Marine Security Advisory: 02/2010 - Ship Security Reporting System (SSRS)

SUBJECT: SHIP SECURITY REPORTING SYSTEM (SSRS)

Dear Shipowners/Operators, Company Security officers and Masters:

The Liberian Administration recommends that ship owners consider use of the Ship Security Reporting System (SSRS) for their vessels operating in the Gulf of Aden, the Somali Basin and off the Horn of Africa. The SSRS service enhances the effectiveness of existing Ship Security Alert Systems by providing a link from a ship sending an alert direct to the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) and UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and onward to EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta and associated participating naval forces responsible for maritime security in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast.

The SSRS service will continuously monitor SSAS alerts transmitted by subscribed vessels. The service compares the position of the vessel sending an SSAS alert to the published MSCHOA/UKMTO Area of Operation and, if establishing that the vessel is within the area, routes the alert to MSCHOA and UKMTO. Once it is confirmed that the alert is genuine; the updated information, including the vessels name, report date/time stamp, associated latitude/longitude, is disseminated through the forces Mercury system which is viewed by all participating task forces. Use of SSRS is expected to minimize communication delays between the stakeholders and, depending on their proximity, may provide the opportunity for quicker deployment of naval assets to potentially thwart a piracy boarding attempt or, if the boarding has already occurred, provide vital information; such as position, speed and freeboard, to the nearest available naval asset.

Further details regarding the SSRS service can be accessed from the commercial website:

http://www.SSRS.org.

Users should be advised that although the SSRS system reduces the notification time to the relevant Task Force, the SSRS system does not replace the need for direct reporting of incidents to MSCHOA and UKMTO and implementing anti-piracy best management practices nor does it guarantee the availability of a naval asset that can respond at the critical early stages of a piracy attack, prior to boarding. Whenever possible, the SSAS should be activated in concert with a telephone call to UKMTO.

When subscribing to SSRS the CSO shall address the new procedure and additional designated authority within the approved SSP in accordance with section A/9.4.18 of the ISPS code. The amended pages and the updated record of changes page shall be submitted to: security@liscr.com for review and approval.

For more information please contact David Friesem, Director, Maritime Security, at telephone + 1 703 251 2405 or email security@liscr.com.

* * * * *