Coping with Capture
Hostage Handbook on Somali pirates
In general, seafarers have only a limited knowledge of pirates, their ways of attacking and boarding and their breaching strategies for the citadels. Many seafarers are uncertain about their general situation should they become a hostage, and the treatment they will receive from their captors.
This handbook aims to prepare seafarers for encounters with Somali pirates, and contains valid information about the situation as a hostage on a ship or on land. It provides the seafarer with a set of behavioral guidelines, and coping strategies, to assist him in the event of boarding, citadel
break-in and during captivity.
Coping with Capture addresses issues such as
- Conduct in the event of a citadel break-in
- Deescalating behavior towards armed pirates high on khat
- Dealing with the stress of captivity
- Coping with threats and torture
- Psychological first aid and group dynamics
Coping with Capture is created by a team of experienced specialists,consisting of certified hostage-survival instructors, a crisis psychologist, a Somali culture and piracy specialist, a military linguist, and soldiers from the Naval Special Forces.
