Marine Security Advisory: 04/2017 - Reporting of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Gulf of Guinea

MARINE SECURITY ADVISORY: 04/2017

Subject: Reporting of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Gulf of Guinea

Ref.: a) Marine Security Advisory 5/2016

Dear Shipowners, Operators and Masters of Liberian flagged Vessels

The under-reporting of piracy and armed robbery committed against vessels remains a serious problem.

Under-reporting of crimes committed towards vessels in the Gulf of Guinea is estimated to be in the order of 60% to 70%, according to information provided by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). This leads to ineffective analysis and understanding of the problem, a less efficient response, and exacerbating the risk to crews.

Reporting and information-sharing is critical, as complete data on piracy incidents will allow States, regional and international organizations to take more effective measures and better understand the evolving trends in this international crime. This will allow authorities to alert seafarers to the potential dangers they may face by sailing through high-risk areas.

As noted in the attached MSC.1-Circ.1585, the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea (MDAT – GoG) commenced operations in June 2016. Information provided by ships to the MDAT-GoG when transiting West African waters is intended to help build a common maritime picture between countries in the region and support actions and interventions by regional navies in response to piracy attacks.

In accordance with Reference a), owners, operators and Masters are urged to register with MDAT-GoG upon their vessel entering its voluntary reporting area and to report suspicious activity and incidents of piracy and armed robbery in a timely manner by contacting the MDAT-GoG by phone at +33 (02) 98 22 88 88 or by email to watchkeepers@mdat-gog.org. All details for registration and reporting are contained on UKHO security chart Q 6114 and CS Carte de sûreté maritime 8801.

Owners, operators and Masters of vessels operating in the Gulf of Guinea are urged to also report incidents of piracy and armed robbery or threats thereof and suspicious activity to:

1. the nearest RCC,
2. the flag State – by phone + 1 703 251 3434 or by email to security@liscr.com, and
3. the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre - by phone +60 3 2031 0014 or by email to imbkl@icc-ccs.org.

For more information, please contact the Security Department at telephone + 1 703 251 3434 email security@liscr.com.

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E

• 1. ALBERT EMBANKMENT

LONDON SE1 7SR

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7735 7611 Fax: +44 (0)20 7587 3210

MSC.1/Circ.1585

• 1. July 2017

REPORTING OF INCIDENTS OF PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY AGAINST SHIPS

IN THE GULF OF GUINEA

1. The Committee, at its ninety-eighth session (7 to 16 June 2017), considered the under-reporting of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Gulf of Guinea. According to information provided by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the under-reporting was estimated to be in the order of 60 to 70%. It was noted that this was leading to ineffective analysis and understanding of the problem, a less efficient response, and exacerbating the risk to crews. The Committee therefore agreed to remind all parties of the need to report such incidents in a timely and accurate manner to the appropriate authorities.

1. The Committee recalled the reporting mechanisms, set out in MSC.1/Circ.1333.Rev1 on Recommendations to Governments for preventing and suppressing piracy and armed robbery against ships and MSC.1/Circ.1334 on Guidance to shipowners and ship operators, shipmasters and crews on preventing and suppressing acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, and in particular, the need to report to the coastal States.

1. With respect to the Gulf of Guinea, the Committee noted that the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea (MDAT – GoG) commenced operations in June 2016. The Committee further noted that information provided by ships to the MDAT-GoG when transiting West African waters was intended to help build a common maritime picture between countries in the region and support actions and interventions by regional navies in response to piracy attacks.

1. The Committee urged the MDAT-GoG that it should work in collaboration with coastal States in the implementation of the Code of Conduct concerning the repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships, and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa, adopted formally in Yaoundé, in June 2013, by Heads of State and Government or their representatives from 25 west and central African countries.

1. The Committee also urged all shipowners, ship operators and ships' masters to register with MDAT-GoG^[1] upon entering its voluntary reporting area and to report suspicious activity and incidents of piracy and armed robbery in a timely manner (the MDAT-GoG can be contacted by phone at +33 (02) 98 22 88 88 or by email to watchkeepers@mdat-gog.org. All details for registration and reporting are contained on UKHO security chart Q 6114 and CS Carte de sûreté maritime 8801).

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MSC.1/Circ.1585

1. The Committee further urged shipowners, ship operators, ships' masters, and commercial companies providing risk and security advice to clients operating in the Gulf of Guinea, to also report incidents of piracy and armed robbery and suspicious activity to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) (the IMB PRC can be contacted by phone at +60 3 2031 0014 or by email to imbkl@icc-ccs.org).

1. The Committee reminded flag, port, and coastal States of their responsibilities to investigate the incidents and to take into account the welfare of seafarers who are victims of crime.

1. Member States and organizations in consultative status with IMO are invited to bring this circular to the attention of shipowners, ship operators, ships' masters, and commercial companies providing risk and security advice to clients operating in the Gulf of Guinea, and all other parties concerned.

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1. Refer to Circular Letter No.3394 for further information.

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