Razor Wire – A Thorny Issue?

In this article James Wilkes, Managing Director, Gray Page discusses the problems that razor wire fitted for anti-piracy purposes can pose for vessel operations, and a possible solution using barriers made of high density polyurethane (HDPE) plastic material.

Piracy in its many forms is a persistent threat to ships operating in many areas of the world.

Each successful piracy attack demonstrates the susceptibility of ships to being boarded unlawfully from over the side and highlights, in particular, the security vulnerability created by the presence of their safety rails.

Pirates target ships’ safety rails because, undefended, they provide a frame onto which light-weight ladders and bamboo climbing poles can be hooked, quickly and easily.

Over the years there have been various ideas suggested to make the safety rails harder for pirates to exploit, from creating a wall of water spray using fire hoses to installing electric fencing.

Since the creation of Best Management Practises to Deter Piracy [off the Coast of Somalia and in the Arabian Sea Area] (BMP), razor wire has become the most commonly used material for constructing a seaward-facing barrier for the purposes of making the safety rails more difficult for pirates to get over.

Razor wire (also known as barbed tape), is designed to rip and grab onto clothing and flesh for the purpose of preventing humans passing through or over it easily. And concertina razor wire, which is recommended in BMP, is manufactured under tension in order to make it coil, meaning it will unfurl and whip out if precautions are not taken to prevent that while cutting it.    

However, the properties which make razor wire a hazard to potential aggressors also make handling and fitting it inherently dangerous for crew. And the personal protection equipment (PPE) recommended for the safe handling of razor wire – a face shield, arm-length leather gauntlets, leather aprons and leg guards – make fitting it more difficult. So, the recommended PPE is rarely used and injuries happen.

Razor wire is ill-suited for use on ships for other reasons as well.

Until you are alongside a ship fitted with razor wire, it is not particularly visible; it’s more air than solid material. Consequently, it is not a conspicuous deterrent at distance.  

Furthermore, razor wire is not a dynamic security measure; it is not designed to be rigged and de-rigged frequently. But, as most ports and terminal will not permit entry to a ship with razor wire barriers in place, that is what is happening and crews are spending days constructing and de-constructing them.

The corollary of this is that thousands of linear metres of used razor wire is being scrapped regularly, much of it being tossed overboard into the sea.

However, there is now an effective alternative to razor wire: anti-piracy barrier systems manufactured from high density polyurethane (HDPE) plastic.

There are three obvious benefits that plastic security barriers have over razor wire.

Firstly, they are safe to handle for anyone fitting them.

Secondly, in the right colours, they are highly visible and therefore provide a conspicuous deterrent to potential attackers.

And thirdly, they do not rust and corrode, so they last in good condition considerably longer than razor wire.

Earlier this year Gray Page launched a barrier system, called DFENCE (www.graypage.com/DFENCE). Based on two years of research and development, it is designed to deter, delay and deny over-the-rail boarding, as well as being safe to handle, easy to fit (un-fit and re-fit) and convenient to store when not in use.   

The introduction of plastic anti-piracy security barriers is a positive and timely contribution towards hardening the security posture of ships against the threat of piracy. And there is nothing for shipowners to lose by exploring the products that are now in the market. 

Gray Page is not alone in developing these barriers, at least 2 other companies manufacture and market plastic anti-piracy barrier systems: ARX ABaC (www.arxdefence.com) and Guardian (www.guardian-maritime.com).