Marine Operations Note: 09/2009 - Guidelines for implementation of Best Management Practices and other Security Provisions relating to piracy and armed robbery

Fax: Email: +1 703 790 5655 security@liscr.com

18 November 2009

Marine Operations Note: 09/2009

Subject: Guidelines for implementation of Best Management Practices and other Security Provisions relating to piracy and armed robbery

Ref: (a) ISPS Code

(b)MSC.1/Circ.1334 dated 23 June 2009

1. MSC.1/Circ.1335 dated 29 September 2009
2. Marine Notice ISP-001

To: Shipowners/Operators, Company Security Officers and Master’s

This notice provides procedures for implementing internationally recognized guidance issued by the International Maritime Organization, industry and military sources regarding piracy and armed robbery towards vessels transiting off the east coast of Africa, east coast of Oman, Seychelles and the southern Red Sea. Due to continuing and escalating acts of piracy and armed robbery in these affected areas, Shipowners/Operators, and Company Security Officers (CSO) should take action to assess their vessels security and ensure appropriate measures are taken to avoid and deter piracy attacks, including the following:

1. The CSO shall review the Ship Security Assessment (SSA), in accordance with ref (a), for all Liberian flag vessels prior to their operating in the affected areas to ensure full consideration has been given to the guidance issued by the IMO, industry and military sources, including, ref (b), IMO MSC.1/Circ.1334, “Guidance to shipowners and ship operators, shipmasters and crews on preventing and suppressing acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships” and ref (c), IMO MSC.1/Circ.1335, “Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Coast of Somalia developed by the industry.”

1. Where the review of the SSA indicates that the Ship Security Plan (SSP) requires additional measures to be incorporated to counter the threat of piracy and armed robbery, the CSO should develop an Appendix to the approved SSP, setting out the relevant additional security measures, when operating in the affected area. A record of the review shall be kept on board in accordance with section A/10.1.7 of ref (a).

1. The Appendix to the approved SSP must be placed on board with the SSP. There should be a reference to the Appendix within the SSP, which addresses security provisions for piracy

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and armed robbery. However, in consideration of the dynamic nature of the threat posed by piracy and armed robbery, the SSP with Appendix is not required to be re-submitted to the Administration for review and approval.

1. The SSP with Appendix will be verified during the next scheduled ISSC audit. In cases where the audit is due within one month from the date of this guidance, reasonable consideration will be given by the Administration as to the adequacy of the security measures under development.

1. The contents of any Appendix to the approved SSP are subject to the same unauthorized access protection and disclosure restrictions as the SSP, in accordance with section A/9.8 of ref (a).

1. CSO’s are reminded to also review the SSA of vessels which will not operate in the affected areas, but may operate in areas where incidents of piracy and armed robbery have been reported, to ensure the SSA takes into account the generic threats associated in those other areas. In such cases, an appendix to the SSP may be included in accordance with the above procedures.

CSO’s should report within 24 hours to the Administration any incident of attempted piracy, armed robbery or any other breach of security. The report should include an assessment of the effectiveness of any measures taken by the vessel to deter the attack. Liberian Marine Notice REP004 will be amended to reflect this requirement.

For questions regarding this note please contact Cedric D’Souza at telephone +1 703 251 2469 or by email at security@liscr.com

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