To many, the date February 28, 1997 may seem somewhat inconsequential—just another day with no true bearing on events in the Indian Ocean region that we all find ourselves so focused on now. However, the lessons learned on 28/2/1997 apply just as much to Anti-Piracy as they did to the Los Angeles Police Department. Unlike the LAPD, however, it would seem the Mar Sec industry has not learned from the mistakes of others.

On August 6, 2011, a Bulk Carrier came under attack by pirates in the Red Sea. Far from the usual one, two, or three skiffs attacking the vessel, there were twelve skiffs, each crewed by between 5-8 pirates. As they closed, the crew noticed guns and ladders, and the onboard security team launched warning flares. This was no deterrent as the skiffs continued to close to within 300 meters, before the Neptune team began to fire under orders from the Ship’s Captain. This was not enough, as the Pirates engaged the security team, encircling the vessel. Two skiffs continued the chase, and after a taught thirty-minute gunfight, the pirates aborted their attack.