MSC.1/Circ.1302
PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY AGAINST SHIPS IN WATERS OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA
(16
April 2009)
1.
During 2008, most reported acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships in
the waters off the coast of Somalia and, in particular, the seizure and
attempted seizure of ships for ransom, occurred in the Gulf of Aden. However,
since the beginning of this year, there has been a worrying increase in the
number of attacks reported off the east coast of Somalia in the Western Indian
Ocean, some taking place over 500 nautical miles off that coast.
2.
The recent increase in the number of acts of piracy in the waters off the coast
of Somalia is considered to be largely due to an improvement in the weather
following the end of the monsoon season. The successful efforts of navies in
patrolling and disrupting pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden may also have been
a contributory factor in the increase in pirate activity in the Somali Basin
and the Western Indian Ocean.
3.
In view of the increased number of attacks in the Western Indian Ocean, the
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) released advice to its members, on 15
April 2009, to the effect that, as advised by the Maritime Security Centre Horn
of Africa (MSCHOA), shipmasters should not, unless unavoidable, plan their
passage within 600 nautical miles of the Somali coast in the Western Indian
Ocean (ICS (09)10, copy attached).
4.
In view of the current situation, as described above, and the impact any act of
piracy and armed robbery may have on human life, the safety of navigation and
the environment, Member Governments and international organizations concerned
are invited, as a matter of urgency, to advise shipowners, ship operators and
managers, shipping companies, shipmasters and all other relevant parties to
make further efforts to implement fully the preventive measures provided in:
.1
MSC/Circ.622/Rev.1 Recommendations to Governments for preventing and
suppressing piracy and armed robbery against ships; and
.2
MSC/Circ.623/Rev.3 Guidance to shipowners and ship operators, shipmasters and
crews on preventing and suppressing acts of piracy and armed robbery against
ships.
5. Furthermore, Governments and international organizations
concerned should, as a matter of urgency, advise shipowners, ship operators and
managers, shipping companies, shipmasters and all other relevant parties to:
.1 accept the
advice of MSCHOA and ICS as provided in paragraph 3 above;
.2 unless
operating under national schemes, register the intended movement of their ship with
MSCHOA via the website www.mschoa.org;
.3 unless
operating under national schemes, report the navigation route of their ship to
the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Dubai, when navigating
through the Gulf of Aden and/or the Western Indian Ocean;
.4 take prompt
action in response to any alerts or guidance issued by MSCHOA, UKMTO Dubai,
Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) Bahrain, the International Maritime Bureau
Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC), ALINDIEN (Tel: +33 (0) 4 83 16 10 97 alindien@free.fr)
or any coastal State authority in the region so as to minimize the risk of
attack; and
.5 report any
attacks or suspected pirate activity to UKMTO Dubai (Tel: +97 1505523215
ukmto@eim.ae) or IMB PRC (Tel: +60 320310014 imbkl@icc-ccs.org /
piracy@icc-ccs.org) immediately, with further reports to MSCHOA
(opscentre@mschoa.org) and the regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre as
soon as possible.
6.
This circular is issued following consultations between the Secretary-General
and the Chairman of the Maritime Safety Committee.
Annex.
International Chamber of Shipping
15
April 2009
12 Carthusian
Street
London EC1M 6EZ
Tel +44 20 7417
8844
Fax +44 20 7417
8877
ics@marisec.org
www.marisec.org
www.shippingfacts.com
To:
ALL FULL AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
ICS(09)10
Copy: