Marine Security Advisory: 01/2011 - Revised Registration, Reporting and Anti-Piracy Distress Calling, Emergency Contact Information for vessels transiting High Risk Areas of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean
27 April 2011
Marine Security Advisory 01/2011
This document is archived. It is kept for reference and may have been superseded.
27 April 2011
MARITIME SECURITYADVISORY – 1/2011
This Security Advisory supersedes “Maritime Security Advisory – 09/2009”
SUBJECT: Revised Registration, Reporting and Anti-Piracy Distress Calling, Emergency Contact Information for vessels transiting High Risk Areas of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean
Ref: (a) MSC.1/Circ.1337: Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and in the Arabian Sea Area (BMP3) (b) Marine Operations Note: 08/2010 (c) Maritime Security Advisory – 02/2009
To: Shipowners/Operators, Company Security Officers and Master’s
This revised Security Advisory provides updates on procedures for vessel registration with the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), reporting to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) and anti-piracy distress calling for Liberian flagged vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden and the High Risk Area (HRA) for piracy in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. These updates are consistent with the Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and in the Arabian Sea Area contained in reference (a) and the Liberian Administrations guidance in ref (b).
There are now four (4) entry/exit boundaries to and from the HRA as set out in 1.2 and 2.1 below.
An essential part of BMP for all vessels is liaison with naval forces in the HRA. This ensures naval forces are aware of a vessels transit in the HRA and its vulnerability to pirate attack. In order to enhance deterrence, protection and response against piracy, the Liberian Administration strongly urges Masters of every ship that transits through the HRA to register with MSCHOA, prior to entry at any of the four (4) boundaries or when departing a port within the HRA and participate in the reporting schemes during their transit, as described below.
1. Registration with MSCHOA
- Companies and Master’s are strongly urged to register their vessels with MSCHOA. This will enable:
- Access to the restricted sections of the MSCHOA website and to review the latest piracy related information contained therein.
- Group Transit coordination, if transiting through the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), reference (c).
- Automatic MSCHOA issued alerts to be sent to the primary and secondary email addresses entered at registration, until 72 hours after exiting the HRA.
- The four (4) entry/exit boundaries to and from the HRA are: 78 East, 23 North, 10 South, Suez
and Port (local), if transit starts/ends in a port within the HRA. Refer to Annex I to this security advisory for boundaries.
- ‘Vessel Movement Registration’ with MSCHOA is required only once each entry to the HRA. As an option, the data last entered for an already registered vessel may be selected and modified for future transits.
Register with MSCHOA on-line: www.mschoa.org
By email: postmaster@mschoa.org or By fax: +44 1923 958520.
(Note: This can be done by either by the Ship or the Company).
2. Reporting Scheme When Entering the Affected Area
Masters of Liberian flagged vessels are strongly urged to participate in the Merchant Vessel Voluntary Reporting Scheme to improve responsiveness and to save time when naval assistance is required. UKMTO and MSCHOA co-ordinate with the Coalition Maritime Forces (CMF) and assist the commercial maritime industry to communicate with CMF in the Middle East. Both UKMTO and MSCHOA pass the position reports of vessels in the affected area to the Combined Task Force (CTF 151) which coordinates the activities of all warships and NATO forces in the region.
2.1. When & Where to Report
Masters of vessels are advised to provide an “Initial Report” to UKMTO Dubai (via Email or Fax) when entering the affected area defined below or leaving a port within this area. o Suez as the Northwestern boundary;
- 23o N as the Northeastern boundary;
- 10 ºS as the Southern boundary; and
- 78 º E as the Eastern boundary.
- UKMTO email: ukmto@eim.ae: Fax: +971 4 306 5710; or Telex: (51)210473
- A copy of the initial report should be sent to the Liberian Administration at:
security@liscr.com
2.2. Daily Report
After transmitting the initial report to UKMTO, vessels should continue to report their daily noon position, course, speed, and ETA to UKMTO with a copy to MSCHOA, whilst operating in the HRA.
When calling at ports within the reporting area, the date/time of arrival and the ETD should be reported.
All times are requested in UTC and the preferred method of communication is email.
Reports may be made by either the vessel or by the owner/operator.
If planning to transit the Gulf of Aden, vessels are requested to add the ETA at the IRTC entry point (“Point A” or “Point B”) to the daily reports to UKMTO and MSCHOA.
Vessels are also encouraged to increase the frequency of such reports to six (6) hourly intervals within six (6) hours of entering or navigating within the IRTC and when navigating in areas that have been identified as high risk piracy areas (Hot Spots).
Final reports should be sent when exiting the affected area.
2.3. UKMTO Standard Message Format
The initial report should contain the following information:
2 Maritime Security Advisory 1/2011
- Vessel Name; o Flag;
- IMO Number; o INMARSAT Telephone Number; o Time and Position; Course; Passage Speed; o Freeboard;
- Cargo;
- Destination and Estimated Time of Arrival; o Name and contact details of Company Security Officer; and o Nationality of Master and Crew.
3. Recommended actions in the event of suspected, or imminent, piracy attack
3.1. Suspected Piracy Activity
In the event of suspected pirate activity:
- Contact UKMTO (Phone: +971 50 552 3215, Email: ukmto@eim.ae;
- Contact MSCHOA, Phone: +44 1923958545, Fax. +441923 958520, Email: postmaster@mschoa.org;
- Contact CSO in accordance with SSP/company procedures; and
- Copy the IMB by Email: piracy@icc-ccs.org
If there is conclusive evidence that the safety of the ship is threatened, make an “All Stations” “Urgent Message” preceded by the appropriate Urgency signal (PANPAN) via VHF, INMARSAT C and/or DSC using the “all ships urgency” category.
3.2. Imminent Attack
Should an attack appear imminent:
- Activate the SSAS (Ship Security Alert System);
- Make a ‘Mayday’ call on VHF – 16 (and backup channel 08 which is monitored by the Naval units) and send a distress message via MF/HF DSC and INMARSAT C;
- Contact UKMTO 24 hr Duty Officer Phone: +971 50 552 3215, Email: ukmto@eim.ae;
- If no answer, contact MSCHOA, Phone: +44 1923958545, Fax. +441923 958520,
Email: postmaster@mschoa.org; and
- Contact CSO in accordance with SSP/company procedures.
For more information please contact the Security Department at telephone + 1 703 790 3434, email security@liscr.com; LISCR Duty Officer + 1 703 963 6216, email dutyofficer@liscr.com
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- Maritime Security Advisory 1/2011
ANNEX I
- Maritime Security Advisory 1/2011
