2 Prior to Transit – General Planning
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1332 – Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Water off the Coast of Somalia – (16 June 2009) - Annex 1 – Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Coast of Somalia (February 2009) - Recommended Best Management Practices - 2 Prior to Transit – General Planning

2 Prior to Transit – General Planning

Parent topic: Recommended Best Management Practices

a. General

  i. The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), is the planning and coordination authority for EU Forces in the Gulf of Aden and the area off the Coast of Somalia. UKMTO Dubai is the first point of contact for ships in the region. The day-to-day interface between Masters and the military is provided by UKMTO Dubai, who talk to the ships and liaise directly with MSCHOA and the naval commanders at sea. UKMTO requires regular updates on the position and intended movements of ships; they use this information to help the naval units maintain an accurate picture of shipping. (See Glossary at Appendix 1 for further detail.)

  ii. Prior to transiting the high risk area, the owner and Master should carry out their own risk assessment to assess the likelihood and consequences of piracy attacks on the ship, based on the latest available information. The outcome of this risk assessment should identify measures for prevention, mitigation and recovery and will mean combining statutory requirements with supplementary measures to combat piracy.

  iii. Company crisis management procedures should consider appropriate measures to meet the threat of piracy by adopting IMO and other industry recommended practices as appropriate to the particular circumstances and ship type.

  iv. Advanced notice of the passage plan is required by the naval authorities so that they can identify vulnerabilities and plan suitable protection. This is achieved through MSCHOA. The information provided will enable MSCHOA to plan suitable protection and track the ship's passage through the area.

  v Whilst measures should be taken to prevent pirates boarding, the safety of crew and passengers is paramount.

b. Company Planning:

  i. It is strongly recommended that managers and/or the operations department register their ships and passage plan prior to transit of the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) with MSCHOA (http://www.mschoa.org).

  ii. Review the Ship Security Assessment (SSA) and implementation of the Ship Security Plan (SSP) as required by the International Ship and Port Facility Code (ISPS) to counter the piracy threat.

  iii. The Company Security Officer (CSO) is encouraged to see that a contingency plan for the high risk passage is in place, exercised, briefed and discussed with the Master and the Ship Security Officer (SSO).

  iv. Be aware of the particular high risk sea areas that have been promulgated.

  v. Carry out crew training prior to passage.

  vi. The use of additional private security guards is at the discretion of the company but the use of armed guards is not recommended.

  vii. Consider additional resources to enhance watch keeping numbers.

c. Ship’s Master Planning:

  i. Once the ship’s passage is registered with MSCHOA, Masters are advised to update their position and intended movements with UKMTO during the planning phase, preferably 3 – 4 days before entering either the GoA or passing the coast of Somalia.

  ii. Prior to transit of the region it is recommended that the crew should be thoroughly briefed.

  iii. The anti-piracy contingency plan has been shown to be most effective when implemented in advance; a drill is conducted prior to arrival in the area, the plan reviewed and all personnel briefed on their duties; including familiarity with the alarm signal signifying a piracy attack.

  iv. Masters are advised to also prepare an emergency communication plan, to include all essential emergency contact numbers and pre-prepared messages, which should be ready at hand or permanently displayed near the communications panel (e.g., telephone numbers of MSCHOA, IMB PRC, CSO, etc. – see Contact List at Appendix 2).

  v Define the ship’s AIS policy: SOLAS permits the Master the discretion to switch off AIS if he believes that its use increases the ship’s vulnerability. However, in order to provide naval forces with tracking information within the GoA it is recommended that AIS transmission is continued but restricted to ship’s identity, position, course, speed, navigational status and safety related information. Off the coast of Somalia the decision is again left to the Master’s discretion, but current naval advice is to turn it off completely. This should be verified with MSCHOA.

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