Marine Security Advisory: 02/2011 - RAISING TO SECURITY LEVEL II - FOR VESSELS TRANSITING THE SOUTHERN RED SEA, GULF of ADEN, INDIAN OCEAN and ARABIAN SEA
09 May 2011
Marine Security Advisory 02/2011
This document is archived. It is kept for reference and may have been superseded.
May 9, 2011 MARITIME SECURITYADVISORY – 02/2011 |
This Security Advisory supersedes ‘Security Advisory: 03/2010’
SUBJECT: RAISING TO SECURITY LEVEL II - FOR VESSELS TRANSITING THE SOUTHERN RED SEA, GULF of ADEN, INDIAN OCEAN and ARABIAN SEA
Reference: (a) Marine Ops Note 08/2010.
- Marine Security Advisory01/2011
- MSC.1/Circ.1337
Dear Owners/Operators/Company Security Officers/Masters:
In response to piracy attacks that have occurred outside the previously defined pirate activity area, the Liberian Administration has revised the setting of MANDATORY SECURITY LEVEL II for all Liberian flagged vessels when transiting the Gulf of Aden and the High Risk Area (HRA) for piracy in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean., effective immediately.
Mandatory Security Level II shall be set when transiting the Gulf of Aden and the HRA, defined as the Suez as the Northwestern boundary, 23º N as the Northeastern boundary; *25 ºS as the Southern boundary; and 78 º E as the Eastern boundary, including when departing a port within this area.
*Note: The Southern boundary of the Mandatory Security Level II area, has been set at LAT 25 ºS (South of the Southerly limit of the HRA) due to ongoing elevated threat levels between LAT 10 º S to 25 ºS and particularly off the coast of Mozambique and Madagascar..
When operating within territorial seas or calling ports within the defined area Masters shall set the Security Level to the level set by the Port State authority.
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.
Voyage Planning
Pirate attacks are taking place at extreme distances from the Somali Coast, using “mother vessels” The “mother vessel” is able to proceed further out to sea to launch boats or skiffs to attack or hijack passing vessels. Vessels trading anywhere in the western Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea must be on high alert before entering these waters.
Companies and Masters shall obtain the latest information from MSCHOA before planning and executing a voyage in the HRA and should maintain maximum distance from specified threats within the HRA. Companies and Masters are strongly urged to follow guidance regarding registration, reporting and anti-piracy distress calling as per Liberian Maritime Security Advisory 01/2011.
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:
Security Advisory 02/2011
- 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 area have been taken into account.
- Follow the emergency reporting procedures and schemes illustrated in Liberian Security Advisory 01/2011.
- 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 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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