Tag: High Risk Area

Piracy update: Increased suspicious activity in the HRA

Identification guide for Dhows, Skiffs and Whalers in the High Risk Area

EU Naval Force Commander reminds yachting community to avoid the High Risk Area

Guidance On Use of PCASP On Board Singapore-Registered Ships in the High Risk Area

Reminder to adopt BMP4 to deter piracy in the High Risk Area

Kidnap and Ransom - West African Threat The Skuld P&I Club issues information bulletin regarding Gulf of Guinea which defined as a High Risk Area due to West African Threat as follows:We would like to draw your attention toa recent article from Tradewinds about piracy in West Africa (published 3 May 2012).Currently this is a different threatfrom that which exists in the Indian Ocean as the pirates do not have a "safe haven" to take the vessel to and from which to issue ransom demands.Therefore we have amended the wording to cover to include illegal detention. Because the losses are happening a long way offshore the definition of the insured area is wider than just calls to ports.Already we have seen instances of crew being removed from vessels and the concern is that these could be ransomed. This would be an insured event under the wording that we offer.With these events taking time to resolve the Charterers may wish to consider buying LOH for calls to this area.Due to the increased risk in this area please also find attached a set of guidelines recently issued by the maritime security consultants, BGNPlease do not hesitate to call your respective syndicate if ...

It has been agreed to establish a High Risk Area in the territorial waters of Nigeria and Benin International Maritime Employers' Committee Ltd. Advised its members that following discussion at an IBF High Level Officers' meeting held in Tokyo and subsequent communication between the parties, it has been agreed to establish a High Risk Area in the territorial waters of Nigeria and Benin, extending to 12 nautical miles from the shore line. The full text of the agreement follows and members should note that it enters effect from 1 April 2012. IMEC members have been asked to ensure that the Masters of any vessels visiting Nigeria or Benin are notified of this new designation and the necessary information is supplied to seafarers as follows:The constituents to the International Bargaining Forum have been increasingly concerned about the deteriorating situation in respect of security of crews employed on IBF vessels in the Gulf of Guinea. Specifically, available reports of attacks leading to forceful seizure of cargo and kidnapping of crew members have been considered at length. The increase in the number of attacks and the violent tactics of hostage taking applied by armed gangs, have been found disturbing, particularly in the waters ...

MMC - 230 The Panama Maritime Authority issues circular regarding High Risk Areas as follows:The purpose of this Merchant Marine Circular is to inform about the High Risk Areas that have been identified because of the constant report of Piracy Incidents, Stowaways, and/or Criminal Activity.Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC): All Panamanian flagged vessels are hereby requested to use the IRTC which includes the creation of separate eastbound and westbound transit lanes. Each lane will be 5 NM wide and will be separated by a 2 NM buffer zone.As the IRTC is subject to change, by military authorities, according to prevailing circumstances, Panamanian flagged vessels are urged to obtain up-to-date information from the Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa "MSCHOA" website: http://www.mschoa.org or NAV-warnings promulgatedfor that area.Best Management Practices (BMP): All Panamanian flagged vessels are requested prior to transit, or leaving a port within the region, to follow BMP and to contact the local information centres for up to date instructions or transit and reporting.It is anticipated that these BMP will be periodically updated based upon operational experience and lessons learned. Panama flagged vessels are urged to keep to the latest Best Management Practices and verify these with the designated information centres ...

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 ...

Notification serves as a reminder to register vessels with MSCHOA & report vessel movement to UKMTO The Republic of the Marsall Islands issued Marine Advisory No 77-11 as follows:Please be advised that the Maritime Administrator has set up a zone notification as a convenience for Masters and CSOs of vessels that enter the piracy High Risk Area (HRA). The notification serves as a reminder to register vessels with MSCHOA and report vessel movement to UKMTO.Attached is an example of the message that is sent (Zone Notification Event), along with the map that shows the history of position reports from the time just prior to entering the HRA until actually within the HRA.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:o Register the ship with the MSCHOA (http://www.mschoa.org /+44 (0) 1923 958545);o Report to the UKMTO ...