The golden ticket for 'Golden Compass'
Captain Luis Nunez de Castro of 'Golden Compass' tells The Crew Report about choosing to have armed guards on board for his trip across Somalia waters, and the responsibility this places upon a captain.…
Captain Luis Nunez de Castro of Picchiotti’s 46m motoryacht Golden Compass crossed the high-risk piracy zone of Somalia twice in a two-and-a-half-year round the world trip, during which he welcomed armed guards on board following a near miss some years before. Captain Nunez de Castro tells The Crew Report about the use of armed guards from the captain’s point of view.
“I remember meeting a boat with a British security company on board that had a noise device for keeping pirates at bay. I asked them if they had fire guns, but they said no, we just have this device. So, I thought about using that device, but then that same year, coming back from Tanzania to the Med with my old boat, I passed through Somalia waters, where of course there are no lights, nothing at all. I found out that one week before me a French sailing boat was captured in exactly the same waters I passed through just five days after me. After that I said, wow, we were very lucky. Next time I pass through here I need to have armed guards.”
About six months into 2009, Captain Nunez de Castro undertook the task of stepping on board Golden Compass for a two-and-a-half-year round the world trip with the boat’s American owners. However, if you are truly sailing all round the world, you will have to pass through Somalian waters. And of course this time armed guards were requested. “The three guards were very professional people,” explained the captain. “One guy was a former solider from Afghanistan and Iraq. These guys know what they’re doing. We made drills together with all the crewmembers on board. We made the engine room a bunker in case of pirates boarding.”
The round the world trip at times necessitated some short cuts, and in this case one was made from Sri Lanka through the piracy zone, whereby both the security company and the Australian military worked to improve security on board Golden Compass. The Australian military working with the European Union Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta (UKMTO) and Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), and ensured Golden Compass registered before the passage, and also ensured they made a counter-piracy GoA Pre-Transit Checklist and piracy alert Master Bridge Plan, and every day the yacht sent its position to UKMTO and MSCHOA. “The security company put one extra guard on board, which was good. But a military Australian boat advised there was a cargo attack just 50 miles from my position, and also told me the pirate boat was heading in our direction. I communicated with the military and they told me that if we continued on our course the pirates would reach us in just eight hours. So, after eight hours a helicopter arrived and flew above Golden Compass, looked over the area and made sure everything was alright.” Luckily, no pirates were found, and no attacks took place, but should they have, Golden Compass and her crew would evidently have been in a much safer position with the help of the security company and the military.
“I don’t know if other captains know this,” Captain Nunez de Castro added, “but if an armed guard on board starts shooting, he’s your responsibility. It’s a very difficult situation. I mean, we know the procedures: the first shot is preventative, and then it is serious shooting.”
But, would he make this passage again? “I wouldn’t be happy about it, but I think with security companies it is possible,” the captain told me. “People do some real intelligence about the area, so it is manageable. But of course you need to take all the precautions. I’m not sure if it’s the correct way to do it, but it’s the safest way.”
Captain Luis Nunez de Castro made the decision to have armed guards on board with Golden Compass' American owners
“I remember meeting a boat with a British security company on board that had a noise device for keeping pirates at bay. I asked them if they had fire guns, but they said no, we just have this device. So, I thought about using that device, but then that same year, coming back from Tanzania to the Med with my old boat, I passed through Somalia waters, where of course there are no lights, nothing at all. I found out that one week before me a French sailing boat was captured in exactly the same waters I passed through just five days after me. After that I said, wow, we were very lucky. Next time I pass through here I need to have armed guards.”
"If an armed guard on board
starts shooting, he’s your responsibility. It’s a very difficult situation." - Captain Luis Nunez de Castro
About six months into 2009, Captain Nunez de Castro undertook the task of stepping on board Golden Compass for a two-and-a-half-year round the world trip with the boat’s American owners. However, if you are truly sailing all round the world, you will have to pass through Somalian waters. And of course this time armed guards were requested. “The three guards were very professional people,” explained the captain. “One guy was a former solider from Afghanistan and Iraq. These guys know what they’re doing. We made drills together with all the crewmembers on board. We made the engine room a bunker in case of pirates boarding.”
Having made the decision to have armed guards on board, Captain Nunez de Castro (centre) was able to take the yacht to Sumbawa where he socialised with the locals
The crewmembers spent time with the locals after making the potentially dangerous crossing
The round the world trip at times necessitated some short cuts, and in this case one was made from Sri Lanka through the piracy zone, whereby both the security company and the Australian military worked to improve security on board Golden Compass. The Australian military working with the European Union Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta (UKMTO) and Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), and ensured Golden Compass registered before the passage, and also ensured they made a counter-piracy GoA Pre-Transit Checklist and piracy alert Master Bridge Plan, and every day the yacht sent its position to UKMTO and MSCHOA. “The security company put one extra guard on board, which was good. But a military Australian boat advised there was a cargo attack just 50 miles from my position, and also told me the pirate boat was heading in our direction. I communicated with the military and they told me that if we continued on our course the pirates would reach us in just eight hours. So, after eight hours a helicopter arrived and flew above Golden Compass, looked over the area and made sure everything was alright.” Luckily, no pirates were found, and no attacks took place, but should they have, Golden Compass and her crew would evidently have been in a much safer position with the help of the security company and the military.
Golden Compass is available for charter and sale through Ocean Independence
“I don’t know if other captains know this,” Captain Nunez de Castro added, “but if an armed guard on board starts shooting, he’s your responsibility. It’s a very difficult situation. I mean, we know the procedures: the first shot is preventative, and then it is serious shooting.”
But, would he make this passage again? “I wouldn’t be happy about it, but I think with security companies it is possible,” the captain told me. “People do some real intelligence about the area, so it is manageable. But of course you need to take all the precautions. I’m not sure if it’s the correct way to do it, but it’s the safest way.”
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