Marine Operations Note: 08/2010 - Guidelines for implementation of Best Management Practices and other Security Provisions relating to piracy and armed robbery

23 December 2010

Marine Operations Note: 08/2010

This Marine Operations Note supersedes Marine Operations Note 01-2010

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.1337 dated 04 August 2010
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.1337, “Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and in the Arabian Sea Area (BMP3) 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).

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

1. The Appendix will be verified by submitting an electronic copy together with a copy of the SSP index and/or amendments record sheet to the Administration before the next scheduled ISSC audit. In cases where the audit is due within one month of the date of this guidance, reasonable consideration will be given by the Administration as to the adequacy of the security measures under development. Where the appendix has been previously verified on board the vessel during an audit by a LISCR auditor, this will remain acceptable in lieu of submitting an electronic copy.

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 REP-004 will be amended to reflect this requirement.

For questions regarding this note please contact David Friesem or Cedric D’Souza by email at security@liscr.com or by telephone: 703 790 3434

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