Tag: best practices

Compliance with Best Management Practices (BMP) is recommended as the "default" position but a full risk assessment should be part of the area specific evaluations. The BUDD Group, Gard's correspondent in Togo, reported on 26 June 2012 that the Togolese government has reached an agreement with security companies for the provision of armed guards for vessels at anchorages in the port of Lome and ha

Adherence to BMP4 greatly reduces the risk The Department of Foreign Affairs reminds all Filipino seafarers, particularly those involved in navigation and ship management, to strictly follow the shipping industry's Best Management Practices against Somalia-based Piracy (BMP4).Reports have shown that adherence to BMP4 greatly reduces the risk or the success of pirate attacks in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and other high-risk areas.All Filipino seafarers are therefore advised to follow all safety precautions indicated in BMP4 when passing through the said areas. These include the submission of a Vessel Movement Registration Form with the Maritime Security Center, the filing of a report with the Dubai-based UK Maritime Trade Office, and the implementation of adequate ship protection measures among othersSource: DFA

Publication of 50,000 hard copies of BMP 4 The Industry partners who have come together to produce the BMPs are alsofinancially sponsoring the publication of 50,000 hard copies of BMP 4 so that they can be distributed to Industry on a free-of-charge basis.Additionally this year, a DVD has been produced by Steamship Mutual and endorsed by many association signatories.The challenge for the Industry is to ensure the widest possible distribution and use of BMP 4. Then they have to be implemented onboard.Naval Authorities now report on a monthly basis, the names of vessels which have failed to fully implement BMP, and organisations are being pushed toraise an internal investigation to verify compliance of their members.The three Fundamental Requirements of BMP remain, and it is important that these are adhered too:ReportRegisterImplement Self Protection MeasuresThe new guidelines are expected to be released later this month.

All vessels operating in the High Risk Area are recommended to implement BMP Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) has issued the following advisory:A merchant vessel reported coming under attack at 0949Z on 26 June 2011 in position 21:45N - 060:31E, approximately 118nm from Masirah, Oman in the Indian Ocean. This area will remain high risk for at least the next 24-48hours.The Maritime Administrator would take this opportunity to again urge all vessels operating in the High Risk Area to actively implement recommended Best Management Practices for anti-piracy measures as follows:Prepare the crew (refer to Marshall Islands MG-2-11-12)Harden the ship before the ship enters the High Risk Area (HRA)When entering the HRA from the direction of either the Suez Canal, the Arabian Gulf at 26N, the south at 15S or from the east at 78E: Register the ship with the MSCHOA (http://www.mschoa.org /+44 (0) 1923 958545); Report to the UKMTO ([email protected] / +971 505 523 215); and Continue to provide daily reports of ships position, course, speed and estimated and actual arrival times to UKMTO while in the HRA. Remember, the ship must be registered with the MSCHOA and report to the UKMTO with every intended transit of the HRA; Consider ...

A view to improvingcompliance of operators Operators are reminded that the Maritime Security Centre - Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) is now issuing a monthly compliance report relating to "Best Management Practices" to shipping industry associations and flag states, which lists vessels which have not complied with one or more of the three main requirements of BMP: registering with MSCHOA, reporting to UKMTO, having visible SPMs (Self Protection Measures) in place.As previously advised, INTERTANKO has now been contacting (confidentially) Members listed in these reports as not being fully compliant with BMP, with a view to improving Member compliance.INTERTANKO understands that there may be reasons why a particular vessel has not complied, such as the presence of armed guards onboard, but irrespective of this we are urging all our Members to ensure that their vessels comply with BMP at all times and in all circumstances, but specifically to verify compliance with the 3 main elements listed above.INTERTANKO continues to strongly urge all Members to support the military, by reviewing their security procedures, by ensuring that their ship masters are fully complying with BMP 3, by hardening their ships against piracy attack (deploying self-protection measures), by keeping the military advised at all times ...

Approved on Maritime Safety Committee 89th session - 11 to 20 May 2011 Interim guidance on the employment of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships transiting the high-risk piracy area off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean was approved by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which met at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 89th session from 11 to 20 May 2011.The MSC approved an MSC Circular on Interim guidance to shipowners, ship operators, and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area, and Interim recommendations for flag States on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area. Both sets of guidance are aimed at addressing the complex issue of the employment of private, armed security on board ships.The guidance to shipowners notes that flag State jurisdiction and any laws and regulations imposed by the flag State concerning the use of private security companies apply to their vessels. Port and coastal States laws may also apply to such vessels.The guidance notes that the use of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) ...