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A04730 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:39

From: Watchkeeper UKMTO


<Watchkeeper@ukmto.mod.uk@SMT>
To : 'PHOENIX ISLAND' Sent 2/10/2011
12:26 PM
Date: Thursday, February 10, 2011 11:19 AM Msg: AMOS-298386174
Path: \MASTER\InBox
Sub : RE: INITIAL REPORT

Good day sir,

UKMTO acknowledges receipt of your Initial Report with thanks and will
now commence to track your vessel. In order to accurately maintain our
tracking, please continue to report daily at 0800UTC. If your initial
report did not contain all of the following data, UKMTO request you
resend your Initial Report with the following information:

1. Ship Name
2. Flag
3. IMO Number
4. Inmarsat Telephone Number
5. Time & Position
6. Course
7. Passage Speed
8. Freeboard
9. Cargo
10. Destination and Estimated Time of Arrival
11. Name and contact details of Company Security Officer
12. Nationality of Master and Crew.

The following guidance is offered to assist you during your transit of


the Somali Basin and/or the Gulf of Aden

Best Management Practices (BMP) : Self-Protection Measures

NOTE: The following questions are for survey purpose only. The
statistics are compiled to evaluate awareness of BMP3 in the shipping
community within the reporting schemes of NATO, MSCHOA, UKMTO and MARLO.
The information will be treated as confidential.

13. Are you aware of BMP3?


14. Have you registered with MSCHOA?
15. Do you enhance vigilance during transit, such as additionnal
lookouts?
16. Is there a functional Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)installed
onboard?
17. Has the ship a distinct Piracy Alarm? Is the crew familiar with the
response to it?
18. Are access routes to accommodation and machinery spaces controlled?
19. Is protection provided to the bridge, accommodation section and poop
deck against small arms?
20. Is there a citadel installed?
21. Are physical barriers (barbed wire, water spray monitors, etc)
installed?
* Primary Point of Contact
* Daily position reports
* Final reports
* Reporting to MSCHOA and arrangements for transit through the
IRTC
* Recent threats to shipping
* Drills and exercises
* Basic precautions and defences
* References

PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT


UKMTO is the primary point of contact between Merchant Shipping and
Naval forces. In the event of any suspicious activity or approach please
call UKMTO immediately +971 50 552 3215 in order that UKMTO can provide
assistance to the Master. In addition, UKMTO has direct access to all
naval assets in the area and, based upon the information in your report
the sooner you call UKMTO then the faster we are able to help you. To
assist UKMTO operators please begin all calls with the following:

* Vessel Name / Call Sign


* Position
* Course
* Speed
* Comments about your circumstances

Note that in addition to calling UKMTO as your Primary Contact, all


naval ships in the area monitor VHF channels 16 and 08 and they may also
be contacted.

It is important that the telephone is your first communication and


primary method when reporting suspicious activity. UKMTO receives in
excess of 1200 E-Mails per day and therefore E-mails may take time to be
processed - it should only be used for follow up reports.

During the call UKMTO will relay any information to all Naval Assets in
the operational area regarding your incident in order to provide further
assistance. However, UKMTO does not have any knowledge on the locations
of any Naval Asset.

DAILY POSITION REPORTS


Having received your Initial Report, UKMTO will draw up your voyage
plan, and begin to track your vessel. In order to maintain an accurate
track, please continue to report to the UKMTO on a daily basis at
0800UTC giving the following information:

Daily Position Report


01. Ships name
02. Ships Call Sign and IMO Number
03. Time of Report in UTC
04. Ships Position
05. Ships Course and Speed
06. Any other important information

The other important information could be change of destination, number


of UK personnel on board etc.

Please continue to report to UKMTO throughout the Voluntary Reporting


Area which is bounded by co-ordinates10 Degrees South, 78 Degrees East,
the full Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea up to Suez, not just within the
IRTC and the Somali Basin.

We WILL acknowledge your initial report, but WILL NOT normally reply to
your Daily Position Reports. Please increase the frequency of these
daily reports to 6 hourly whilst transiting the IRTC, and then return to
daily reports outside of the IRTC.

In the event your vessel deviates from its intended passage, such as in
case of breakdown, UKMTO request that you contact by telephone at the
earliest opportunity to ensure that UKMTO is made aware of the incident
or passage deviation, and in order to take the necessary action in co-
ordination with naval assets operational in the area. It is emphasised
that the preferred initial contact in these cases is also by telephone
+971 50 552 3215 with follow up by e-mail, or Sat C correspondence.

FINAL REPORT
UKMTO would be grateful if you could send a Final Position Report using
the following format when at your destination or when leaving the
Voluntary Reporting Area.

Final Position Report


01. Ships name
02. Ships Call Sign and IMO Number
03. Time of Report in UTC
04. Port or position when leaving the voluntary reporting area

For multiple ports within the Voluntary Reporting Area UKMTO request you
provide a new initial report prior to departure from each port. However
if your voyage itinerary involves short passages, e.g. Jebel Ali,
Bahrain, Damman, Jebel Ali, then please send your entire voyage
itinerary and update upon arrival/departure with a position report.

INTERNATIONAL RECOMMENDED TRANSIT CORRIDOR (IRTC) GULF OF ADEN


In order for naval assets to effectively monitor merchant vessels and to
assist in their protection in the Gulf of Aden, an International
Recommended Transit Corridor consisting of an East and West bound
traffic lane has been established in the Gulf of Aden using the
following coordinates: 1200N 04500E, 1430N 05300E, 1155N 04500E, 1425N
05300E, 1153N 04500E, 1423N 05300E, 1148N 04500E, and 1418N 05300E

The East bound lane begins at Point Alpha 04500E between 1148N and
1153N
The West bound lane begins at Point Bravo 05300E between 1425N and
1430N

REPORTING TO MSCHOA AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRANSIT THROUGH THE IRTC


The Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa, (MSCHOA), organises transit
arrangements through the IRTC, and tracks vessels within the confines of
co-ordinates 12 Degrees North, 58 Degrees East, and 10 Degrees South.

Companies of vessels intending to transit the area as mentioned above


are requested to register with MSCHOA through their web site mschoa.org
or by contacting MSCHOA directly at +44 1923 958 545. Once registered
with the MSCHOA website, each transit of a ship through the IRTC
requires a "Register a Vessels Movement" form to be completed, if a
vessel is due to transit between Point Alpha and Point Bravo, or for an
Indian Ocean Transit bounded by 12N, 58E, and 10S. If you are due to
transit in both areas you are requested to submit a registration for the
GOA leg and a separate registration for the Indian Ocean. The earlier
that this information can be provided the better; 4 to 5 days in advance
if possible.

Group Transit - A Group Transit of the IRTC is where ships are scheduled
by speed so as to be in close proximity when passing through the key
threat area, where there is a high risk of piracy, which provides mutual
support. This also facilitates the coordinated support of warships by
the military authorities. Vessels should pass through the Point A
(Eastbound) and Point B (Westbound) at the times indicated below.

Eastbound Point Alpha Westbound Point Bravo


Sea Speed UTC Local Time
Sea Speed UTC Local Time
10 0100 0400 10
1500 1800
12 0530 0830 12
2100 0001
14 0830 1130 14
0100 0400
16 1100 1400 16
0530 0830
18 1300 1600 18
0700 1000

A Group Transit is NOT a convoy, therefore warships may not be seen,


but will be patrolling in the vicinity. Prior to transit any changes to
the ETA at Point Alpha or Point Bravo are requested to be promptly
advised to MSCHOA.

Any further information required on the Group Transit should be sought


from MSCHOA who are responsible for Group Transits, and not from UKMTO

Escorted transit - Some nations provide convoy transits for merchant


vessels passing through the IRTC, where the vessels in transit will be
supported throughout the IRTC by a naval asset. UKMTO does not hold
information on the escort times or procedures. Advice may be obtained by
contacting MSCHOA directly.

RECENT THREATS TO SHIPPING


Threat update and guidance for the Gulf of Aden & Horn of Africa -
recent reported incidents:
06 Jan MV Attacked in position 2104N 06319E
06 Jan MV Attacked in position 2054N 06343E
07 Jan MV Attacked in position 2108N 06245E
09 Jan Dhow AL MUSAA pirated in position 1741N 05717E
10 Jan MV Attacked in position 1431N 04229E
11 Jan MV Attacked in position 1627N 05926E
11 Jan MV Attacked & boarding attempted in position 1403N
06729E
13 Jan MV attacked & boarded in position 1513N 05817E
14 Jan MV attempted boarding in position 1353N 05630E
14 Jan MV Attacked in position 1711N 06121E
15 Jan MV SAMHO JEWELRY pirated in position 2200N 06400E
15 Jan MV attacked in position 1241N 04448E
17 Jan MV EAGLE pirated in position 1317N 06142E
17 Jan MV attacked in position 1707N 06134E
18 Jan MV attacked in position 1924N 05854E
18 Jan MV attacked in position 0310N 05111E
19 Jan MV attacked in position 1328N 06506E
19 Jan MV attacked & attempted boarding in position 2016N
06439E
20 Jan MV attacked in position 1309N 04914E
21 Jan MV attacked in position 1241N 06514E
23 Jan MV attacked in position 0149N 05635E
28 Jan MV attacked in position 1110N 06321E
30 Jan MV attacked in position 2502N 06023E
30 Jan MV attacked in position 0420E 06620E
01 Feb MV attempted boarding 1056N 05617E
01 Feb MV attacked in position 0634N 06927E
05 Feb MV attacked in position 1004N 07054E
08 Feb MV SAVINA CAYLN Pirated in position 1210N 06600E
08 Feb MV attacked in position 1309N 06410E

At this time 31 vessels remain in captivity.

DRILLS AND EXERCISES


UKMTO is keen to support any ship or company who wish to hold a security
drill, and to take part in such drills. However it is essential that, if
testing voice communications, email system or conducting a security
drill, all communications are preceded with DRILL, DRILL, DRILL to avoid
any misunderstanding.

PRECAUTIONS
All vessels are strongly advised to comply with Best Management
Practices 3, (BMP3), when within the voluntary reporting area. A copy
may be obtained from the MSCHOA website and may be downloaded here.

Key to surviving a pirate attack is maintaining a vigilant lookout at


all times. Early warning of a suspicious skiff will enable full
precautions to be put in place in good time. This has been proven to
greatly reduce the chance of a successful attack. A ship showing a
robust, well-prepared response is more likely to deter pirates.

Simple examples of precautions include:


* Rigging of fire hoses or foam monitors in the vicinity of a
vulnerable access point to the ship so that they can be remotely
operated, and flooding of ballast tanks, or FW tanks where possible.
* Physical barriers at vulnerable access points, such as razor or
barbed wire.
* Security of all accommodation doors and engine room casing
doors.
* Stowing of all tools and locking all compartments.
* Using searchlights at night and other lighting consistent with
safe navigation.
* Mustering of the crew to a safe location in the event of a
suspicious approach.
* Using ship's whistle and remote operation of fire hoses when a
suspicious vessel approaches, to raise the alarm, and to let pirates
know that you have seen them.
* Strategically placed dummies.
* Use maximum speed in the event of an approach, maintaining a
straight course until the very last stages of the attack when a small
zigzag manoeuvre can be used to create waves making it more difficult
for the pirates to board.

Whilst to date attacks have not been reported to the extreme East of the
UKMTO Voluntary Reporting Area, they have taken place at almost 70
degrees East. There remains the possibility that piracy attacks will
take place even further to the East of the Voluntary Reporting Area,
also taking place to the extreme South of the Voluntary Reporting Area.
A high state of readiness and vigilance should be maintained even to the
South of the Southerly limit of the Voluntary Reporting Area and the
latest advice on the extent of piracy activity always sought. It is
recommended that the BMP3 is applied throughout the High Risk Area,
operating at a heightened state of readiness, maintain a strict 24 hour
anti-piracy visual and radar watches, actively implementing the
recommended anti-piracy measures, and regularly reporting their
position/course/speed to UKMTO as per the previous advice.

Merchant masters should also be extremely cautious as to being


challenged by any unexpected source. If in any doubt, UKMTO should be
telephoned immediately, +971 50 552 3215 to obtain clarification

REFERENCES
Additional information and guidance and anti-piracy practices can be
found in:
* Best Management Practice 3 (BMP3)
* Admiralty List of Radio Signals
* Anti-Piracy planning chart
* The OCIMF booklet Piracy:- The East Africa/Somali Situation
* Navigational Warnings for NAVAREA IX
* IMB reports on EGC
* Mariners Handbook (NP100)

Further guidance can be found by:


Telephoning UKMTO (+971 505 523 215) as the Primary point of contact for
any suspicious approaches, and for liaison with Coalition Forces.
Telephoning MSCHOA (+44 1923 958 545) for all queries relating to the
IRTC transit and for National Convoy transits. Additionally by visiting
the MSCHOA web site at www.MSCHOA.org
Visiting the NATO Shipping Centre web site at www.shipping.NATO.int

Kind Regards
Duty Watchkeeper
UKMTO
Tel +971 50 552 3215
Fax +971 4 309 4254
Telex (051) 210473 UKMTOI G
Email ukmto@eim.ae
Updated 08 February 2011

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