Tag: best practices

All vessels operating in the High Risk Area are recommended to implement BMP Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) has issued the following advisory:A merchant vessel reported coming under attack at 0949Z on 26 June 2011 in position 21:45N - 060:31E, approximately 118nm from Masirah, Oman in the Indian Ocean. This area will remain high risk for at least the next 24-48hours.The Maritime Administrator would take this opportunity to again urge all vessels operating in the High Risk Area to actively implement recommended Best Management Practices for anti-piracy measures as follows:Prepare the crew (refer to Marshall Islands MG-2-11-12)Harden the ship before the ship enters the High Risk Area (HRA)When entering the HRA from the direction of either the Suez Canal, the Arabian Gulf at 26N, the south at 15S or from the east at 78E: Register the ship with the MSCHOA (http://www.mschoa.org /+44 (0) 1923 958545); Report to the UKMTO ([email protected] / +971 505 523 215); and Continue to provide daily reports of ships position, course, speed and estimated and actual arrival times to UKMTO while in the HRA. Remember, the ship must be registered with the MSCHOA and report to the UKMTO with every intended transit of the HRA; Consider ...

A view to improvingcompliance of operators Operators are reminded that the Maritime Security Centre - Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) is now issuing a monthly compliance report relating to "Best Management Practices" to shipping industry associations and flag states, which lists vessels which have not complied with one or more of the three main requirements of BMP: registering with MSCHOA, reporting to UKMTO, having visible SPMs (Self Protection Measures) in place.As previously advised, INTERTANKO has now been contacting (confidentially) Members listed in these reports as not being fully compliant with BMP, with a view to improving Member compliance.INTERTANKO understands that there may be reasons why a particular vessel has not complied, such as the presence of armed guards onboard, but irrespective of this we are urging all our Members to ensure that their vessels comply with BMP at all times and in all circumstances, but specifically to verify compliance with the 3 main elements listed above.INTERTANKO continues to strongly urge all Members to support the military, by reviewing their security procedures, by ensuring that their ship masters are fully complying with BMP 3, by hardening their ships against piracy attack (deploying self-protection measures), by keeping the military advised at all times ...

Approved on Maritime Safety Committee 89th session - 11 to 20 May 2011 Interim guidance on the employment of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships transiting the high-risk piracy area off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean was approved by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which met at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 89th session from 11 to 20 May 2011.The MSC approved an MSC Circular on Interim guidance to shipowners, ship operators, and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area, and Interim recommendations for flag States on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area. Both sets of guidance are aimed at addressing the complex issue of the employment of private, armed security on board ships.The guidance to shipowners notes that flag State jurisdiction and any laws and regulations imposed by the flag State concerning the use of private security companies apply to their vessels. Port and coastal States laws may also apply to such vessels.The guidance notes that the use of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) ...