Semester at Sea Responds to Piracy Concerns

A Message from Salvatore Moschella, SAS/ISE VP and Chief Operating Officer

Nov. 18, 2008: Acts of piracy are decreasing in many parts of the world but they are increasing in areas off the coast of Somalia in eastern Africa and the Gulf of Aden in Yemen. While most incidents have involved cargo vessels and small pleasure crafts traveling closely to the coast, these events are being closely monitored by the Institute for Shipboard Education.

International governing bodies are responding to incidents of piracy and the region is under increased patrols. Recently, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution authorizing a series of decisive measures to combat piracy and armed robbery, and NATO ships have been deployed to protect vessel traffic.

It is important to note that Semester at Sea follows a critical and comprehensive plan for health and safety—our number one priority—and we have a 45-year track record for mitigating risk. Itineraries are carefully selected to avoid areas of security concern and we work in close collaboration with senior experts in the State Department, our vessel management company V.Ships, our independent risk management company ASI Group, and other U.S. and international authorities. Contingency plans are always in place to reroute a voyage should any concern arise with regard to piracy or international security

Some Semester at Sea itineraries travel through the historic Suez Canal and through the Gulf of Aden, which is a major transportation route used by cargo ships as well as passenger vessels. On these itineraries, Semester at Sea and the senior officers of the MV Explorer take additional proactive measures to mitigate piracy and other threats. Our ship travels at a considerable and safe distance from the Somali coast, where the majority of piracy occurs. Our ship is the fastest of its kind in the world so we are able to maneuver quickly away from potential dangers. In addition, our high freeboard (distance from the waterline to the upper deck) makes our ship nearly impossible to board. When nearing the Gulf of Aden we enforce a 24-hour security watch and maintain constant contact with international maritime agencies that monitor vessel traffic. In addition, we deploy widely used anti-piracy devices to ward off potential intruders.

If you (and/or your student) have concerns about Semester at Sea safety, health, or piracy issues, I invite you to learn more about SAS health and safety practices on our website or by contacting me at [This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots; you need JavaScript enabled to view it]

Sincerely,

Salvatore Moschella
VP and Chief Operating Officer