Marine Security Advisory: 03/2010 - RAISING TO SECURITY LEVEL II - FOR VESSELS TRANSITING OFF THE EAST COAST OF AFRICA, EAST COAST OF OMAN, SEYCHELLES, THE SOUTHERN RED SEA and ARABIAN SEA

December 23, 2010

MARITIME SECURITYADVISORY – 03/10

This Security Advisory supersedes ‘Security Advisory: 08/2009’

SUBJECT: RAISING TO SECURITY LEVEL II - FOR VESSELS TRANSITING OFF THE EAST COAST OF AFRICA, EAST COAST OF OMAN, SEYCHELLES, THE SOUTHERN RED SEA and ARABIAN SEA

Reference: (a) Marine Ops Note 08/2010. (b) Marine Security Advisory09/2009

(c) MSC.1/Circ.1337

Dear Owners/Operators/Company Security officers/Masters:

In response to recent piracy attacks that have occurred outside the previously defined pirate activity area, the Liberian Administration has set a MANDATORY SECURITY LEVEL II for all Liberian flagged vessels when transiting off the coast of EAST AFRICA, the coast of EAST OMAN the Coast of Madagascar, Seychelles, the southern RED SEA and ARABIAN SEA, effective immediately.

Mandatory Security Level II shall be set when transiting within 1000 nm from the coast of East Africa and 750 nm from the East Coast of Oman between LAT 23° North and LAT 25° South, and in the southern part of the Red Sea

below LAT 16°20’ North, and Arabian Sea, excluding the territorial waters of India (SEE ATTACHED ILLUSTRATION).

Security Level II is required to ensure higher vigilance and tighter controls to protect against possible acts of piracy. Upon change of Security Level Masters should report to the Administration via email to security@liscr.com.

Naval intelligence sources report that Somali pirates are using “mother vessels” to launch attacks at great distances from the coast. The “mother vessel” is able to proceed further out to sea to launch boats or skiffs to attack or hijack passing vessels. Several attacks have taken place more than 1,000 nm from the Somali Coast. Recent attacks have also taken place of the coast of Kenya, Somalia, Yemen, Oman, and in the Arabian Sea. Vessels have been attacked and hijacked in waters as far east as LONG 72⁰ East as far south LAT 12⁰ South and as far north as LAT 21.5⁰ degrees North. Vessels trading in these waters must be on high alert before entering these waters. Note cautionary areas marked in yellow where Master’s are advised to be vigilant and implement measures equivalent to Security Level 2.

Owners are also strongly encouraged to advise their Masters to keep their vessels a distance of at least 700nm from the coast of Somalia and at least 1000 nm from the coast of Kenya and Tanzania (between 0° and 15° south) if possible, when not calling at ports in the area, and to remain vigilant and question the intentions of all craft approaching their vessels.

The increase to Security Level II will remain in effect until further notice.

In addition to the above precautionary measures Owners, Operators, and Company Security Officers should take the following actions:

• Verify compliance with internationally recognized Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and in the Arabian Sea Area (BMP3), contained in MSC.1/Circ.1337.
• Ensure that guidance issued by IMO, industry and military sources regarding piracy and armed robbery in the Security Advisory 03/2010 area have been taken into account.
• Follow the emergency reporting procedures and schemes illustrated in Liberian Security Advisory 09/2009.
• Report any incident of attempted piracy or armed robbery. The report should include an assessment of the effectiveness of any measures taken by the vessel to deter the attack and lessons learned.

For more information please contact David Friesem or Timothy Keegan by email at security@liscr.com or by telephone: 703 790 3434.

Information regarding piracy prevention training is available at: http://www.liscr.com/liscr/PiracyPrevention/tabid/222/Default.aspx

* * * * *

Note: The shaded area is for illustration purpose only and is not to be considered as actual coordinates

Long 72

0

East

To South 25