Declining Somali piracy prompts reform of High Risk Area in Indian Ocean

In broad terms, the changes agreed will reduce the HRA boundaries to the Yemeni and Somali Territorial Seas and Exclusive Economic Zones in its eastern and southern reaches. The HRA was created at the height of the Somali piracy threat in 2010 to show shipowners, operators, and seafarers where pirates operated and where extra vigilance was required to avoid attacks.

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As the organizations explained, subsequent updates to the HRA have reflected the changing nature of threats in the region, as well as the existence of more severe security threats, such as piracy off West Africa, necessitating a change in how industry assesses such dangers to shipping.

The security landscape is constantly evolving, and as new security threats have emerged or intensified outside the Indian Ocean it has become clear the HRA is outdated and misleading…Now our attention must shift to ensure we cover all maritime security threats around the globe so we continue to protect the lives of our seafarers and keep global trade moving,

…Guy Platten, ICS Secretary-General said.

The current form of the HRA is no longer the best way to guide maritime security risk management processes. As demonstrated with the recent security incidents in the waters around the Arabian Peninsula, we need a more granular approach to the concepts of threat and risk. The next logical step is to develop a global, threat-based concept which captures how ships of various type, size, nationality, ownership etc. face different risk levels,

…addd David Loosley, BIMCO Secretary General and CEO.

The new coordinates of the HRA are: From position A (Latitude of 01 30’S on the Somali coast), a line to

• Position B (01° 30’ S – 046° 00’ E), a line to
• Position C (01° 00’ N – 049° 30’ E), a line to
• Position D (09° 00’ N – 055° 00’ E), a line to
• Position E (14° 20’ N – 057° 30’ E), a line to
• Position F (the Yemen coast at longitude 053° 00’ E), then
• Follow the Yemeni coast westwards and northwards, to
• Position G (the Yemeni Red Sea coast at latitude 15° 00’ N), then a line to
• Position H (the Eritrea territorial sea border at latitude 15° 00’ N), then
• Follow southwards first Eritrea’s and then Djibouti’s territorial sea borders, to
• Position I (the coastal border point between Djibouti and Somalia), then
• Follow the Somali coast eastwards and then southwards, to Position A.

This new designation is an interim measure to allow for the continued application of BMP 5 whilst the Co-Authors undertake substantive work to address maritime security threats in a global context,

…stated Katherina Stanzel, INTERTANKO Managing Director.

The organizations, in consultation with international partners, will also take a comprehensive new approach to assessing international maritime security threats to allow shipowners and operators to fully gauge the risk of voyages worldwide. This second step is expected to be completed by 31 December.

This adjustment to the HRA better reflects the reality of the piracy threat but given the breadth of maritime security threats faced by seafarers, a more intuitive and dynamic system for highlighting threats will be most welcome,

…noted Robert Drysdale, OCIMF Managing Director.