he founded Marine Insight in 2010. Apart from managing Marine Insight, he also writes for a number of maritime magazines and websites.

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