Background

For the shipping industry and the seafarer, Piracy remains a particular scourge which needs high level Government and UN support in concert with legitimate Professional Navies to defeat piracy in areas such as Somalia.  Intercargo pays tribute to both the professional navies who have achieved so much in support of the seafarer and world trade, but also the Masters and Crews of vessels, who it was estimated in June 2009, were responsible through their evasive actions in averting 78 % of all attacks.

Intercargo and our Round Table colleagues have actively participated and promoted through the IMO and elsewhere, Best Management Practices (BMP’s) which give advice to Masters and Companies on how best to avoid seizure by Pirates.  These matters are kept under review by a small dedicated Intercargo Correspondence Group comprised of Intercargo Bulk Carrier companies who assist and advise the secretariat and Executive Committee on anti-piracy strategy and reaction to proposed policy developments.

Recent News - Advice & Guidance

20121011 : Dhow and Fishing Vessel Recognition Guidance

The NATO Shipping Centre has recently produced three new Guides to help ship's crews distinguish and identify different local vessel types, while transiting the High Risk Area. The Guides cover both dhows and fishing vessels that can be encountered in the HRA.

They can be downloaded free of charge at the NATO Shipping Centre's website at : http://www.shipping.nato.int/

20120718 : Human Element / Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP):

Intercargo attended, and participated in the panel discussion for the Oceans Beyond Piracy / IMB launch of their 2011 “Human Cost of Somali Piracy” report at IMO on 22 June.

The Report centres on the August 2011 “Washington Declaration” at which Panama, Liberia, the Marshall Islands and Bahamas, pledge as “concerned flag states” to redouble their efforts to encourage other flag states to support accurate relevant reporting to the IMB and is divided into two parts – 1. An in-depth statistical analysis of the hijackings in 2011 and 2. Evidence from captured seafarers concerning their treatment at the hands of the pirates.

Intercargo and the ITF co-sponsored an IMB paper together with the Marshall Islands, Panama and Liberia drawing attention to this important issue at the IMO MSC meeting in May.

OBP and IMB report

20120626 : IMO Interim Flag State Guidance

Following the IMO MSC90 meeting (16-25 May 2012), IMO MSC Circular 1444 providing 'Interim Guidance for Flag States on Measures to Prevent and Mitigate Somalia-Based Piracy', has now been produced.

In the main, the Circular acts as an aide memoire to flag administrations by listing the substantial, existing industry and IMO guidance that has already been produced, to enable administrations to easily collate and incorporate it into their own counter-piracy strategy. 

20120620 : IMO Interim PMSC Guidance

Following the IMO MSC90 meeting (16-25 May 2012), IMO MSC Circular 1443 providing 'Interim Guidance for Private Maritime Security Companies Providing Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel on Board Ships in the High Risk Area', has now been issued.

The Circular can be found here: MSC Circ. 1443

20120529 : UKMTO Advice

The UKMTO have asked for immediate feedback from ships transiting the HRA/GoA that feel that they are either threatened or in danger of being attacked, and we remind members that the UKMTO should be the first point of contact in such circumstances; any delay in contacting the UKMTO will delay any potential military response.

The UKMTO have recently observed that some ship’s masters are choosing to phone their CSO first in the event of a piracy incident. One of the fundamental requirements of BMP4 states that UKMTO is the primary point of contact for merchant vessels during piracy incidents in the High Risk Area which should avoid unnecessary delay and possible inaccurate or incomplete information reaching military commanders.

CSOs should ensure their ships’ security plan reinforces the BMP4 recommendation that UKMTO should be telephoned on +971 50 55 23215 in the event of any piracy activity. UKMTO will then make every effort to contact the CSO as a matter of priority with any information received, whilst ensuring the relevant information reaches the military commanders with the minimum of delay.

20120209 : The Economic Cost of Somali Piracy 2011 Report

As a follow up to their initial study released in January 2011, the One Earth Future Foundation's 'Oceans Beyond Piracy' study 'The Economic Cost of Somali Piracy' has now been further updated and re-released in a 2011 edition. The aim of the study is to assess all the main factors involved that contribute overall to the costs of piracy to the industry.

The study continues to be a 'live' project and many of the assumptions and projections made, may be inaccurate owing to the diverse number of information sources involved. Therefore, the 'One Earth Future Foundation' has requested input and comment where appropriate from industry to help improve the overall accuracy of the study.

A copy of the study can be found here: ECOP Full Report 2011

20120111 : UKMTO Reminder

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) have advised that while transiting the High Risk Area, some ships are either delaying reporting suspicious skiff or small craft activity, or are advising the UKMTO of such activity by email only. Delays in reporting such important information may mean an increased risk to other ships in the vicinity and make it difficult for warships to investigate the perceived risk.

Masters are reminded that the fastest means of communications must be used and that any suspicious sightings or aggressive approaches should be reported to the UKMTO via telephone (+971 505 523 215), following up with an email report and any photographs, if available.

20111214 : Recent Improvements to the NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) Website

In early October, an RSS feed was added to the site. The RSS feed is a feature that automatically publishes updates to subscribers. Users can subscribe to the RSS feed and stay updated on Navigational Warnings and Alerts on the Somali Pirate Alert Map, and will receive an RSS update on a specific activity, on mobile phone and/or email, as soon as there is a new Alert.

In addition, the Pirate Attack Group (PAG) map has also been improved. New legends and text boxes with position/time/date for the specific activity have been incoporated. The background of the map has also been changed to include the whole High Risk Area as defined in BMP4.

NATO prides itself on providing accurate and reliable information, and welcomes any feedback that users may have.

20111128 : Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP)

Documents produced by the MPHRP relating to the “good practice” guides for use by shipping companies to support both seafarers and seafarers’ families through the three phases of a piracy incident are now available for download from their website at http://www.mphrp.org/MPHRP-Good-Practice-Guide.pdf

This is the full version of the Guide with the Guide for Seafarers, the Guide for Seafarers' Families and all accompanying appendices and other pages included.

20111007 : The SOS ‘SaveOurSeafarers’ industry-led, anti-piracy campaign has launched a short video highlighting the human and economic cost of Somali piracy. The six-minute video highlights the significant threat of Somali piracy attacks for the seafaring community and potentially for world trade itself.

The SOS campaign, launched in March this year, is made up of the largest ever grouping of international seafarers’ organisations, shipping companies and shipping industry associations, including Intercargo, and has already received backing from the British, Philippine and Georgian governments and has seen support from 180 countries.

Full information on the campaign and the video can be found at www.saveourseafarers.com

20111007 : DVD – Piracy: The Menace at Sea

To compliment the launch of BMP4, the Steamship Mutual P&I with the support of a number of industry associations, including Intercargo, has produced a DVD which not only highlights the importance of full implementation of the advice contained in BMP4, but is also intended to bring the issue of piracy to the attention of a wider audience. As with BMP4, every Intercargo Member will receive a copy of the DVD as part of an information pack, shortly. For further information, please refer to the Steamship Mutual website at www.simsl.com

20111006 : Guidance on the construction and use of citadels

Industry has produced Guidelines aimed at giving guidance on the construction and use of citadels for ships in waters affected by Somali based pirates. The document was produced by the Round Table partners – INTERTANKO, BIMCO, ICS and Intercargo - as well as other industry associations, and has been approved by NATO, EUNAVFOR and the Combined Maritime Force (CMF).

The Guidance is available for download from the MSCHOA website at: www.mschoa.org

For security purposes, the document is only accessible for download upon completion of registration on the MSCHOA website.

Users should check the MSCHOA website regularly for updates to the Guidance.

20111006 : Intercargo will again discuss and debate the issue of piracy at its members only meeting in Athens, next week.  Specific topics on the agenda will include Armed Guards, BMP4 and the design aspects of citadel construction.

20111005 : Following the recent release of BMP4, Intercargo has amended and re-printed its "Bulk Carrier BMP Aware" Stickers to reflect the updated advice contained in the booklet. The stickers have been produced to encourage ships to make the linkage between the advice contained in the Best Management Practice Guidelines and their own shipboard operations.  Also contained on the stickers are the contact details for UKMTO and MSCHOA.  Any Bulk Carrier owner - irrespective of whether they are a member of Intercargo or not who would like copies of these free of charge stickers, should contact zoe.sakka"AT" intercargo.org [with the "AT" replaced by the conventional @ symbol to avoid spam email].  

20110816 : The new, improved NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) website went live today, providing more comprehensive and timely information for the shipping community about pirate activity around the Horn of Africa. The web address remains www.shipping.nato.int

20110816 : The latest version of Best Management Practices, BMP4 is attached below, and industry Associations are currently working on a co-ordinated release of the publication. Meanwhile, we continue to emphasize the importance that all Masters and Shipping Companies are strongly urged to follow the advice and guidance contained in BMP4:

Industry Best Management Practice Version 4 low res.pdf

20110301 : Intercargo endorses and supports the www.saveourseafarers.com initiative.  Please visit this site to add your support to the campaign to eradicate piracy.

20110228 : Intercargo will discuss and debate the issue of piracy at its members only meeting in Hong Kong on 8 March 2011.  On the agenda for discussion - Armed Guards, BMP and Self Protection Measures, Human Element, Legal issues; Motherships, and galvanising political and public support.  Intercargo's Piracy Correspondence Group has been asked for its views as input for this meeting.

20110203 : Intercargo was pleased to be an invited guest at IMO's 2011 World Maritime Day annual theme, entitled - Piracy : IMO Orchestrating the Response.  The presence of the UN Secretary General, Mr Ban ki Moon, together with other key international figures outlined the outrage felt by the civilised world about the recent escalation in violence towards seafarers.

20100630 : The latest version of Best Management Practice, BMP 3, has now been released. All Masters and Shipping Companies are strongly urged to follow the advice and guidance contained in the latest version of the BMP, below:

20091224 : Intercargo has printed some "Bulk Carrier BMP Aware" Stickers to encourage ships to make the linkage between the advice contained in the Best Management Practice Guidelines and their own shipboard operations.  Also contained on the stickers are the contact details for UKMTO, MSCHOA and MARLO.  Any Bulk Carrier owner - irrespective of whether they are a member of Intercargo or not who would like copies of these free of charge stickers, should contact zoe.sakka"AT" intercargo.org [with the "AT" replaced by the conventional @ symbol to avoid spam e mail].  Subject to demand, Intercargo, will arrange for the stickers to be produced in languages other than English, with the first languages expected to be Greek, Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic and Tagalog.

20091113 : Routeing and Reporting advice from EUNAVFOR, NATO and CMF :