Combating Piracy

Update on the Industrys Best

Management Practices (BMP)
Singapore
26 January 2011

Tim Wilkins
INTERTANKO Regional Manager Asia-Pacific

Radically changing situation...

MV Samho Jewelry

1. Industry liaison and activity on

piracy
2. BMP
1. Background and Summary
2. Updates

3. Current issues
4. Compliance
5. Concluding remarks

Industry Liaison and Activity (1)

UN
Participant at UN Contact Group (plenary) and working groups on
Piracy, communications with Secretary General
Production of Best Management Practices V3
IMO
Revision of MSC Guidance Circulars
Submission to MSC 88 on need for more robust action and
prosecution of those captured
EU and other governments
Presentations to EU Commission and MEPs
Frequent contact with EU and other member states
MILITARY
Providing MNLO Secondee to MSCHOA
Regular contact with EUNAVFOR, UKMTO, CTF, NATO
Participation in Naval Shared Awareness and De-Confliction
(SHADE) Meetings

Industry Liaison and Activity (2)

OTHER
Contributed to production of Anti-Piracy Charts
Developed Merchant Shipping Communication Plan
Extensive media contacts
Developing guide with INTERPOL on evidence gathering
and witness statements
INFORMATION to MEMBERS/INDUSTRY
Developed Piracy Model Clauses (INTERTANKO and BIMCO
clauses)
Providing regular Security Bulletins to Members
Providing Routing Guidance
Participating at Industry Seminars
Frequent contacts with national governments

Best Management Practices

Industry Best Management Practices 3rd Ed.
June 2010
OCIMF

INTERTANKO
ICS/ISF
BIMCO
SIGTTO
INTERCARGO
IGP&I
CLIA
IPTA
IUMI
Joint Hull Committee
Joint War Committee
ITF
IMB
MSCHOA
MTO-Dubai
EU NAVFOR Somalia

Best Management Practices: Overview

Target audience: the Seafarers.

Pocket-sized booklet: illustrations and a small

chart.

Expansion of the High Risk Area: Suez to the

North, 10 South and 78 East.

Further advice on Ship Protection Measures, the

UKMTO Vessel Position Reporting Form, and
Fishing Industry guidance.

Encourages post-incident reporting to MSCHOA,

UKMTO and additionally to the relevant Flag
State.

Additional advice augmenting BMP3 at the

MSCHOA web site www.mschoa.eu

Best Management Practices: Overview

Purpose: Avoid

Deter

Delay

Scope:

Risk Assessment

Typical Pirate Attacks

Implementing BMP

Company Planning

Masters Planning Prior to Transit Voyage Planning

Prior to Transit Self Protection Measures

If a Pirate Attack is Imminent

If Boarded by Pirates

In the Event of Military Action

Post Incident Reporting

Updating Best Management Practices

Useful Contact Details

UKMTO Vessel Position Reporting Form

Piracy Definitions

Follow-up Report

Additional Guidance for Vessels Engaged in Fishing, inthe GulfofAden and off
the Coast of Somalia

Best Management Practices (1)

Latest available information...

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UK-MTO)

Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSC

HOA)

NATO Shipping Centre

Maritime Liaison Office Bahrain (Marlo

Bahrain)

IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

Industry bodies: OCIMF, INTERTANKO,

INTERCARGO, ICS, BIMCO...

Best Management Practices (2)

Register and Report - Group Transits
All ships that register with MSCHOA are entered
onto a Vulnerable Shipping List every day at
MSCHOA.
The MNLO unit tracks all transit vessels whose
ETAs are not consistent with the group timings and
emails them directly to advise them to adjust ETA at
the IRTC, or to advise their transit intentions
MSCHOA advise all ships Masters via email and by
tel. of the other ships accompanying them both
Eastbound and Westbound in their group
All of this policing is vital provides reassurance of
situational surveillance

Best Management Practices (3)

Self Protection Measures (1)
a) Watchkeeping and Enhanced Vigilance
b) Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
c) Manoeuvring Practice
d) Alarms
e) Upper Deck Lighting
f)

Ships Tools and Equipment

g) Equipment Storage
h) Limiting Access

Accomodation and Machinery Sapces

Best Management Practices (4)

Self Protection Measures (2)
b) Enhance Bridge Protection
c) Physical Barriers
d) Water Spray and Foam Monitors
e) Safe Muster Points and Citadels
a) Safe Muster Point Guidelines
b) Citadel Guidelines

Best Management Practices (5)

Safe Muster Points and Citadels
a) Safe Muster Point Guidelines
A Safe Muster Point is a designated area sufficiently inboard within
the superstructure (preferably double bulkhead protection) able to
withstand small arms and RPG fire where;
a. in the event of an attack, non essential crew or passengers may safely muster,
or
b. in the event of imminent boarding by pirates, all remaining crew can also
muster, preferably seated with their hands in clear view.

b) Citadel Guidelines
A Citadel is a designated pre-planned area specifically built into the
ship where; in the event of imminent boarding by pirates, all crew
will seek refuge and protection with the objective of preventing the
pirates from gaining control of the vessel. Such a space would
probably have, but not be limited to: command and control
capability of the vessel, its own self-contained air-conditioning;
emergency rations; water; supply; good external communications;
emergency shut down capability for the main and auxiliary engines;
and remotely operated CCTV cameras.

Best Management Practices (6)

Safe Muster Points and Citadels
b) Citadel Guidelines
Members are strongly urged to make sure that
they are fully aware of the MSCHOA guidance on
Citadels which is available on the MSCHOA web
site at http://www.mschoa.org/

Current issues:
1. Use of firearms onboard merchant
Complex issues and serious consequences:
ships
Not all flag states permit arms onboard
Not all port states will permit vessels to enter port limits or berth with arms on
board.
Conflicts and complexities with the ship's security plan and the port security
plan.
The companies offering armed services are unregulated and owners have no
ability to assess their suitability to bear arms or undertake the tasks to be
performed.
Issues relating to adequate insurance including P&I cover.
Issues relating to the appropriate response of an armed guard to a threat of
attack.
Legal consequences and complexities in the event of an armed guard using
lethal force on a pirate, or on a civilian or crew member in error, or even the
armed guard suffering fatal injuries or death as a result of his actions.
The legal position and liability in the event that an armed guard causes damage
to the ship or cargo or an environmental incident.
General safety aspects on the vessel, such as the adequacy of Life Saving
Appliances and lifeboat/life-raft capacity.
Dangers associated with hazardous cargo and non-intrinsic equipment (firearms).

Current issues:
1. Use of firearms onboard merchant
The INTERTANKO
ships Position
1. INTERTANKO believes it is the responsibility of the
international navies to ensure the right of free
passage on the high seas including the use of
vessel protection detachments (VPD) on merchant
ships
2. INTERTANKO does not advocate the arming ships'
crews.
3. INTERTANKO believes that the use of private
armed guards; private security forces or
mercenaries onboard merchant ships has to be a
matter for each individual owner or manager to
assess as part of their own voyage risk assessment

Current issues:
2. Compliance with the BMP
full implementation of BMP3 and the reporting
requirements by all merchant vessels transiting the
high risk area is a cornerstone of merchant vessel
protection
Common question how many vessels comply with BMP?
Not REPORTING and Not implementing SPMs

Military observation:
LRIT
Flag information

Ship list established - issued to industry associations biweekly

Industry to follow up and ensure:

1.
2.
3.
4.

report to UKMTO;
register with MSCHOA;
comply with BMP3;
have adequate self-protective measures in place.

Current issues:
2. Compliance with the BMP cntd.
Third party convoys?
Reporting to UKMTO
Registering with MSCHOA and
Implementing adequate SPMs is.........still
important!

Concluding remarks
Both industry and governments recognize that eliminating
piracy is a shared responsibility and each is doing their part
Significant progress has been made by both, BUT, more must
be done to eradicate piracy and we must work together to
do it
Adherence to Best Management Practices is still incomplete
Maintaining assets and resources will be a challenge for both
governments and industry associations over the medium/longer term
More owners are resorting to the use of armed guards
Any escalation of activity/levels of violence will create new
challenges
The solution to the Somali problem stills seems as distant as ever
There is a risk that the Somali model is copied elsewhere

Moving forward
INTERTANKO continues to urge Governments
to robustly pursue the prosecution of those
committing acts of piracy on the high seas.
Seek a final solution to the root cause of
piracy in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of
Somalia, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of
Guinea, the waters adjacent to the
Singapore Straits and other high-risk areas;
Ensure that safety and security are
reinstated in current identified high-risk
piracy areas by addressing the long-term
root causes of piracy ashore in Somalia.

www.intertanko.com

thank you