Shooting Pirates Aboard the COSCO Tianjin – Wait, it’s Not What You Think
The folks at Maritime Training Services have been shooting some pirates aboard the COSCO Tianjin….all in an effort to bring realistic anti-piracy training to a DVD player near you.
Producing a training film aboard a real container ship presents real challenges: a constantly running generator creates ambient noise, variable lighting and weather conditions cause delays, a film crew unfamiliar with the ship’s layout presents safety risks, and finding an authentic location and enthusiastic actors can be the most difficult of all.
For companies that produce these films for the maritime industry, such as Walport, Maritime Training Services and Videotel, these issues are a daily reality. For Maritime Training Service’s latest production, Piracy: Preparations, Precautions and Response, the film’s script and storyboard were fully developed – without a location or crew in which to film.
“We could have used a laid up ship and professional extras,” said Rick Titcomb, President, Maritime Training Services, “But we discovered long ago that using authentic ships and real mariners establishes credibility with our audience — a key component for educational films. But logistically, using a real ship and crew is not easy to do.”
Filming aboard the Cosco Tianjin (Maritime Training Services)
Enter COSCO Americas Executive Vice President, Tim Banks, who heard about the need for a location, saw the arrival of the COSCO ship Tianjin coincided with the film shooting schedule and offered to make the ship and crew available for the new training DVD.
“Helping the training community benefits COSCO and the entire industry,” said Mr. Banks, “It also provided an opportunity for our crew to run drills under unique circumstances and a different kind of pressure.”
Maritime Training Services filmed the COSCO Tianjin crew simulating mustering exercises, stocking of the safe haven or citadel and removal of weapons, all as precautions against piracy attack. Despite the Tianjin’s primary language being Chinese and Maritime Training Services being English, COSCO provided an interpreter throughout the production schedule and both sides reported few communication lapses.
“Without supportive industry partners like COSCO, the cost to make these films would become prohibitive and the quality would go down,” said Rick Titcomb, “Fewer companies would produce realistic training materials.”
Maritime Training Services provided free copies of Piracy: Preparations, Precautions and Response to COSCO’s fleet, despite COSCO agreeing to host the production without financial precondition.
COSCO crewmembers play key roles in the new film, which outlines a ship’s 5 key vulnerabilities, identifies active and passive defensive measures, introduces anti-piracy technologies and explains how to apply your ship security plan. The DVD narration track is in English with subtitles in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and English. Also included is a Bonus CD-ROM containing a printable anti-piracy training checklist/teaching aid, an anti-piracy poster, current IMO Circulars on Piracy, and the MSCHOA Best Management Practices to deter Piracy (BMP).
Piracy: Preparations, Precautions and Response is being released at a time when piracy attacks continue to make headlines around the world. Most recently, on October 2nd 2009 the Spanish ship Alakrana lost contact with the shore after issuing distress calls saying pirates were attacking it off the coast of Somalia. These attacks, which have occurred from the Gulf of Aden to the South American coastline to the Straits of Malacca, exploit some common vulnerabilities, including a low freeboard, low speed, low sea state, and a low state of alert.
“I’d rather remake the film Waterworld than face these pirates,” said Rick Titcomb. “Comprehensive, consistent and clear training procedures are the best deterrent to these threats and because of COSCO’s enthusiastic crew and partnership we might prevent more of these attacks.”
As for Rick Titcomb and Maritime Training Services, what is the best part of filming onboard a COSCO container ship? “No prima donna actors”.
For More Info
Matt Gasparich, Maritime Training Services, 206.467.8458
Email: info@maritimetraining.com
The crew aboard the COSCO Tianjin performs a muster (Maritime Training Services)
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